Streak snapped with win over Elmira

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Scott Ludwig — Leave a comment

Injuries, roster changes and young prospects have been the theme for the Guelph Hurricanes the past weeks. Several ‘affiliate’ players from the Guelph Gryphons AAA program have recently made appearances for the Hurricanes. Their last victory came on November 5 and the team has managed just two points since. That 10-game winless streak came to an end on Thursday night with a 2-1 victory over Elmira Sugar Kings.

Goaltender Jet Greaves, who began the season with three straight shutouts, returned to form in the home win stopping 29 of 30 shots. Connor LePage and Liam Buckley each scored in the second period to provide the offense in what have been a pivotal game in the Hurricanes (8-19-1-4) season. With 21 points Guelph sit in seventh place of the GOJHL Midwestern Conference, just five points back of fifth place Kitchener.

With neither team able to score in the opening frame, all scoring came in the second. Barrie Colts draftee LePage scored (with assists from Tyler Harrison and Payton McLeish) the first goal of the game at 1:22. Elmira would tie the game at 7:55 on a goal scored by Ethan Wiseman.

Late in the second Liam Buckley (from Mason Sinkeldam and Chris Atanas) notched his fifth goal of the season, and it turned out to be enough. Greaves made 10 saves in the final 20 minutes to clinch the victory at Sleeman Centre.

Connor LePage and Liam Buckley score in the second period for Guelph hold off @SugarKings 2-1! https://t.co/EULmK9WfVB #GOJHL

— Guelph Hurricanes (@GuelphCanes) December 15, 2017

Friday night the Hurricanes traveled to Brampton to face the Bombers. The game was competitive for the first 30 minutes with the teams exchanging tallies in the first. A power play goal by Mathieu Mercier with assists from Anthony Mota and Tyler Harrison tied it for Guelph midway through the opening frame.

Three power play goals (four total in the game) by the Bombers in the final 30 minutes proved to be the difference though as Brampton cruised to a 5-1 victory. Greaves made 29 saves in a losing effort.

The teams will meet again next weekend with a home-and-home series to wrap up 2017 action. Friday night will be played back in Brampton before the teams take the ice at Sleeman Centre on Saturday night.