Guelph Storm hits in overtime to edge Mississauga
MISSISSAUGA – Guelph Storm’s lone shot of overtime was a winner as they edged the Mississauga Steelheads 3-2 in Ontario Hockey Play Wednesday afternoon at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre.
Both teams led in the game. After a scoreless opening period, the Storm had the lone goal of the second.
Mississauga tied it in the second minute of the third and went ahead later in the period.
However, the lead for the hosts lasted 12 seconds before the Storm tied it with the goal that eventually forced overtime.
Vilmer Alriksson fired in the game-winner at 3:42 of extra time on an unassisted effort.
Wil McFadden netted his first of the season in the first period for Guelph while Jett Luchanko had the other goal. Assists went to Michael Buchinger, Hunter McKenzie and Alriksson.
Finn Harding and Kieran Witkowski scored for Mississauga while Luke Dragusica, Marc Boudreau and Stevie Leskovar each had an assist.
The Steelheads outshot the Storm 36-22, but were scoreless on two power plays while Guelph didn’t score on its lone power play.
Brayden Gillespie had 34 saves for Guelph and Jack Ivankovic had 19 for Mississauga.
The win was the fourth in a row for the Storm who swept a three-in-three last weekend with wins over the North Bay Battalion (3-1) Friday, Kitchener Rangers (8-6) Saturday and Sarnia Sting (4-2) Sunday. The game against the Sting was in Sarnia while the other two were at home.
The Storm are tied for third in the Western Conference with the London Knights as both teams have 15-8-0-1 records. Kitchener leads at 19-7-0-0 and the Soo Greyhounds are second at 16-7-2-0. Saginaw Spirit are fifth at 14-8-0-1 and are followed by the Owen Sound Attack at 12-10-2-0, Flint Firebirds at 11-11-1-1, Erie Otters at 10-10-4-0, Sarnia at 9-15-0-0 and Windsor Spitfires at 6-17-1-0.
Peterborough Petes (lead the Eastern Conference at 13-5-3-1 while Mississauga and the Ottawa 67’s are tied for second with 14-8-1-0 records. They’re followed by the Brantford Bulldogs (12-8-3-1), North Bay (11-8-4-1), Sudbury Wolves (12-10-1-0), Kingston Frontenacs (11-12-1-0), Barrie Colts (10-11-0-0), Oshawa Generals (8-11-2-1) and Niagara IceDogs (4-15-4-1).
Wednesday’s game starts a stretch where the Storm play every other day. They’re to host Windsor Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre and Oshawa Sunday at 2 p.m. and play the Rangers at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium complex Tuesday at 7 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal