Guelph Storm turn on power to skate by North Bay

NORTH BAY – Once they shook off their bus legs and got their power play going, the Guelph Storm skated to a 4-1 victory over the North Bay Battalion in Ontario Hockey League play Thursday at North Bay Memorial Gardens.

North Bay scored the lone goal of the first period before the Storm scored twice in the second period and added two more goals in the third.

Max Namestnikov, Jett Luchanko, Jake Karabela and Vilmer Alriksson scored a goal apiece for Guelph, the first three being power-play markers. Michael Buchinger and Luchanko each had two assists while Braeden Bowman, Namestnikov and Leo Serlin had one each.

Liam Arnsby scored late in the first period for North Bay with Brice Cooke getting an assist on the goal.

North Bay outshot the Storm 35-25 with Guelph getting 15 of its shots in the second period. The Storm went 3-for-6 on the power play and held the Battalion scoreless on eight power plays.

The win lifts the Storm to second in the Western Conference at 7-3-0-0. Kitchener Rangers lead at 8-3-0-0 while the Soo Greyhounds are at 7-5-0-0. London Knights are at 6-4-0-1 and are followed by Sarnia Sting at 6-4-0-0, Owen Sound Attack at 4-5-1-0, Erie Otters at 4-6-1-0, Saginaw Spirit at 4-4-0-0, Flint Firebirds at 4-6-0-0 and Windsor Spitfires at 2-8-0-0.

The loss drops the Battalion to 5-4-1-1. They’re in a four-way tie for second in the Eastern Conference.

One of the teams in that tie is the Sudbury Wolves at 6-4-0-0. The Storm and Wolves are to meet at the Sudbury Community Arena Friday at 7:05 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal