Nolan Makkonen picked a heck of a time to join the Guelph Storm.
The 17-year-old Sault Ste. Marie native jumped into the deep end this week, joining the team Tuesday in time for a quick practice, then playing a semi-regular shift in two games against Owen Sound, the hottest team in Canada.
The Attack continued their winning ways Friday with an easy 8-2 win over the Storm at the Sleeman Centre.
It was Owen Sound’s 12th straight win. For Guelph it was its seventh straight loss.
Makkonen was a minus-2 Friday night after being a plus-1 and picking up an assist in his first OHL shift on Wednesday in Owen Sound.
“It’s definitely more difficult, but we all know what we’re in for, we’re in for a rebuild and we just have to stay positive,” the self-described stay-at-home defenceman said.
“With the right mindset we can definitely turn things around before the season is over.”
Jumping in mid-season is a tough spot for a player. Particularly without much practice time under his belt.
“It’s all great. It’s a great learning experience and I’m just here to help out the team and do what I can.”
The speed and skill difference between the OHL and the Northern Ontario Junior A league he was playing in with Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, was evident immediately.
“Everything is a lot faster compared with junior A back home and as far as skill goes, that’s off the charts. It’s a whole different level coming here,” Makkonen said.
He was thrilled to get the call to join the Storm.
“I was blown away … there’s no way to describe the last 48 hours. It’s a complete blur. Nothing but excitement.”
It was a familiar tune being played at the Sleeman Centre. The Storm came out with energy but got a terrible break early when a puck bounced off the end glass, hit goaltender Anthony Popovich in the net and went into the net.
Still, it was a 2-1 game after 20 minutes.
But a goal 13 seconds into the second period deflated the Storm and they went on to surrender four unanswered goals in the middle frame.
They outscored Owen Sound 2-1 in a play-out-the-clock third period.
“Obviously it’s draining on everybody: the coaching staff and the players,” Storm coach Jarrod Skalde said.
“It’s obviously a mental thing. (Owen Sound) is a good hockey team, but I thought we started again but couldn’t sustain it. It was ‘here we go again.’”
“It was another tough night and it’s been a tough couple of weeks. We’ve just got to stay on it and stay with it.”
Garrett McFadden, Nate Schnarr and Cedric Ralph had the Guelph goals.
Guelph played the game with five defencemen, three of them rookies.
Cordell James led the Attack with a pair of goals. Nick Suzuki and Kevin Hancock each had a goal and two assists.
Popovich allowed six goals in two periods for the Storm before surrendering the crease to Liam Herbst.
Guelph has the rest of the weekend off and will host the Niagara IceDogs in a rare Tuesday game, starting at 7 p.m.
