News

By Colin Percy

 

Heading into the 2018-19 season, it was predicted that the Norwich Merchants would be able to score goals and that was proven valid this past weekend as their offense exploded in home wins over Ayr & Woodstock.

 

The Ayr Centennials travelled to Norwich on Friday night and were stunned early on as Norwich scored only 24 seconds into the game courtesy of Dan Gallahgher. Ayr would notch the game up 5:27 later, but Blake Pow restored the lead with 9 minutes left in the first period. Ayr would tie things up again moments later, but Norwich again took the lead with 3:20 remaining. Ayr continued the ping pong match, but scoring with less than two minutes left in the opening frame to send the teams to the dressing room tied at three. Ayr took their first lead of the game 37 seconds into the middle period, but Norwich cancelled that out thanks to hometown player Brady Van Ymeren potting his first goal as a Merchant 4:54 later. Gallagher scored his second of the game mid-way through the period to give Norwich a 5-4 lead. Pow would complete his hat trick with 55 seconds left, but Ayr would claw one back 31 seconds later as Norwich took a 6-5 lead to the dressing room after 40 minutes. The scoring frenzy halted at least for the first third of the final period, but Tyler Dyment restored Norwich’s two goal lead 6:14 into the period. Ayr would cut the deficit to one late in the period, but couldn’t complete the comeback. John Foreman and Simon Storoschuk would bury empty net goals to clinch the 9-6 win for the Merchants. Pow, Storoschuk (2), Gallagher (3), Alex Sutherland, Nehemiah Dube, Seth Lamoure, Cole Feeney (2), Foreman and Dyment recorded assists for Norwich, while Owen Hahn stopped 8 shots with Tyler Gubesch picking up 11 saves to earn his second win of the season. Norwich outshot Ayr 36-26 in the contest while going 3 for 6 on the powerplay. Ayr went 2 for 4 with the man advantage.

 

On Sunday afternoon, the Norwich Merchants played host to the Woodstock Navy Vets in round 1 of the “Battle of 59.” This would be the first time the teams have met since Woodstock eliminated Norwich in a double overtime Game 5 back in February. Gallagher opened the scoring for Norwich 3:57 into the game, but Woodstock would answer back 3:06 later as the teams were tied at aces after the first period. Norwich only mustered 4 shots compared to Woodstock’s 13 in the first period. The teams traded chances in the second period, but it wasn’t until the 15:01 mark that the siren roared for Norwich courtesy of Pow’s 6th goal of the season. Lamoure would wire home his second of the season with 51 seconds left as Norwich held a two goal lead after 40 minutes. Norwich put the game to bed thanks to a pair of first minute goals in the third period from the sticks of Gallagher and Foreman. Jake Luke potted his first career junior goal at the 6:21 mark. Pow would bury back-to-back goals to make it 8-1 in favour of Norwich. Dube would round out Norwich’s scoring for the night with 6:46 left. The Navy Vets would add one more goal late in the period, but fell 9-2 to their Oxford County rivals. Bronsen Page (2), Mason Cooper (2), Gallagher (3), Storoschuk, Pow, Ryan Dayman, Luke, Foreman and Van Ymeren had assists for Norwich while Gubesch earned first star honours stopping 38 of 40 shots faced. Norwich would score 9 times on only 30 shots while going 3 for 8 on the powerplay to see the powerplay percentage rise to a province leading 38.46%. Woodstock went 1 for 4 with the man advantage.

 

Norwich now hit the road for a pair of tough contests. On Thursday they visit the Ayr Centennials at 730pm. On Friday they visit the New Hamburg Firebirds also at 730pm. New Hamburg sit atop the Doherty Division with a 5-1 record.

 

 

OVERTIME

 

The Norwich Merchants have a bunch of events on the horizon. Their annual Meet the Players Night will take place on Friday October 12th when they host the Paris Mounties at 8pm. There will be prizes for all kids and autograph sheets available for everyone. On Friday October 26th, the team host New Hamburg at 8pm. Karaoke will be taking place in the blueline club following the game. On Saturday November 17th, the team hold their fall fish fry. Tickets are available from all Merchant executive members for $30/person. You can also call or text 519-532-6704 for tickets.