Brody Crane knows how to win over his new fans.
A late addition to the Guelph Storm at the trade deadline from the Niagara IceDogs, the four-year OHL veteran scored a pair of goals Friday night to help the Storm snap a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Flint Firebirds before a crowd of 4,561 at the Sleeman Centre.
"Second game at the Sleeman so it's nice to get two," Crane said. "I thought one was nice, but two ice nicer and hopefully I'll get more."
Crane, 19, came to Guelph in exchange for draft picks. He started the year in London, playing 12 games there before being dealt to Niagara, where he played 11 games.
"They had a lot of older guys in Niagara so I kind of knew that something maybe would happen so I was happy to come to Guelph," he said. "I know they kind of reached out, so I'm just happy to be here."
Crane will also be a likely overage candidate next year.
"He's got a pretty unique skill set," Storm coach Chad Wiseman said of Crane. "He's got speed, he's got a really high IQ, he's manages the puck well and he's got poise. I think long term he's going to be a good asset for our group and play in our top six forwards."
Crane seems built for the edgy, at-times chippy game like Friday was.
"He's not afraid to get involved and with London last year they had a deep playoff run, 21 games, so he's used to those type of situations," Wiseman said.
Crane's second of the game proved to be the eventual game-winner, a wrist shot to the top corner after gathering a loose puck off the rush, came with 1:54 left in the third.
Flint scored shortly after to make it 4-3, but Braeden Bowman was handed the can-of-corn empty netter when a Flint defenceman slipped and put the puck right on his stick deep in the Firebirds zone.
"We had a hard practice yesterday and then Chad mentioned in the room. He just mentioned hard work and that's what we did tonight," Crane said.
Michael Buchinger and Max Namestnikov, the latter on a sweet breakaway finish on Flint goaltender Nathan Day, had the other Guelph goals. Rylan Singh had two assists and Damian Slavik, with the exception of one soft goal int he third, was very steady in the Storm net, making 19 saves.
A couple of Storm players are inching closer to return: Cam Allen has been cleared for full-contact practice as he recovers from shoulder surgery, with his return to games still up in the air. Quinn Beauchesne is also returning to full contact practice but his return is considered week to week.
Guelph is off until Friday when they will host the Sarnia Sting.
