Eight Different Goal Scorers Lift Storm to 8-3 Win in Owen Sound
March 3, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
The Guelph Storm finally had a few bounces go their way.
Eight bounces, to be exact, as the Storm earned an 8-3 victory while visiting division rivals, the Owen Sound Attack, on Saturday afternoon.
Paired with the eight different goal scorers for the Storm, the team also saw 11 different skaters earn at least a point in the win. Cedric Ralph, the game's first star, led the way with three points (one goal, two assists), while Zach Poirier, Barret Kirwin, Keegan Stevenson, Liam Hawel, Isaac Ratcliffe, and James McEwan all registered two points (one goal, one assist).
For the Attack, Kevin Hancock tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in the loss, with Nick Suzuki not too far behind with a two-point performance.
In the blue paint, Anthony Popovich came back strong following a tough outing on Friday night in Guelph, turning away 43 out of 46 attempts in the win. At the other end of the ice, Olivier Lafreniere was relieved following the first 20 minutes of play after allowing four goals on 12 shots, with rookie Mack Guzda stepping in for the remaining two periods, making 21 out of 25 saves.
To start the game, the teams exchanged leads with four goals scored in a 2:40 time frame, starting with Kirwin's 13th of the season at the 5:05 point of the first.
The Attack responded 46 seconds later with Jonah Gadjovich tying it up at one, followed by Hancock potting his 23rd of the year minutes later to make it a 2-1 contest in favour of the home side.
13 seconds later, though, the Storm came back with Poirier firing a shot from the slot, netting things back up at two-a-piece.
McEwan and Ratcliffe rounded out the first period's offence, propelling the Storm to a 4-2 lead heading into the second. First with the overager's 13th of the season with 1:21 remaining, followed by the Philadelphia Flyers prospect netting his 36th of the year - and fourth goal in the last two games - as the eventual game winner with 22 seconds left in the period.
Suzuki made it a 4-3 contest at the 5:25 point of the second, but that was as close as the Attack would come, as the latter half of the period saw Stevenson and Hawel pocket their fourth and 13th goals of the season respectively just 27 seconds apart, while Ralph hit the 20-goal milestone with 17 seconds remaining in the frame to make it 7-3 for the Storm.
Toropchenko had the lone goal of the third period at the 3:02 mark, finalizing the 8-3 win.
The Storm return home on Sunday afternoon to close out the three-in-three weekend, hosting the Kitchener Rangers for a 2pm puck drop. Purchase your tickets to the game online here, by calling (519) 837-9690, or in person at the Storm Box Office in Old Quebec Street Mall.
Guelph Storm 8 at Owen Sound Attack 3 - Status: End of Game
Saturday, March 3, 2018 - Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre
Guelph 4 3 1 - 8
Owen Sound 2 1 0 - 3
1st Period-1, Guelph, Kirwin 13 (Ralph), 5:05. 2, Owen Sound, Gadjovich 22 (Hancock, Suzuki), 5:51. 3, Owen Sound, Hancock 23 (Phillips, Bourque), 7:32. 4, Guelph, Poirier 7 (McEwan, Lalonde), 7:45. 5, Guelph, McEwan 13 (Hawel), 18:39. 6, Guelph, Ratcliffe 36 (Merkley), 19:38.
Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-7, Owen Sound, Suzuki 34 (Hancock, Friend), 5:25. 8, Guelph, Stevenson 4 (Ralph, Shoemaker), 14:29. 9, Guelph, Hawel 13 (Lalonde, Poirier), 14:56. 10, Guelph, Ralph 20 (Kirwin, Stevenson), 19:43.
Penalties-Cameron Os (tripping), 3:54; Schnarr Gue (high sticking), 4:25.
3rd Period-11, Guelph, Toropchenko 15 (Ratcliffe, Shoemaker), 3:02.
Penalties-McKenzie Os (hooking), 5:27; Lyszczarczyk Os (high sticking), 16:23.
Shots on Goal-Guelph 12-14-11-37. Owen Sound 19-11-16-46.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 0 / 2; Owen Sound 0 / 1.
Goalies- Guelph, Popovich 27-18-3-3 (46 shots-43 saves). Owen Sound, Lafreniere 16-15-0-2 (12 shots-8 saves); Guzda 12-6-2-2 (25 shots-21 saves).
A-3,064
Referees-Ryan Harrison (3), Quincy Evans (7).
Linesmen-Brady Fagan (70), Mike Harrington (90).
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2018
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- Fronts Suffer 8-3 Road Loss to Colts - Kingston Frontenacs
- Colts Rock the Frontenacs with 8-3 Victory - Barrie Colts
- Storm Sweep Attack Away - Owen Sound Attack
- Eight Different Goal Scorers Lift Storm to 8-3 Win in Owen Sound - Guelph Storm
- Firebirds Post 6 Goal Victory over Guelph Friday - Flint Firebirds
- Knights Win Second in as Many Days - London Knights
- Ratcliffe, Storm Overcome Four-Goal Deficit, Fall in OT to Firebirds - Guelph Storm
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