The Storm closed off their exhibition schedule in Dawson Creek Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 win over the BCHL's Quesnel Millionaires, finishing with a perfect 4-and-0 record.
The Storm opened the scoring almost 13 minutes in on a beautiful give and go play between Jordan Forfar and Dan Correale. After eluding two defenders in the neutral zone, Forfar passed the puck to Correale, who sent it back to the Ontario native. He then eluded two more defenders, and out waited Millionaires goaltender Kirby Halcrow before firing it into the open net to make it 1-0. However, the Mills would even the score late in the period on a marker by Malcolm Gould, one of two for him on the afternoon.
The second period started out great for the Storm, as Tanner Fritz converted a two on one with Correale to give them back the lead. Then back to back power play goals 1:11 apart by Mitch Neumeier and Correale gave the Storm a 4-1 lead. They were threatening to run away with the game.... but it seems three goal leads do not agree with the Storm, at least not in the pre-season.
After the goaltending switch, which saw Lino Chimienti come in for Colin Dzijacky, the Mills struck for two quick ones to make the game interesting. First, Gould would add his second of the day. Then, 1:09 later, a shot from Tyler French deflected off a stick and eluded Chimienti. Suddenly, a 4-1 game had turned to 4-3. The score stayed that way to the end of the second, but the fireworks were just beginning.
First, Storm defenceman Josh Phillips went after Quesnel's Spencer Graboski, who had been flapping his gums at members of the Storm through much of the contest. It landed Phillips an extra two minutes in the sin bin, which the Millionaires were unable to capitalize on.
Then, Millionaires captain and former Drayton Valley Thunder defenceman Skyler Smutek caught Forfar with a knee on knee hit in the neutral zone. As Forfar limped off to the bench under his own power, Smutek got an early taste of the hot water, receiving a five minute kneeing major and a game misconduct. Moments later, Quesnel goalie Charles Corsi picked up a delay of game minor for firing the puck over the glass, giving the Storm a 5 of 3 power play for a full two minutes. but the blue and gold could not capitalize, turning the momentum back over to their BC counterparts.
But Quesnel was unable to seize that opportunity. Instead, they needed a big save from Corsi off of storm forward Jon Aylward to keep it a one goal game. Corsi would soon head to the bench for a sixth attacker, only to see Phillips float the puck the length of the ice to secure a 5-3 Storm lead.
A two goal difference with just under a minute left...... time to turn the fireworks into stupidity. First, Millionaires forward Clayton Chessa landed a hard, high cross check to Storm rookie Mathew Chrystian, earning him a five minute major and a game misconduct. In the same stoppage, Ryan Crosson of the Millionaires jumped another Storm rookie, in midget-aged forward Zack Mungall. While this was going on, Quesnel coach Doug Hedley was verbally berating anyone that was in ear shot, whether it was the officials or members of the Storm.
The verbal diarreha continued to spew from the Millionaires' bench boss well past the end of the game and into the preparation stages for the friendly 5-on-5 shoot out that has been staged at the end of every "Face-Off Fever" contest. Finally, the officials had enough of Hedley's diatribe, and told the Millionaires to go to the dressing room, thus cancelling the shoot out.
HIT OF THE GAME:
Storm veteran defenceman Caylen Walls caught Quesnel's Spencer Graboski with his head down cutting into the Storm zone eearly in the first. While photos appeared to show Walls catching Graboski in the chest, the referee felt differently, handing the Lyalta native a checking to the head minor and an automatic 10 minute misconduct.
NEXT UP:
After a busy week that saw some play five games (including intrasquad game) in seven days, those remaining in Storm camp will take some time to rest and learn systems before embarking on the 2010-11 season Friday night at home against the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
I talked to Storm coach Mike Vandekamp after the game to get his thoughts on the exhibition campaign.
GAME SUMMARY:
Storm - 5 vs Quesnel - 3
First Period:
1. GP Jordan Forfar (Dan Correale) 12:40
2. Q Malcolm Gould (Spencer Graboski) 19:25
Penalties:
Crosson Q (Hooking) 1:21
Burgart Q (Slashing) 2:44
Walls GP (Check to head and Misconduct), Woodley GP, Graboski Q (Roughing) 3:59
Aylward GP (Roughing) 15:40
Second Period:
3. GP Tanner Fritz (Dan Correale) :55
4. GP Mitch Neumeier (Josh Phillips) 2:31 PP
5. GP Dan Correale (Caylen Walls) 3:42 PP
6. Q Malcolm Gould (2) (Rigby Burgart) 13:17
7. Q Tyler French (Michael Spring) 14:26
Penalties:
Toohey Q (Holding) 2:18
Chessa Q, Mungall GP (Roughing) 2:58
Zgreggan Q (Interference) 3:19
Phillips GP (Double Roughing), Graboski Q (Roughing) 20:00
Third Period:
8. GP Phillips (unassisted) 19:00 ENG
Penalties:
Smutek Q (Slashing) 2:59
Smutek Q (Kneeing Major and Game Misconduct) 5:19
Corsi Q (Delay of Game) 6:38
White Q (Slashing) 10:40
Chessa Q (Cross Checking Major and Game Misconduct) 19:26
Crosson Q, Mungall GP (Roughing) 19:26
Power Plays: GP 2/9 Quesnel 0/2
Goalie Stats:
Storm: Colin Dzijacky (W, 29:38 MP, 1 GA), Lino Chimienti (30:22 MP, 2 GA)
Mills: Kirby Halcrow (L, 29:38 MP, 4 GA), Charles Corsi (29:34 MP, 1 ENG)
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