3rd period meltdowns lead to pair of losses

After 3 very physical games in 4 nights, the Storm may want to replace the Thunderbolt in their logo with an icepack. After the hit-fest in the sardine can known as George Pearkes arena Wednesday, the Storm faced a much bigger Kerry Park team at the Brindy friday.

Despite being out-shot 21-7, the Storm actually had a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes, thanks to goals by Danny Hall (shorthanded), Mat Tilton and Brendan Enns. The Islanders could only muster a goal in the second, so the Storm still had a slim 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. The Islanders would come out fired up in the third, score less than a minute in. Then former Storm player Trevor Burnett would give the Islanders the lead for good 30 seconds later. Cole Thomson had the hat-trick, scoring the final goal with the Storm net empty. 6-3 Kerry Park. As it has been for most of the season, lack of productivity from special teams would haunt the Storm on this night, as they went 0-7. Tyler Bachmeier with 39 saves.

The following night, Saturday, the Storm would face the Oceanside Generals at the Howie Meeker arena. Traditionally, Dave Johnson coached teams are aggressive and physical, and this year's edition of the Generals continues in that mold.
The Generals would strike for three in the first, while holding the Storm off the score sheet. Neither team scored in the second, and in fact the next goal wouldn't come until 5 and a half minutes had transpired in the third.
Andrew Gaiga broke in short handed after an Oceanside defender lost his footing at the Storm blue-line. Gaiga would beat Kolding Larson with a terrific shot, and I thought that might give the Storm some momentum, now only down a pair.
Boy, was I wrong!
Catlin McLeod scored his second of the game one minute later, which opened the floodgates. 3 goals in 2 minutes for the homeside, en route to an 8-2 win. Robert Eliason would score the other Storm goal. Tyler Bachmeier with 30 saves, Ryan Fairgray 11 in relief. I had a chance to talk with Jesse Spooner after the Oceanside loss. I also spoke with Andrew Gaiga after the Kerry Park game, along with Danny Hall who you'll hear first.




The Storm are at Bear Mountain arena to face the Westshore Stingers tomorrow (monday, Oct 4). Storm won 5-4 in their previous meeting, the second game of the season. Pregame show at 7:15, brought to you by Work World in the Tyee Plaza and Home DEpot.