Storm doubled up by Soo’s third-period goals
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Guelph Storm yielded third-period goals to brothers Travis and Gavin Hayes as they suffered a 4-2 loss to the Soo Greyhounds in Ontario Hockey League play Friday night at Sault Ste. Marie’s GFL Memorial Gardens.
Gavin Hayes, reunited with younger brother Travis following a trade from the Flint Firebirds earlier in the week, scored twice in his debut with the Greyhounds.
The Storm never led in the game, but never trailed by more than a goal until an unassisted empty-netter by Gavin Hayes with 1:13 to go in the game.
Despite the closeness of the game with the teams tied 1-1 after the first period and 2-2 after the second, all three stars were Greyhounds.
Vilmer Alriksson and Storm debutant Brody Crane scored for Guelph. Crane was dealt to the Storm by the Niagara IceDogs earlier in the week after starting his season with the London Knights.
Rylan Singh, Jett Luchanko, Jake Karabela and Thomas Budnick each had an assist for the Storm.
Gavin Hayes with two, Travis Hayes and Marco Mignosa struck for a goal apiece for Soo. Assists went to Owen Allard, Jordan D’Intino, Mignosa and Andrew Gibson each had one assist.
The Storm outshot the Greyhounds 33-32 despite being outshot 13-4 in the third period. Guelph outshot Soo 18-6 in the second period.
The Hounds went 1-for-2 on their power play while the Storm was scoreless on three power plays.
Brayden Gillespie had 28 saves for the Storm while Charlie Schenkel had 31 for the Greyhounds.
Leading up to Wednesday’s trade deadline, the Storm acquired right winger Zander Veccia from the Mississauga Steelheads for four draft picks (a fifth-rounder this year, third-rounder in 2025, second-rounder in 2026 and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2027) and left winger Crane from Niagara for a sixth-round pick in 2026.
The Storm also sent defenceman Zackary Sandhu to the Oshawa Generals for a third-round pick in 2025, fifth-round pick in 2026 and ninth-round pick in 2027, and dealt left winger Justin DeZoete to Soo for a 10th-round pick in 2027. DeZoete played for the Greyhounds Friday. The Storm also received a fourth-round pick this year and a second-round pick in 2025 from the Windsor Spitfires for a second-round pick this year.
Kitchener Rangers lead the Western Conference at 28-11-2-0 while the Greyhounds, as West Division leaders, are second at 26-11-2-1. London Knights are third at 28-11-0-1, Saginaw Spirit fourth at 25-12-0-1 and the Storm fifth at 23-14-2-1.
The Storm and Saginaw are to clash Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Saginaw’s Dow Event Center.
The Spirit were active traders this week as they acquired defenceman Jorian Donovan from the Brantford Bulldogs for eight draft picks (all in the second, third or fourth rounds), centre Owen Beck from the Peterborough Petes for left winger Aiden Young and three draft picks (all in the second or third rounds), left winger Aidan Castle from Windsor for an 11th-round pick and sixth- and ninth-round picks from Mississauga for right winger Dean Loukus.
- Guelph Sports Journal