Storm nipped by Kitchener in home opener
GUELPH – The Guelph Storm yielded a goal with 62 seconds to go in regulation time to be edged by a single goal by the Kitchener Rangers for the second night in a row.
Justin Nolet’s goal lifted Kitchener to a 5-4 victory over Guelph in the Storm’s Ontario Hockey League home opener Saturday night at the Sleeman Centre.
Kitchener 5 Guelph Storm 4
The Rangers had won 6-5 in overtime in Kitchener Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Saturday, the Storm led 2-0 at the end of the first period and 3-2 at the end of the second. Kitchener rallied with a pair of goals to take the lead with three minutes to play before the hosts pulled even with 2:15 to go.
Sasha Pastujov, selected in the 14th round of the 2019 OHL draft, led the Storm with a hat trick while Braeden Bowman added the other goal. Danny Zhilkin and Daniil Chayka each had two assists while Marko Sikic, Michael Buchinger and Cam Allen had one each.
Kitchener received single goals from five players — Joseph Serpa, Francesco Pinelli, Cameron Mercer, Roman Schmidt and Nolet. Arber Xhekaj set up three of the goals while Carson Rehkopf, Reid Valade, Mitchell Martin, Carson Rehkopf, Mike Petizian and Serpa each had one assist.
The Storm outshot Kitchener 31-29 while both teams had a power-play goal, Kitchener’s on three power plays and the Storm on four.
Owen Bennett was charged with the loss in the Storm net while Jackson Parsons picked up the win for Kitchener.
The Storm have a pair of games in the next week as they’re to play the Owen Sound Attack (0-1-0-1) at Owen Sound’s Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre Wednesday at 7 p.m. and host the Soo Greyhounds (1-1-0-0) Friday at the Sleeman Centre at 7:30 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal