Smith burns Storm

By Chris Pope

Givani Smith torched his former team.

The Kitchener Rangers doubled the Guelph Storm 4-2 Sunday afternoon at the Aud.

The Rangers forward was as physical as always, earning a goal and two assists in Kitchener’s fourth straight win against the Storm.

“I have to play them hard. I’m a physical player, I’m not going to let up on certain guys,” said Smith. “Lots of hard-fought games in this rink, being on the other side in Guelph. I love hearing the crowd. They get loud, like when they were booing me, but now they’re cheering me.”

Smith has six points in six games since being traded between the two Highway 7 rivals in exchange for two second-round picks, and a conditional second rounder. Still, he says it took a while for things to work out in the dressing room, going to an arch rival.

“It was really weird,” said Smith. “It was most weird in my first home game. I kind of felt a little awkward. I hadn’t scored in a couple home games, but I’m finally getting used to everything. It’s nice now.”

“Our team is a bunch of older guys, drafted guys and signed guys. It’s like an NHL atmosphere. We’re just trying to let the young guys know how it’s going to be from now on.”

Mario Culina is one of those older guys and stopped 28 shots to remain undefeated as a Ranger. His shutout streak was snapped at 155 minutes and 43 seconds when Alexey Toropchenko beat him in the second period.

He’s dominated since joining the East Ave Blue. He has a goals-against average of 1.20, and a save percentage of .958 while going 5-0 with two shutouts.

Captain, and Guelph native, (one of the signed guys Smith spoke about) Connor Bunnaman scored the game-winning goal, which was his first in 10 games.

Kitchener rookie defenceman Michal Vukojevic (he’s one of the young ones) earned his first OHL point when he assisted on an Adam Liska marker in the first.

The Rangers are in London to face the Knights on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. looking for revenge after the Knights carved Kitchener on the 13th at the Aud.

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