OHL Guelph Storm

Storm Snap Losing Streak, Sink Steelheads 4-3

Published on December 19, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


The Guelph Storm received an early Christmas gift this year.

Jacob Harris scored the lone goal in the shootout while Tyler Hill had a goal and an assist as the Storm beat the Mississauga Steelheads 4-3 in a shootout Saturday afternoon at the Sleeman Centre.

The win snapped a 15-game losing streak for Guelph (3-27-2-0).

Storm goaltender Michael Giugovaz was solid in net, stopping 34 shots en route to picking up his first win in a Guelph jersey.

After leading 3-2 heading into the third period, the Steelheads (18-14-1-3) tied the game 5:24 into the final frame when Stefan LeBlanc put the puck past Giugovaz.

With just 3:53 remaining in the second period, Guelph took their first lead of the game.

Hill, wreaking havoc in front of the Mississauga net, redirected a Garrett McFadden point shot to make it 3-2. The goal was Hill's first since November 7 and gave the overage forward four points (1+3=4) in his last two games.

Facing a 2-1 deficit, the Storm tied the game for the second time in the afternoon when Matthew Hotchkiss banged home a rebound into a wide open net.

After rookie Nick Deakin-Poot began a breakout in the Guelph zone, Hill and Hotchkiss broke in on a two-on-one. Hill's shot was initially stopped but Hotchkiss finished the play off when the puck bounced directly onto his stick off the pad of Steelheads goalie Joseph Murdaca, who had 22 saves.

Mississauga pulled ahead with a 2-1 lead early in the middle frame when Nicolas Hague one-timed a slap shot past the blocker of Giugovaz as a Steelheads power play expired.

Trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Storm knotted the contest when Brock Philips potted his second of the season. After a monstrous hit, Philips went to the front of the net where he collected the puck and shot it between the legs of Murdaca before it trickled across the line.

The Steelheads opened the scoring just 2:54 into the game when captain Josh Burnside capitalized on a turnover in the Guelph zone and wristed a shot under the blocker of Giugovaz.

The Storm fought off a penalty in overtime to extend the game to a shootout.

Final shots were 37-25 in favour of Mississauga.

The Storm head into the Christmas break and will have 9 days of rest before their next game on Tuesday, December 29 when they host the Erie Otters. Game time is at 7:00 p.m.

GAME NOTES

- Tonight's game was the first of two meetings between the two teams this season. Guelph now leads the season series 1-0. Last season, the clubs split the season series, 1-1.

- Since returning from injury, Storm forward Tyler Hill has 4 points (1+3=4) over his last 2 games.

- Matthew Hotchkiss now has 4 points in his last 4 games (2+2=4).

- Guelph snapped a 15-game losing streak.

- Storm goaltender Michael Giugovaz earned his first win since being acquired by Guelph.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2015


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