Storm takes wild one over Sting
Friday night at the Sleeman Centre, the Storm jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the game was 30 minutes old and then held off a late Sarnia charge to take a 6-3 win.
Sparking the Guelph offence in the victory was the trio of Ryan Horvat (pictured), Brody Milne and Justin Auger who notched the first three markers of the contest. For Horvat, the goals were one and two of the season, while Guelph native Milne recorded his first career OHL tally in the first period.
Within seven minutes of Horvat’s second of the night, Jason Dickinson struck on the powerplay and Hunter Garlet added a single to chase JP Anderson from the Sarnia net.
After the Storm enjoyed seven straight powerplays to start the game, the referees whistled Guelph for four consecutive minors. While the penalties opened the door a bit for the Sting, it was full credit to the visitors as they nearly busted it down with an effective powerplay. Three straight strikes with the man advantage cut the lead to two and a disallowed goal in the third nearly made it a one goal edge. Instead it was 5-3 Storm and Sarnia came unglued coming home.
No doubt Sting forward Craig Hottot will be sidelined with a suspension for a neutral zone shoulder to the head of Horvat while the Storm centre was 10-15 feet away from the puck. After Horvat braved it to the bench, Tyler Bertuzzi and Hottot squared off before a linesman stepped up with a five minute check to the head call. Guelph failed to convert on the lengthy powerplay including two minutes of five-on-three, but Andrey Pedan with a long point shot through traffic put the game out of reach with 67 seconds left in regulation.
Winners of six of their last seven with a shootout loss as their lone blemish, the Storm hits the road for a two game swing that will start in Saginaw on Saturday. One night later, Guelph will be in Sault Ste. Marie to take on the Greyhounds.
Next weekend it’s another three-in-three for the Storm beginning with a Friday night home date against the Windsor Spitfires. After travelling to London on Saturday, the Greyhounds visit the Sleeman Centre on Sunday afternoon.
