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Brent Loukus had the lone goal for the Storm on Friday night. Photo courtesy Shane Clausing/EverythingGP
GP STORM

Storm see winless skid extended to four

Feb 1, 2020 | 10:19 AM

It was the Carter Savoie show on Friday night at Revolution Place.

The 18 year old St Albert native, who is projected to be an early round pick at this summer’s NHL draft in Montreal, scored the first two goals of the game and assisted on two others as the Sherwood Park Crusaders knocked off the Grande Prairie Storm 4-1 in the start of a weekend double header between the two AJHL North Division rivals.

The goals gives Savoie – a NCAA commit to the University of Denver – 46 in just 44 games this season. He also now has 82 points, putting him five back of line mate and AJHL scoring leader Arjun Atwal.

“(Savoie and Atwal) are both good players and play with a lot of speed and have a lot of skill.” said Storm assistant coach Taylor Makin after the game. “They were ready to play and they took advantage of that early because we were not.”

Savoie’s two goals came within the first 3:45 of the opening period, as the Crusaders took advantage of a Storm team that looked extremely flat throughout the game, especially in the opening moments of the contest.

“We did not come with our best effort.” added Makin. “They are a top team in the country, and I thought our start was a little lackadaisical, and then we were just chasing the game from the beginning.”

Brent Loukus would pull the Storm to within one halfway through the period, as the Michigan native directed a cross crease feed from Nathaniel Bierd for his fourth of the season.

But that would be as close as the Storm would get, as Ty Ettinger would restore the Crusaders two goal lead before the end of the period, and Jarred White would score on a 5-on-3 power play late in the second to round out the scoring.

After recording eight shots on goal in the opening period, the Storm would manage just nine over the final 40 minutes, failing to record a shot during a trio of power plays in the third period.

“Our power play is struggling right now.” added Makin. “We are just waiting for guys to step up on the power play and show some urgency. The power play is not a right, it is earned, so hopefully eventually some guys can take the bull by the horn here and step up.”

The two teams will meet again Saturday night in a 7:30 contest at Revolution Place.