Guelph Storm fall to Rangers in Kitchener
KITCHENER – The Guelph Storm scored the first and last goals of their Ontario Hockey League match with the Kitchener Rangers Tuesday at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, but their hosts had five goals in between them to claim the 5-2 victory.
Max Namestnikov at 1:11 of the first period and Leo Serlin at 8:58 of the third accounted for the scoring for the Storm. Assists went to Jake Karabela, Braeden Bowman and Justin DeZoete.
The Rangers netted a pair of goals in the first period to lead 2-1 at the end of the period and they added three goals in a minute and 15 seconds early in the second period to lead 5-1 at the end of that period.
The Storm kept Kitchener scoreless after the 7:31 mark of the second period.
Cameron Mercer had two goals for the Rangers while single goals were added by Carson Rehkopf, Luke Ellinas and Kyle Morey. Hunter Brzustewicz and Matthew Sop had two assists apiece while Matthew Andonovski, Morey, Justin Bottineau and Luca Romano each had one.
Kitchener outshot Guelph 26-25 and went 1-for-5 on its power play while the Storm were scoreless on four power plays.
Brayden Gillespie started in net for the Storm, but was replaced by Damian Slavik at 6:33 of the second period after Kitchener’s fourth goal. Both goalies faced 13 shots, Slavik getting 12 saves and Gillespie nine.
Jackson Parsons had 23 saves for Kitchener.
The Rangers lead the Western Conference at 21-7-1-0 while the Soo Greyhounds are second at 17-8-2-0. They’re followed by the Storm (16-10-0-1), Saginaw Spirit (16-8-0-1) and London Knights (16-10-0-1) all tied with 33 points, Flint Firebirds at 13-11-2-1, Owen Sound Attack at 13-11-2-0, Erie Otters at 11-11-4-0, Sarnia Sting at 10-17-0-0 and Windsor Spitfires at 7-18-1-0.
Next up for the Storm is a three-in-three weekend as they’re to play Owen Sound Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre, the Otters at the Erie Insurance Arena Saturday at 7 p.m. and Kitchener Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre.
- Guelph Sports Journal