The Buffalo Storm, the United States only Jr. A Inline Hockey Team began their 2008 Season this past weekend with 2 big wins and a heartbreaking overtime defeat. A member of the Great Lakes Inline Hockey League (GLi), of the Ontario Minor Roller Hockey Association (OMRHA), the Storm traveled to London Ontario for their first weekend of league games and came home with a solid 2-0 record, the teams best start in their franchises 5 year history.
The 2008 Season opened with the Storm facing off against the Brampton Radicals, who returned to the GLi this season after a 2 year re-organization hiatus. The Storm struck early and often during this contest – with Jim Durham (Marilla) scoring the teams first goal of the season, and his first of 3 in the game just 22seconds into the opening quarter. Veteran Dan Shannahan (Orchard Park followed suit a little under 1 minute later to put the Storm ahead 2-0; the team would never look back. Rookie defenseman Dan Wasielewski (Cheektowaga) was able to net his first career goal in the first quarter. Durham and Shannahan each added a goal a piece to round out the 1st quarter scoring; Shannahan was credited with a shorthanded goal thanks to an outstanding individual effort by the defenseman. 2nd year goaltender Matt Goulding (East Amherst) saw his first action of the season, finishing the game with 1 goal against and 13 saves in a relatively easy contest.
The games 1st half finished up with the Storm holding a commanding 7-1 lead over the Radicals. Rookie forwards Joe Bodkin (Cheektowaga) and Rob Szymkowiak (Cheektowaga) hooked up for a goal a piece. The Storm continued their masterful play, controlling the 2nd half of the game and playing outstanding defense, limiting Brampton to only 6 shots. Sophomore defenseman Brandon Gasiewicz (Hamburg) buried a power play goal with a shot from the point in the 3rd quarter; while Durham finished up his hat trick with a blazing 4th quarter shot, beating the goaltenders glove side. The team finished the game scoring 9 goals on 27 shots for their biggest win in franchise history.
The weekends 2nd contest proved to be much more of a challenge for the Storm as they faced off against the 2001 GLi Champion, Chatham Maroons. Szymkowiak started out the scoring with his 2nd goal of the season, on the power play just under 3 minutes into the contest; but the Maroons would strike back with 2 goals in the 2nd quarter in just under 3 minutes. The Storm were able to answer back and cut the gap to 1 thanks to Durhams 4th of the season, but the lead did not last long as the Maroons always seemed to have an answer for whatever the Storm did, the Storm closed out the half down 4-2.
The 2nd half proved to be a better half for the Storm, although they were only held to 13 shots in the half, they proved they had the scoring touch as Durham and Shannahan each tallied a goal in the 3rd. The team was able to gain their first lead of the game with just over 6 minutes to play in the 4th – Jason Francabandiero (Lakeview) netted his first of the season and Shannahan was clutch once again, scoring the go-ahead goal with 4:35 left in the contest. The “never say die” attitude of the Maroons came through in the games final minute as they were able to fight back and score their 6th of the game, tying the game and sending it to a shootout to decide the winner.
Durham continued his hot streak into the shootout, taking the first shot of the shootout and scoring the only goal in the overtime to earn his 2nd hat trick in as many games and propel the Storm to their best start in team history. Richie Latona (Lockport) found himself between the pipes standing face-to-face with some of the games best players, but stood strong in goal making 3 key saves and completely shutting down the Maroons in the overtime.
The team’s final contest of the weekend saw the Storm square off against their rivals, the Hamilton Power at Valley Park Arena. Having never earned a win at Hamilton’s home rink, the Storm were determined to come away with 2 points; but fell short of their goal by coming away with an overtime loss and earning 1 point.
The Storm started off the game slow, going down 5-1 in the first half. The teams’ captain and all-time leading scorer, Kevin Fischer (Cheektowaga) was the only Storm player able to solve a strong Power goaltender by scoring the teams only 1st half goal, but the 2nd half would prove to be a different story for Fischer and the Storm. Shannahan once again started a rally for the Storm, scoring his 6th of the season on the power play a little over 1 minute into the half. Derek Mohney (Amherst) played outstanding in goal, making key save after key save to keep his team within striking distance, shutting out the Power in the games 2nd half.
With Mohney standing strong between the pipes, Fischer was able to put his squad on his back and bring the score to 5-4 with 2 more goals, in a little more than 2 minutes. With just over 2 minutes to play in the contest and the Power up by a goal, rookie d-man and the teams youngest player Justin Banaszak (Lancaster) was able to bury a shot from the high slot to tie the game at 6 and send the game to overtime. The Storm’s fortunes wouldn’t prove to be as lucky this time around though. A costly turnover in the offensive zone allowed the Power to spring a Hamilton player for a clear breakaway and the final goal of the contest.
The season continues for the Storm this Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 as they welcome the perennial powerhouse Toronto Tigers to their home arena, the Cheektowaga Recreation Center in what is sure to be an outstanding match-up in the team’s home opener. For more information about the Storm, including a complete schedule please visit their website at
www.buffalostorm.net.
