Chandler Romeo has been a big part of the Guelph Storm's early-season success in more ways the one.
Standing six-foot-five and well over 200 pounds, its hard not to notice his physical presence on the ice and he's been a steadying influence on the back end all season. He's playing a ton, often against the opponent's top line, and leads the team with a plus-9 rating.
On Sunday afternoon he was flashing a little offence, scoring his first goal of the season as the Storm downed the Ottawa 67's 6-1 at the Sleeman Centre.
Romeo is a Cambridge native and was thrilled to return to the Storm as one of its three overage players this season.
"Last year I was lucky enough to get dealt here, play for my favourite team growing up and live at home in Cambridge. The Storm's a team I had season tickets to growing up so it's really special to play my OA (overage) year here," Romeo said.
His responsibility and ice time has increased substantially.
"It's definitely different being one of the old guys in the league," Romeo said after Sunday's win. "It feels like just a little while ago that I was the young guy taking in little tips and stuff from the older guys, but it's an experience I'm really honing in on, trying to help the younger guys and make this team successful."
Storm coach Chad Wiseman said overagers are here to show younger players how to do things the "Guelph Storm way" and show leadership and character.
"He's got a great stick, with how tall he is, with that reach, he uses it to his advantage. It's his biggest asset."
Sunday's win over Ottawa was a big bounce-back after a tough loss on the road in Sudbury Friday.
The Storm fell behind 1-0 early in the first period on an Ottawa power play goal, but then scored six unanswered goals – one in the first, three in the second and two in the third – to improve to 8-4-0-0 on the season.
Three of Guelph's goals came on the power play and Brayden Gillespie was his usual brilliant self between the pipes, making 30 saves.
The three goals in the second period came in a three-minute span late in the period, shortly after a spirited scrap between Storm captain and 67's defenceman Matt Mayich. Bowman stepped in after a hard hit on a teammate along the boards.
Six different players scored for the Storm: Romeo, Bowman, Max Namestnikov, Charlie Paquette, Leo Serlin and Michael Buchinger.
"That was a huge win ... we're trying to string a few wins together and continue the momentum," Romeo said.
"For us tonight to show up here and show resilience against a good hockey team was important ... it was an impressive game," Wiseman said.
He had high praise for the team's younger players, who are seeing significant ice time this season.
"They're eating up important minutes, they're on special teams, they're on power plays ... penalty kills. Their points will come as they mature, but you can put them out in any situation. They're playing the right way and they're very responsible in their own end."
Guelph plays in Brantford Wednesday, in Ottawa Friday and in Kingston on Saturday.
They will do so without Quinn Beauchesne and Rylan Singh, who will miss the next five games playing at the World Under-17 Challenge. Rowan Topp, who missed Sunday's game with a minor injury, will be back and 2023 pick Grant Spada will be called up to help fill the void.
