Guelph Storm nipped by conference-leading London

GUELPH – The Guelph Storm held the Western Conference-leading London Knights scoreless for more than half the game, but were edged 4-3 in Ontario Hockey League play Sunday at the Sleeman Centre.

The Storm never led in the game, but did tie it at 2-2 with just less than five minutes to go in the opening period. That tie lasted for 53 seconds until London shot ahead for good.

London led 3-2 at the end of the first and scored the lone goal of the second before the Storm netted their third goal, 1:56 into the third. That was to be the final goal of the game.

Parker Snelgrove, Brody Crane and Braeden Bowman picked up a goal apiece for Guelph while assists were awarded to Leo Serlin, Jett Luchanko and Thomas Budnick.

Scoring for London were Kasper Halttunen, Sawyer Boulton, Oliver Bonk and Sam Dickinson. Getting one assist apiece were Evan Van Gorp, Dickinson, Landon Sim, Alec Leonard, Denver Barkey and Easton Cowan.

The Storm outshot the Knights 28-24, but were scoreless on five power plays while London went 1-for-5 on its power play.

Brayden Gillespie had 20 saves for the Storm while Michael Simpson had 25 for London.

The Knights top the Western Conference at 35-11-0-3 and Saginaw Spirit are second at 34-13-0-1. They’re followed by the Soo Greyhounds at 32-13-2-1, Kitchener Rangers at 31-17-2-0, Storm at 25-19-3-1, Owen Sound Attack at 23-20-3-2, Erie Otters at 23-20-4-0, Sarnia Sting at 20-26-3-0, Flint Firebirds at 19-24-3-1 and Windsor Spitfires at 14-28-3-2.

London’s 8-0-0-2 in their last 10 games while the Storm have lost four in a row, including one in overtime, and are 3-6-1-0 in their last 10.

The Storm are to host the Brantford Bulldogs, in a three-way tie for second in the Eastern Conference 25-15-6-2, one point behind the conference-leading Sudbury Wolves (27-15-3-2), Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre.

• Guelph Sports Journal