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OHL Guelph Storm

Otters Tame Storm with 7-1 Result

December 2, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


Visiting the top ranked team in Canada for a school-day game on Wednesday, the Guelph Storm fell 7-1 to the Erie Otters.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

The Guelph Storm got a taste of the best team in Canada on Wednesday.

After pulling ahead with two goals in the first, the Erie Otters never looked back, pushing through to a 7-1 win over the Storm.

Netminder Justin Nichols, through 34:46 of play, turned aside 29 of 34 shots faced. On the Otters' fifth tally, back-up Michael Giugovaz entered the game, making 14 of 16 saves to close out the contest.

Rookie Isaac Ratcliffe, extending his point-streak to four games, had Guelph's lone goal.

For the Otters, captain Dylan Strome did the damage to start, potting two in the first period, while adding a helper for a three-point day.

Goaltender Jake Lawr saw 10 shots, stopping 11.

The Otters would open the scoring early, with Strome capitalizing after the Storm failed to clear the zone 3:14 into the contest.

Strome would be at it again just over five minutes later, this time picking up the rolling puck off Taylor Raddysh to go top shelf for his second of the day.

With 5:15 remaining in the opening period, special teams entered the game as Kyle Rhodes received a minor for crosschecking. On the penalty kill, Nichols - coming up big once again - would deny Strome's attempt for three, shutting the door with two quick pad saves.

Moving to the dying seconds of the first, the Otters would push to take a three-goal lead into the room with Taylor Raddysh redirecting a Strome shot. The chance wouldn't get by Nichols, though, with the Storm netminder finishing off the opening 20 minutes with 12 saves.

Things picked up right where the first left off in the middle frame, with the OHL's leading scorer Alex DeBrincat left alone in front to make it 3-0 for the Otters just 15 seconds in.

Ratcliffe would have a response 20 seconds later, pushing by Erie's Darren Raddysh who would hook up the Storm freshman forcing a penalty shot call.

On the play, the six-foot-four, 192-pound forward, showing off good hands going blocker side, would get the Storm on the board, pulling the visitors within two.

That would be as close as it got, with the Otters capitalizing to make it a 4-1 game six minutes later. With Nichols left without a glove and a stick, Darren Raddysh would find Vanya Lodnia to put one into an open net.

Nichols, continuing to be the Storm's best player, would make the play of the game not much later with just under eight minutes remaining in the frame. Diving across the paint, the Storm veteran would stack the pads to come up with two saves, denying the Otters the chance to further extend the lead.

Erie would get on the board once more in the second, however, with Kyle Maksimovich snapping one top shelf at the 14:46 point of the period. With that, back-up Giugovaz would relieve Nichols between the pipes.

Frustrations would boil over to start the third, with Tyler Boston and T.J. Fergus getting into an altercation 10 seconds in. Both would receive five for fighting.

After that, Erie would return to the offensive, with Travis Dermott adding one on the power play to make it a 6-1 game 5:36 into the period.

Less than two minutes later, the Storm would have a chance of their own with recently acquired Jacob Harris alone in front. Harris, batting in his own rebound, would put one past Erie's Lawr, although, it would stand as no-goal following review due to a high stick.

With 1:33 remaining, Brett Neumann would solidify the 7-1 final, pocketing his first OHL marker coming in off the blue line with the Otters' 50th shot on net.

After three games on the road, the Storm return home this Friday to host the Hamilton Bulldogs. The game features the annual Teddy Bear Toss and the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm.

GAME NOTES

Wednesday's meeting was the second this season between the Storm and the Otters.

Erie now holds a two-game season series lead over the Storm, taking a 4-2 result back on Oct. 17 and 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

With the lone goal in the 7-1 loss, rookie Isaac Ratcliffe now has a four-game point streak (two goals, two assists).

The Storm are back in action this Friday, hosting the Hamilton Bulldogs. The game is the annual Teddy Bear Toss and the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2015


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