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Statement made: Guelph Storm shows it is a legit contender (9 photos)

An 8-4 win over the Ottawa 67's on Sunday was the team's third win over a top 10 team in six days

The deals are done, now it's time for a run at a championship.

With 26 games remaining in the regular season, the Guelph Storm proved they are part of the conversation this week, defeating three of the CHL's top 10 ranked teams, two of them on the road.

Sunday they beat the third-ranked Ottawa 67's 8-4 before 4,500 fans at the Sleeman Centre.

They also beat the sixth-ranked London Knights and ninth-ranked Niagara IceDogs.

"We had a tough schedule this week and we knew that," said new Storm member Sean Durzi, who had a pair of goals on Sunday. "I thought we did a good job of coming together with only one short practice under our belts.

"Right away when I got here you could tell the type of character guys we have in this dressing room. The group of guys we have is something special," Durzi said.

Yes, the Ottawa 67's looked tired, playing their third game in less than three days. But the Storm has also had a crazy schedule and was playing its fifth game in eight days.

"Definitely," said captain Isaac Ratcliffe. "We made some key acquisitions and that definitely helps. We seem like a new team now we have a lot of new energy."

What many expected to be a tightly-contested affair on Sunday was anything but.

Guelph led 3-0 after the first period and chased Team Canada goalie Michael DiPietro midway through the second period when Nate Schnarr's goal made it 5-1.

DiPietro allowed five goals on 18 shots.

Guelph's newest players strutted their stuff for the hometown fans. Sean Durzi scored a pair of goals and Nick Suzuki had four assists. Isaac Ratcliffe led the offence with a hat trick and an assist.

Keegan Stevenson, Liam Hawel and Nate Schnarr had Guelph's other goals and Anthony Popovich made 21 saves in a game that saw Ottawa add two late goals during garbage time that made the score closer than the game actually was.

Guelph now sits in fourth place in the Western Conference, four points back of third place Saginaw.

"Our power play was good and Sean showed us leadership and hard work out there," Storm coach/GM George Burnett said. "(Ottawa) doesn't lose very often so it was nice to get the win in our building."

Burnett shied away from the "statement week" comment when it was offered to him.

"I think it's important for ourselves. Everything else is noise and I don't know that we're out there trying to make a statement other than trying to get better. We still haven't had a practice yet" with the new players, Burnett said.

Ottawa will also lose Kody Clark for a couple of games at least after he received a match penalty for slew footing Guelph rookie Zack Terry in the third period.

Guelph travels to Peterborough to take on the Petes Thursday night. Friday they're home to Owen Sound and Sunday home to Niagara. 


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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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