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OHL Guelph Storm

McEwan's Late Goal Lifts Storm over Attack

February 19, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


James McEwan had two goals, rookie Isaac Ratcliffe had a goal and two assists and Michael Giugovaz made 40 saves as the Guelph Storm defeated the rival Owen Sound Attack 5-3 Friday night at the Sleeman Centre.

McEwan scored with 2:36 remaining in the game to give the Storm a late 4-3 lead before Nicolas Sicoly added an empty-netter as Guelph evened the season series with the Attack at 3-3.

The game was the first time the Storm (12-36-4-2) had scored five goals or more since January 8, a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts.

Though Guelph never trailed in the game, the contest was a hard-fought battle for both teams that saw the score get tied three separate times.

With only 51 seconds remaining in the opening period, Ratcliffe gave the Storm a 1-0 lead.

On their first power play of the evening, Ratcliffe was providing a screen in front of Owen Sound goaltender Daniel Dekoning when he collected the puck on a rebound from a Jake Bricknell shot and backhanded it over the left pad of Dekoning.

Ratcliffe was arguably the Storm's most dangerous player of the evening as he was a consistent threat offensively every time he touched the ice.

Despite being outshot 15-11 by the Attack (25-20-7-3), Guelph took a 1-0 lead into the second period thanks to a number of enormous saves by Giugovaz. Giugovaz made a spectacular save when he sprawled cross-crease and kicked out his left pad to deny a point-blank one-time opportunity from an Owen Sound forward.

In the second period, it took just 1:05 for the visitors to tie the game at one.

Jonah Gadjovich took a pass from Bryson Cianfrone on the left wing before finding himself alone in front of Giugovaz and sliding the puck between the Storm goalie's legs.

Midway through the frame Guelph regained the lead.

A blocked Ratcliffe shot deflected the puck directly onto the stick of Bricknell, who made no mistake and wristed the puck between the pads of Dekoning to give the home team a 2-1 advantage.

The Storm took two penalties in the last 32 seconds of the period to give Owen Sound a glorious two-man advantage opportunity to begin the final 20 minutes of play.

With a rested bench and a fresh sheet of ice, the Attack power play got to work at the start of the third period.

A mere 1:01 into the frame, Owen Sound would make it 2-2 when Petrus Palmu wired a slap shot to the top right of the net on the Attack's fourth of the young period.

1:41 later, Guelph responded on a power play of their own.

McEwan gave his team its lead back when he sniped a wrist shot off the crossbar and in through traffic from high in the Owen Sound zone as the Storm took a 3-2 lead.

Back came the bears, though.

Less than one minute after McEwan's go-ahead goal, Justin Brack one-timed a Cianfrone pass from the left corner past Giugovaz's blocker to knot the game at three.

Then, with just 2:36 left in the game, McEwan notched his team-leading 22nd goal of the season.

After Ratcliffe chipped the puck up the ice, Matthew Hotchkiss and McEwan skated in on a two-on-one when Hotchkiss dished the puck to McEwan who pulled off a pretty forehand-backhand deke and lifted the puck into the net as the Storm took a late 4-3 lead.

Nicolas Sicoly added an empty-netter as Guelph snapped a four-game losing streak and defeated Owen Sound 5-3.

Giugovaz made 40 saves while Dekoning turned away 30 shots.

Final shots were 43-34 for the Attack.

The Storm are back in action tomorrow night when they head to Owen Sound for the second of a home-and-home with the Attack. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES

- Tonight's game was the sixth of eight meetings between the two clubs this season. The season series is currently tied 3-3.

- Tonight's game was the first of a home-and-home with the Attack; the second game goes tomorrow night in Owen Sound.

- Storm rookie forward Isaac Ratcliffe recorded his first career multi-point night with 1g and 2a.

- James McEwan had a multi-goal effort for the 4th time this season.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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