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Resurgent Guelph Storm power play fuels win over Steelheads

Rookie Ryan Merkley getting lots of the credit for the Storm's improved effort with the man advantage

Ryan Merkley practices head fakes.

That’s right, those little moves that seem to misdirect opposing players with profound regularity are something the rookie Guelph Storm defenceman has practiced for a long time.

“I’ve worked on that for years with my trainer Wes Clark. Always before school, working on that exact play – head fake and making moves,” Merkley said.

It’s one of the tools he uses to be such a proficient piece of the Storm’s resurgent power play, which connected four times Friday at the Sleeman Centre in a 7-3 win over the Mississauga Steelheads front of 4,074.

The Storm’s power play is now ranked seventh in the OHL after finishing last season ranked 18th.

“You’ve got to execute and gain momentum off it. That’s all you can ask for,” said Merkley, who had a pair of assists in Friday’s win.

“I didn’t think we were that good tonight, our breakouts were a bit sloppy, but we executed. We got our chances and we buried them.”

While it may not seem fair to put all the credit for the power play’s resurgence on the shoulders of a 16-year-old rookie, it’s hard to argue that Merkley has been the main difference.

“You want the puck in his hands,” Storm coach Jarrod Skalde said.

“The guys on the bench react the same way as the fans in the stands. Even the coaches sometimes are amazed at the play he just made. He makes special plays,” Skalde said.

Making the power play’s success even more surprising is that one of its main snipers, Nate Schnarr, is out of the lineup for four weeks with a shoulder injury.

Another power play regular, James McEwan, is also out, recovering from a broken jaw.

“Ryan being the player he is brings a lot of opportunities and a lot of chances on the power play,” said Storm captain Garret McFadden.

“He’s got a great fake shot and has a way of deceiving defenders. You look at a 16-year-old kid doing that and you kind of think ‘I could learn a few things off this guy.’

“He’s great because he makes everyone better on the power play,” McFadden said.

Guelph was outshot 41-28 by the Steelheads, but rookie goalie Anthony Popovich, making his first start at home, was rock solid in making 38 saves.

Jake Bricknell and Isaac Ratcliffe each had a pair of goals, McFadden had a goal and two assists and Givani Smith and Matt Hotchkiss also scored.

Guelph led 3-1 after one period and 5-1 after two.

Former Storm goaltender Matt Mancina started for Mississauga but was pulled after the first period.

The Storm will play in Kitchener Sunday afternoon.

Next home game is Friday when the Peterborough Petes visit.

 

 


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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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