OHL Guelph Storm

Smith, Storm Fall Just Short

Published on November 1, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


Despite a natural hat trick from Givani Smith in the final half of the game, the Guelph Storm would fall 5-3 to the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

There's a lot of good to come out of this one.

The Guelph Storm put forth an overall strong display against the OHL's best, Kitchener Rangers, in their Sunday matinee, coming up just short in a 5-3 result.

First falling behind 4-0, the Storm never seemed out of it on the ice, continuing to play their game and create chances. With that, saw sophomore Givani Smith register a natural hat trick, single handedly pulling the Storm within one goal before the Rangers would close it out with a late insurance tally. It would be Smith's first hat trick of his OHL career.

With the rivalry in full swing, the opening minutes saw physical play take the stage starting with Kitchener's Jacob Cascagnette bowling into Justin Nichols. The Storm would take exception to the play, with defenseman Kyle Rhodes participating in an altercation with the Rangers' centre. Both would receive five for fighting at the 3:27 mark of the first.

A minute later, Kitchener would get their first power play of the game with Noah Carroll sitting for two after a checking-to-the-head call. On the man-advantage, Mason Kohn would have the best opportunity, but would be denied by Nichols coming across the crease to keep the game scoreless.

At the 8:07 mark of the period, the Rangers would use traffic to get on the board as Connor Bunnaman, from down low, would feed Jake Henderson out in front. Henderson, putting it through the screen, would open the scoring.

Continuing to keep it a close contest, Nichols would make several more stellar stops, including a first and second save on Bunnaman that saw the goaltender seemingly down-and-out, but coming up with the quick glove.

Not much later, it would be Opilka with a big save on Smith, who would be sprung for a breakaway but unable to put it past the Rangers' netminder.

Extending their lead to two at the 14:46 mark of the period, a long shot would be turned aside by Nichols, but with the puck taking an odd bounce for a big rebound, Jeremy Bracco would score his first as a Ranger.

Despite strong spurts of offensive pressure throughout the middle frame, things wouldn't look much different for the Storm in the second.

Starting the period pressing, Vlad Barulin would be denied in tight with a high glove save from Opilka to keep the visiting club off the board.

Nearing the halfway point, the Storm would lose their footing for a short stretch, allowing the Rangers to grab two goals in 18 seconds. First at the 8:59 mark, after shooting wide on the odd-man rush, Bracco - from behind the goal line - would put the puck in off Nichols' back to extend the Rangers' lead to three.

Following up the play, Henderson would pocket his second of the game off a rebound making it a 4-0 contest at the 9:17 mark of the period.

With that, Brad van Schubert would enter the game in relief of Nichols who made 14 stops on 18 shots through 29:17 of play.

The Storm, sticking to their game, would eventually get on the board with just under five minutes remaining in the middle frame. With Nick Deakin-Poot serving a high-sticking penalty, Smith and James McEwan would end up on a shorthanded rush. On the play, Smith would bang home a rebound to make it a 4-1 contest.

After 40 minutes of play, the shots would be knotted up at 22-a-piece.

Guelph would continue to gain momentum moving into the third, coming out of the gates with life despite being down three goals.

With the pressure, at the 6:17 mark of the period, Smith, in tight on Opilka, would lift the puck past the Kitchener goaltender to pull the Storm within two with his second of the game. McEwan and C.J. Garcia would add the assists.

Opilka, keeping the Storm at bay, would be forced to make the save of the game minutes later to keep the two-goal lead in tact for the Rangers.

Van Schubert would follow suit just afterwards, making a big save on a cross-ice feed to Brian Brosnan at the side of the net.

With just over five minutes left in the game, the rivalry factor would be in full force, with Matt Hotchkiss, Smith, and Van Schubert all given two minutes for roughing, with Ryan MacInnis and Brandon Robinson being awarded two each as well.

After the penalties expired at the 16:22 mark of the third, Smith would record a natural hat trick, pulling the Storm within one for a 4-3 game.

Maintaining pressure in the dying minutes, the Storm wouldn't be able to capitalize for the tying marker, leaving MacInnis to get the insurance marker at 17:19. Bracco and Robinson would be in on the tic-tac-toe play that would beat Van Schubert to make it a 5-3 final.

The Storm will return to action at the Sleeman Centre next, hosting another rival in the London Knights on Nov. 6.

GAME NOTES

The Kitchener Rangers now have a 2-0 hold on the eight-game season series.

Justin Nichols started the game, making 14 saves on 18 shots through 29:17 of play. Brad Van Schubert would come in after the fourth goal for the Rangers.

Givani Smith registered his first OHL career hat trick in a natural fashion

Connor Bunnaman is a Guelph, Ontario native.

The Storm are back in action on Nov. 6, hosting the London Knights.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2015


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