From the Stands
The quality of play in the Ontario Hockey League is about to take another giant step up when it comes to effort and success. It often takes a veteran to understand how much better you have to be in the postseason so it is no surprise that the Guelph Storm line of Ryan Horvat, 20, Cody McNaughton, 20, and Patrick Watling, 19, has been so successful lately. When the lines are posted in the media room before the game they are listed as the fourth line, but they certainly haven’t played like it recently. Both McNaughton and Horvat were chosen as their team’s top star in recent games, while at the same time taking shifts against the other club’s top line.
“I take more pride in playing a defensive role when I’m out there,” said Horvat. “Scoring a goal is just a plus. We need to shut down the other team’s top line and if we can generate a good cycle on a particular shift it gets the whole team going.”
Coach Scott Walker is in the good position of being able to count on all his lines.
“I don’t know which one is the fourth line” he says quite honestly “I think we have four lines and every night I need to get at least three of them going to win. (The beauty of the Horvat-McNaughton-Watling line is) they hold each other responsible.”
Horvat says that honest type of communication is necessary to be successful.
“In between shifts we take a quick break to get our breath back but then we start talking…’you made a good play there or maybe we should do this next time’” said the Simcoe native. “I’ve played a lot with Watling this year and a lot with McNaughton last year so there is just good chemistry – we know how each other thinks.”
McNaughton’s assessment of the trio is a little more to the point.
“We are just hard working players who get the puck deep and play a simple game” said the fifth year veteran.
In the playoffs, that type of play carries a lot of weight and coach Walker will be hoping that all his lines take that workmanlike attitude into the postseason.
From the Land of Oz….The Storm’s biggest concern going into the playoffs has to be their powerplay. Before last night’s game against Kitchener they had the third worst powerplay in the OHL (16.8% efficiency). If you believe the old adage that goaltending and special teams win in the playoffs then they need to figure something out in a hurry. For the record they have the seventh best penalty killing record at 81%….It is almost certain that the Storm and Rangers will meet in the first round…General Manager Mike Kelly is busily preparing for the OHL draft which takes place Saturday April 6th. This year’s draft is laden with defencemen.
