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Austin Hall just happy to be back in Guelph Storm lineup

Veteran defenceman makes his return in OT loss to Flint after missing 30 games with a concussion

Despite the outcome, you’ll have to excuse Guelph Storm defenceman Austin Hall from sporting a smile following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flint Firebirds Friday at the Sleeman Centre.

Hall, 19, returned to the Storm lineup for the first time after missing the team’s past 30 games with a concussion.

“It was tough. Very, very tough,” said Hall of the long layoff.

“I’m no stranger to injuries in my career here in Guelph, but this one was the toughest for sure.”

He suffered the concussion on a blind side hit in Ottawa Nov. 5. It is his second concussion, having missed a month with one last season.

“There was a tough time there where it was definitely taking a toll on me mentally: am I going to be back? What’s going to happen? I didn’t think it was going to be as severe a concussion as it was but the symptoms lasted a long time,” Hall said.

Some days were darker than others.

A 10-day layoff at Christmas didn’t seem to make a difference.

“I had that 10 days of rest and I thought I was going to be good, but we came back and again, it just wasn’t there.”

He said after Friday’s game that “obviously the legs are a little tired, but my head is feeling fine.”

Friday’s loss leaves Guelph 11 points back of Flint for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Guelph has 19 games remaining. Flint 20.

Kole Sherwood won it for the Firebirds, blasting a one-timer to the top corner 35 seconds into overtime just as a penalty to the Storm’s Dmitri Samorukov expired but before he could get back into the play.

The Storm had played a spirited second half of the game, rallying from a 3-0 deficit on power play goals from Isaac Ratcliffe and Albert Michnac and a game-tying goal by Luke Burghardt set up nicely by Liam Hawel at 12:49 of the third.

“I really felt momentum was on our side … but unfortunately they got a big heavy shot by Sherwood,” Storm coach Jarrod Skalde said.

“It was encouraging to see that fight back. We dug in, our power play got us that first goal and then we just kept grinding.”

They also had several chances to get a go-ahead goal, in particular open looks by Nate Schnarr (saved) and James McEwan (shot wide),

“I thought we got too cute early on, trying to make those nice little plays, but once we started shooting pucks things really opened up for us,” Skalde said.

The Storm also had to kill off a five-minute major in that third period to Givani Smith, who received 27 minutes in total penalties and a game misconduct after a mini-snap in the third period in which he was the only player throwing punches.

Kyle Rhodes’ night also ended early, thanks to a charley horse.

The Storm hits the road on Thursday for a northern trip, starting in North Bay on Thursday night.

Next home game isn’t until Feb. 17 when the Barrie Colts are in town.


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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