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OHL Guelph Storm

Storm's Strong Effort Not Enough in 3-2 Loss

November 19, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


A valiant effort paired with solid special teams wouldn't be enough for the Guelph Storm in a 3-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires on Thursday night.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

This one can sum up the majority of the 2015/16 season so far for the Guelph Storm.

A close, hard fought game.

A one-goal deficit left standing in the final.

Falling behind quickly, the Storm turned things around to put together a complete effort in the 3-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires on Thursday, holding the West Division's leading club 0/5 on the man-advantage - including successfully killing off two five-on-three power plays.

The heart breaker came in the final minute of the contest, with James McEwan tying the game up in dramatic fashion with a tip-in. The play, though, would be called back due to a high stick.

Goaltender Bradley van Schubert was solid between the pipes, turning aside 27 of 30 shots faced in the loss.

At the other end of the rink, Spitfire netminder Garret Hughson stopped 23 of 25 shots.

Similar to their last two contests, the Storm, caught flat footed off the start, fell behind just 23 seconds into game. Bradley Latour, driving down the wing, would find Christian Fischer open in the slot. Fischer, taking the pass off the skate and up to his forehand, opened the scoring to give the Spitfires a 1-0 lead.

Shaking off the opening tally, the Storm followed up the early deficit with a strong stretch of hockey, capitalizing on the effort later in the period. With Mikhail Sergachev in the box for goaltender interference, defenseman Garrett McFadden roofed one short side to knot things up at one on the power play with 4:12 remaining in the opening frame.

To conclude the period, however, the Storm would get into some penalty trouble starting with a McFadden minor for delay-of-game at the 18:38 point. 54 seconds later James McEwan followed for a hooking call, giving the Spitfires their first five-on-three advantage of the contest.

Splitting the advantage with the beginning of the second period, Van Schubert and the rest of the special teams would come up with a solid display on the penalty kill, maintaining the 1-1 tie.

The Spitfires, despite falling short on the power play, would find a way even strength, regaining the lead with traffic and a Logan Brown tip-in just past the five-minute mark of the period.

Responding just over a minute later, McEwan would pocket his team-leading eighth of the season, jumping all over a rebound off a Kyle Rhodes shot to tie things up at two 6:51 into the second.

Following in the fashion of quick responses, Windsor wasted no time taking back the lead six seconds later with Fischer capitalizing on a sharp angle for his second of the game.

20 seconds later penalty trouble would hit the Storm once again starting with Noah Carroll being sent to the box for tripping. Captain C.J. Garcia received a slashing call just over a minute later, giving the Spitfires their second five-on-three advantage of the match-up.

Guelph's special teams would put forth another big effort though, leaving Windsor unsuccessful through five attempts with the man advantage on the game.

Coming out for the final 20 minutes and very much in a tight contest for the first time in awhile, the Storm put together one of their best periods as of late. Remaining disciplined and maintaining offensive pressure with key saves from Van Schubert in key moments, the visiting club would come within a reviewed goal in the last minute of play to tying things up at three.

The play, a tip-in from McEwan off a Jake Bricknell shot, would be called off however, leaving the Storm to fall 3-2 with the final.

Guelph gets right back into action on Friday, returning home to host the Flint Firebirds for the first time. Puck drop is slated for 7:30pm.

GAME NOTES

Thursday's match-up was the fourth and final meeting between the Storm and the Spitfires, with Windsor taking all four games.

Registering a goal, James McEwan surpassed his rookie point total of 10, recorded in 45 games in 2014-15.

The Storm now have back-to-back games at home, hosting the Flint Firebirds on Friday and the Kitchener Rangers for Jeff O'Neill Banner Night on Nov. 21.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2015


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