Nate Schnarr continues to transform into the player everyone thought he could be.
The Guelph Storm winger scored three times Friday night, including the winner with 6:17 left in the third period, as the Storm downed the Barrie Colts 4-3 at the Sleeman Centre.
After scoring 18 goals as a rookie two years ago, Schnarr managed just 16 in 57 games last season as he battled shoulder issues.
Friday's trio of tallies gives him 14 goals already in 18 games this season.
A third round draft pick of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes, he credits weekly visits from Arizona development coach and former NHLer Mark Bell with helping him thrive this season.
"I can't give him enough credit, he's been amazing," Schnarr said of Bell.
"It's just about relaxing," Schnarr said of his goal scoring prowess so far this season.
"Mark was here last week and we were going through a couple of drills and he just told me to relax. When I get too stiff up top the puck just doesn't come off right," he said, "and it's just not trying to pick that corner perfectly, it's just getting it on net."
All of Schnarr's goals were near-carbon copies: one-timers from his wheelhouse, 10 feet from the opponent's net on his opposite wing.
"A lot of credit's going to my linemates. All three of the goals tonight were identical: perfect passes and I just had to put it on net."
Friday's game, played out in front of 4,100 fans, was a thriller.
After a shaky first period that saw them fall behind 2-0, Guelph kicked up the emotion and their pace and scored three unanswered goals to take a lead midway through the third.
They were aided by a litany of penalties by the Colts, the OHL's most penalized team, as Guelph's first three goals were on the power play.
Dom Commisso, a forward now a fixture on defence when the Storm has the power play, had three assists and Anthony Popovich turned in a number of tough saves to help the cause.
"We had a tough first period but a really good response from our top guys and our power play and penalty kill were huge tonight," Schnarr said.
The Storm plays in Windsor Saturday night. Next Wednesday they play a day game in Mississauga then are back home Friday against the Flint Firebirds.
