It can be a short bus ride from frustration to elation in the world of junior hockey.
Less than two days after a very frustrating 8-1 loss on home ice, the Guelph Storm responded with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Kingston Frontenacs Sunday afternoon at the Sleeman Centre.
Rookie defenceman Ryan Merkley had a wonderful game, scoring on an oh-my-goodness individual effort in regulation then netting the winner just 15 seconds into overtime.
“It was huge. Huge for us, our confidence and our energy level,” Merkley said of the bounce-back victory.
“Friday night was obviously frustrating for us,” he said.
Isaac Ratcliffe won the face off to start the overtime and the puck went back to Merkley.
He hit a streaking Givani Smith on the wing and Smith went in on a partial breakaway, but was stopped by Kingston goalie Jeremy Helvig.
Merkley swooped in for the rebound and flicked it into the net for the winner.
He also had an assist, giving him 21 points in 24 games this season.
“He was screaming for it,” Merkley said of springing Smith on the breakaway.
“He drove to the net hard. Both guys were on him and I just had to pop it in.”
Garrett McFadden had given Guelph the 3-2 lead four minutes into the third period, but Kingston’s Stephen Desrocher ripped a slap shot past Storm netminder Liam Herbst at 17:38 of the third to force overtime.
Storm coach Jarrod Skalde said he liked his team’s energy from the opening face off, something that wasn’t there Friday.
“Friday night was a tough one,” Skalde said. “There was energy in the building today and I thought our guys came with a lot of pace.”
As for Merkley’s game, Skalde was as impressed as anyone.
“All the really good players, the puck comes to them. That goal he score in regulation was pretty special,” Skalde said of Merkley’s first goal, which saw him dipsy-doodle around two or three Frontenac players.
Guelph killed off six of seven Kingston power plays, with the only goal coming at the tail end of a five-minute major for checking from behind to Jake Bricknell in the first period.
Guelph plays in London on Friday then ends the first half of the schedule with a Saturday afternoon home game against the Kitchener Rangers. Game time is 2 p.m.
