Courtesy of Sarnia Sting
With
a lot still to be decided on
the final day of the OHL
regular season, the Sarnia
Sting dropped a 6-2 decision
to the Guelph Storm.
Guelph, still battling for
home ice advantage, entered
Sunday afternoon contest at
the Sleeman’s Centre in need
of a point. In front of
4,935 fans the Storm came
out fast and hard, scoring
32 seconds into the game,
and never looked back.
This goal would be the
first of 3 for Robby Fabbri
on the night (assist to
Tyler Bertuzzi) as the World
Junior Gold medalist added
to an already stellar
campaign.
Fabbri continued to attack
taking a stretch pass that
lead to a partial break,
before being hauled down by
Alex Black. Black would be
called for a 2 minute
tripping minor. Just as the
Power Play expired, Jason
Dickinson would add to the
first period lead by
deflecting home a Noah
Carroll point shot making it
2-0.
Just over a minute later,
Sarnia's Hayden Hodgson
would answer scoring his
23rd of season, finishing
off a beautiful pass from
Troy Lajeunesse.
As the first stanza came to
a close, Guelph continued to
pressure and Pius Suter
tallied his 42nd goal of the
year on a wrist shot with
just 1:41 left. The Sting
would trail 4-1 after the
1st period.
The Sting would come out of
the locker room flat and
frustration would begin to
mount as Franco Sproviero
was given a 5 minute major
and match penalty for slew
footing just over 3 minutes
into the 2nd period. Guelph
would capitalize once on the
major with Suter striking
again, this time setting up
Givani Smith.
The Sting would regain some
momentum late in the second
period, as Jordan Kyrou
would drive down the centre
of the ice, taking on two
Guelph defenders, and
beating both but Justin
Nichols would poke the puck
off his stick as he
approached the mouth of the
goal. The score would
remain 4-1 after the 2nd
period.
After a Troy Lajeunesse
delay of game penalty at the
21 second mark of the 2nd
period, the Sting would
begin the third short
handed.
Robby Fabbri would extend
the Storm’s lead to 5-1,
just 0:46 seconds into the
period on the power play.
Immediately after the Fabbri
goal, Guelph pulled veteran
Goaltender Justin Nichols in
favour of Bradley Van
Schubert, feeling they had
home ice advantage within
reach.
Van Schubert would be tested
early by Kyrou and
Lajeunesse, but would hold
his ground. After a few
minutes of sustained
pressure, former Strathroy
Rocket, Davis Brown would
take an outlet pass from
Kevin Spinozzi, walk over
the blueline and beat Van
Schubert high for his 20th
of the campaign.
Although the Sting would
maintain constant pressure
throughout the third period,
they would be unable to
close the gap on the
scoreboard. Eventually,
Fabbri would extend the
Guelph lead, and complete
the Hat Trick, with 3:24
remaining in the game,
bringing the score to 6-2.
Justin Fazio in net for the
Sting faced 29 shots and
made 23 saves. For
Guelph Justin Nichols made
17 saves on 18 shots and
Bradely VanSchubert made 8
saves on 10.
Sarnia went zero for two on
the power play, Guelph
scored twice on six
opportunities.
Sarnia will begin opening round action of the Ontario Hockey League
playoffs on Thursday and
Friday night in Erie against
the Otters. The Sting will
return home and host Erie on
Sunday March 29th and
Tuesday March 31st. Tickets
are available for purchase
through the RBC Centre box
office in person or by phone
at 519-541-1717 or online at
www.sarniasting.com
STING NOTES
-
The Sting ended their
regular season with a
final record of
29-32-4-3.
-
Guelph native and Sting
Assistant Captain,
Stephen Pierog, his
final OHL regular season
game in his hometown.
Pierog, was also named
the Games 3rd star.
-
Not in the Lineup for
the Sting Jakob
Chychrun, Noah Bushnell,
Brandon Lindberg, Pavel
Zacha, Matteo
Ciccarelli, Connor
Schlichting, Nikita
Korostelev, Jeff King,
and Shayne Battler
-
Jake O’Donnell was in
the lineup for the Sting
after finishing his
GOJHL season with the
Sarnia Legionnaires on
Saturday.