The Erie North Shore Storm Novice team hosted the Lasalle Sabres this
past Friday night in Kingsville on the back end of a home and home series and
were looking for a better result than the four goal loss from Sunday afternoon.
The game definitely did not start off as the Storm would have hoped, with the visiting squad taking a two goal lead less than 30 seconds into the game. The Erie North Shore team would do its best to control the Lasalle Sabres’ attack, but found themselves down 6-0 after two periods. The third period brought improved play by the Storm where they were finally able to get on the score sheet with Ben Buchner firing one home from the slot, assisted by Nevan Branco and Sage Batke. However, this would be all of the offense the home team could muster, losing 8-1.
The next afternoon, the Erie North Shore Novice squad travelled to Chatham to take on the Kent Cobras. The team was looking to break out their offense, after only scoring two goals in the previous three games. For the second game in a row, the Storm gave up a goal in the first minute. However, Sage Batke picked the bottom corner on a wrister from the slot off Elijah Pezzotti’s face-off win to pull even a half a minute later. The period became a see-saw battle on the score clock with the Cobras scoring and the Storm answering immediately after. Brock Bezaire from Elijah Pezzotti and then Ben Buchner from Ashton Sim and Sage Batke kept the score even at three apiece after one frame. The second period started out similar to the first, with the Cobras scoring firs; then Nevan Branco fired one just under the bar setup by Ashton Sim and Sage Batke. The home team would regain the lead to end the middle period. The final stanza would include more scoring with both Quinn Brennan and Ben Buchner scoring on unassisted breakaways, however, the Kent team would pot four goals in the period to beat the Storm 9-6. It was an exciting game with 15 goals in total and it was nice to see the offense come alive. Next up: commitment to total team defence; starting on Friday night in Harrow at 6:40 pm vs Essex.