Guelph snaps Kingston’s three-game win streak
Wrapping up a three-game in three-day stretch, the Kingston Frontenacs (21-20-1-1) dropped a 6-2 decision to the Guelph Storm (19-19-4-1) on Sunday afternoon at Sleeman Centre. Chris Thibodeau tallied with Tommy Budnick extending a point stretch to four games with a tally for Kingston, who return home this Friday against Oshawa Generals.
Colorodo Avalanche prospect Ivan Zhigalov made 16 saves on a busy 21 shots in his 29th appearance for Kingston before being relieved by Mason Vaccari in the second period. Vaccari faced nine shots and made eight saves in his relief appearance. Brayden Gillespie was in the Guelph net for the 12th time and faced 17 Kingston shots.
Guelph took a 2-0 lead to the second period on goals by Michael Buchinger and Max Namestnikov and added a third by Jake Karabela early in the second period before Chris Thibodeau got Kingston on the board in the first of a four-goal outburst by the teams in 3:25 of play. Guelph got up 5-1 on tallies by Charlie Paquette and Chandler Romeo 1:06 apart with Tommy Budnick replying 60 seconds later setting up a 5-2 third stanza.
Kingston fired the first three shots of the game before the Storm came back with three of their own and took the opening goal on their third. Guelph opened the scoring on a Michael Buchinger (8) strike 6:56 into the game off a slapshot immediately following a faceoff.
After Fronts defender Tommy Budnick and Storm Matthew Poitras were sent off on coincidental minors, Kingston was called on the games first penalty. On the four-on-three man advantage Max Namestnikov (17) got a nice cross-ice pass by Braden Bowman and ripped a high shot into the Kingston net for the 2-0 lead. Buchinger earned his second point of the period with an assist and Braeden Bowman also assisted extending a point streak to eight games at 16:34.
Guelph improved to a 12-2-2-0 record with a lead after twenty minutes in a second frame finding themselves up three goals early when Jake Karabela (13) snuck a puck through the legs of Zhigalov on a mini breakaway 60 seconds into the period. Former Fronts defender Jake Murray drew his first assist against his former team on the 3-0 strike.
The homeside continued extended pressure through the middle frame with a 7-1 shot lead keeping Zhigalov very busy in the Kingston crease during the stanza.
Kingston went to their first powerplay with 10:39 remaining in the second and made it 3-1 with 13 seconds left in the man advantage. Chris Thibodeau (12) buried a shot directly off a Kingston faceoff win by Gabriel Frasca at 11:07. Frasca’s assist gives the rookie points in consecutive games (2G,1A).
However, Guelph got back in front by four tallies with two goals in 1:07. Charlie Paquette (5) finished off a wild sequence that saw Zhigalov make two quick saves in a crowded crease before making a valiant attempted diving save unable to stop the 4-1 Storm goal.
It was 5-1 with a Chandler Romeo (3) goal that got past a pair of players in front of Zhigalov with Paquette earning a second point of the game in the third of four combined goals by the teams in 3:25. Fronts coach Luca Caputi relieved Zhigalov with Vaccari making his 16th appearance after earning the win on Saturday against Niagara.
Kingston didn’t go away lightly and returned the quick-strike favor by Guelph with a Budnick (3) goal 57 seconds after the fifth Storm strike. Budnick wired a low shot that beat Gillespie making it 5-2 for an unassisted goal on a broken play in front of the Guelph net.
Budnick almost got a third Fronts goal moments after he tallied the second Kingston goal, but the Guelph netminder made a good save to help get the Storm to the second intermission with the 5-2 lead.
Namestnikov (18) got a 6-2 home lead early in the final period with Buchinger and Bowman getting second assists on the night 1:45 into the third frame.
Kingston went to their second man advantage on a double-minor to Guelph but were turned away on any gain with the Storm holding on for the 6-2 victory.
The Black and Gold return to Leon’s Centre on Fri, Jan 27 to faceoff for a second consecutive home game versus the Oshawa Generals. It’s Frontenacs Night and the team will be welcoming back alumni and celebrating our roots.
Scorers:
KGN: Thibodeau (13), Budnick (3)
GUE: Buchinger (8), Namestnikov (17,18), Karabela (13), Paquette (5), Romeo (3)
Powerplays:
KGN: (1/3)
GUE: (1/1)
BMW of Kingston Hardest Worker:
Chris Thibodeau – 1G
Three Star Awards:
- Michael Buchinger – GUE (1G,2A)
- Max Namestnikov – GUE (2G)
- Charlie Paquette – GUE (1G,1A)
Fronts Notes:
- Nov 23 – Frontenacs Hockey Club officially announced its bid for rights to host the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Kia
- F Ethan Miedema – going to CHL Prospects Game on Jan 25 in B.C. – pts in 2 straight (2A)
- D Tommy Budnick – pts in 4 straight (1G,4A)
- F Gabriel Frasca – pts in 2 straight (2G,1A)
Team Stat Pack – GP (43) (21-20-1-1) 44 pts
Leaders:
Goals –Soto, Thibodeau (13), Miedema (11), Outwater (10)
PPG – Ludwinski, Soto (5), Miedema (3)
Assists – Soto (23), Miedema (22), Ludwinski (21)
PPA – Hemström (10), Burns (9), Outwater (7)
Points –Soto (36), Miedema (33), Ludwinski, Outwater, Hemström (28)
PPP – Ludwinski, Soto (11), Burns, Hemström (10)
SOG –Thibodeau (84), Soto (80), Outwater (75)
Plus/Minus –Miedema (+7), Burns (+6), McGowan (+4)
PIMs – Burns (77), Budnick (52), Uens (41)
On The Front
The next home matchup sees the East Division rival Oshawa Generals visit the Leon’s Centre for a second consecutive skate on Friday, Jan 27, at 7:00 pm for Frontenacs Night. The game welcomes past alums featuring our current roster wearing special 50th-anniversary jerseys inspired by Frontenacs uniforms from 2007-2012. Kingston plays back-to-back nights at home with the Western Conference London Knights visiting Kingston for a 7:00 pm matchup on Sat, Jan 28. It’s Women in Sports Night, featuring a special ceremonial puck drop and inspirational messages from female athletes throughout the evening.
96.3 Big FM and 104.3 Fresh Radio are your exclusive home for play-by-play with Jim Gilchrist and Kingston Frontenacs Hockey! Fans can listen live to all the games at https://frontenacs.leanplayer.com/. Fans can also tune into the game at https://watch.chl.ca/ (subscription needed).
Fans are encouraged to follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for live updates!
