It's been a bit of a journey, but Quinn Beauchesne is finally settling in on the Guelph Storm blueline.
Beachesne, the Storm's first round pick last year, was just coming out the other side of the rookie adjustment period in November when he broke his wrist playing at the World Under-17 challenge. Two months on the sideline delayed his progress and he's now playing, playing a lot, and playing in all situations.
Beauchesne assisted on both Guelph goals Friday night as they fell 4-2 to the Erie Otters despite outshooting their opponent 38-17. He also had an assist in Thursday's road win in Peterborough.
"The guys were really supportive when I was hurt and it helped me come back with a little more confidence. That's helping me and it's helping the team," said Beauchesne.
"It sucked, the timing of it (his injury), but I wouldn't trade that under-17 experience for anything."
He agrees that the game is coming a little more naturally now, with reaction and instincts taking over as opposed to over-thinking.
"I'm able to slow the game down a little bit more than what I was before and not over-think the game as much, but it's still a really fast game."
Beauchesne said the recent struggles are taking its toll mentally.
"Guys are coming to the rink a little bit more down than usual. We've got to be a little bit more upbeat when we come to the rink." he said.
Friday's loss was Guelph's eighth in its last nine games.
Badly outplayed in the first two periods and trailing 3-1, they showed some life in the third and made it a one-goal game when Hunter McKenzie scored with 17:39 remaining in regulation.
But opportunities were few and far between after that, even with the goalie pulled, and Erie iced it with an empty-netter.
Charlie Paquette had Guelph's other goal.
Brayden Gillespie was very solid for the second straight game in the Guelph net, and Jacob Gibbons, who came into the game with a 5.73 goals-against average, made the big saves when he had to at the other end.
Guelph went 0-for-4 on the power play against the second-worst penalty killing team in the OHL.
Coach Chad Wiseman said fatigue played a role in Friday's game. The team spent over seven hours on the bus Thursday, due to weather and traffic issues.
"I think we came out flat today. We didn't start on time," Wiseman said. "I thought we got better as the game went on but we weren't able to capitalize on special teams."
Wiseman stated the obvious; the power play is sorely missing injured quarterback Michael Buchinger.
"We're asking forwards to be in uncomfortable positions and we're asking young players to be in roles that they're not accustomed to," Wiseman said.
One of Erie's goals came shorthanded when Guelph had five forwards on the ice.
Gueph hosts the Sudbury Wolves on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m.
