Guelph Storming into the Playoffs

By Aaron Bell

It’s all about the timing for the Guelph Storm and the way things are going for them right now, their timing may be perfect.

After a lackluster start to the season put the Storm perilously close to missing the playoffs, they have rebounded with a solid second half and a recent hot string helped them lock up a playoff berth last weekend.

"Some teams wait until the last week of the season to have must win games," said veteran defenceman Ryan Gottschalk. "We decided to start playing with that mentality and attitude about two months ago. It’s really paid off for us. I think we have the third best record in the league since the all-star break. That’s really helped us out a lot."

Guelph won all three of their games last weekend – including a shootout win over the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday – to lock up the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. They have won six of their past seven games and have three games left this week to try to move up as high as fifth in the conference.

"Coming in after the Christmas break we really wanted to come together as a team," said third year winger Taylor Beck. "We’ve really come together and tied together some wins so we’re really happy with what we’re doing right now."

It looks like it has worked. After a miserable December that saw the Storm win just two games, they have won 14 of 18 games since then.

"I think we were just tired of losing," said Beck, who leads the team with 37 goals and 87 points in 58 games this season. "Everyone really came together as a team and that was really important. We’ve really bonded together well and we’re playing well with our linemates. Things are going well."

Gottschalk came to Guelph from the Barrie Colts in December and said that he has seen a marked change in the player’s attitudes in the past two months.

"I heard a lot of problems when I came here at the start," Gottschalk said. "There was a lot of bickering and guys weren’t getting along. Ever since we brought in a couple of key guys – leadership wise – and they’ve really helped set the tone in the room. Everyone gets along and we’re all playing on the same page now. It’s helping us win some games."

Six weeks ago, things looked pretty bleak for the Storm.

They were seven points behind the Owen Sound Attack for the final playoff spot and head coach Jason Brooks was looking at an extended leave of absence from the bench after undergoing back surgery.

The Storm didn’t use his absence as an excuse and turned up the heat on the Attack, making up that ground and putting them out of the playoff hunt last weekend. Brooks, who guided Team Ontario to an Under-17 Championship two years ago, just returned to the Storm bench last week.

It’s also helped that forwards Peter Holland and Michael Latta have been among the league’s highest scorers since the beginning of January.

"We just wanted to be better as a team," Beck said. "Tying wins together will keep us moving up in the standings and that’s what we have to do right now."