The Guelph Storm entered the 2026 OHL Playoffs with a favorable head-to-head record against the Windsor Spitfires. Having picked up five of eight possible points against the Spitfires in the regular season, the Storm demonstrated their ability to secure results against one of the OHL's top teams, a feat that could be replicated in the postseason.
But losses in eight of their final 10 regular-season games all but offset any confidence heading into a series against the Spitfires, and it showed throughout the series.
In Game 1, despite Guelph's ability to keep Windsor from pulling away too quickly after an early goal, the Storm couldn't generate many chances of their own. Add on three additional goals for Windsor throughout the game's final two periods and you have the recipe for a Game 1 loss.
Game 2 was only marginally better for the Storm. While they would give up another first-period goal, the Storm found a response from Carter Stevens to level the score at one heading into the first intermission. Despite that confidence booster, the Spitfires added two goals during the second period and an empty-netter in the final minute of the third.
Game 3 would see the series switch from southwestern Ontario to Guelph's Sleeman Centre, and it did seem like the change of scenery helped the Storm. While the Spitfires did once again score in the first period and dominate the shot count (the Spitfires won the shot count 42-29 in Game 2), Guelph was able to remain within one goal of the Spitfires for the vast majority of the game. Even after John McLaughlin scored his second of the game with almost 90 seconds left in the contest, Guelph was able to make it interesting after Rylan Singh scored with 35 seconds to go.
But Game 4? Oh that's another story. Any good work that the Storm did to remain a competitive force in this series went out the window during that game as if they enrolled in the "Owen Sound Attack School of Playoff Humiliation."
What makes this even more tragic is that Guelph held a 2-1 lead after 17 minutes of play. They would proceed to celebrate this achievement by giving up nine (yes, nine) unanswered goals over the next half-an-hour of play. While Tyler Hopkins would get one back for Guelph with under two minutes to go, Max Brocklehurst would offset the "Chris Paul Goal of the Game" with his first goal of the series for the Spitfires.
With the four game sweep at the hands of the Spitfires, the Storm's postseason series win drought will extend to five seasons. Guelph has won just three postseason games since the 2019 postseason, while the last time they won a playoff game was back in 2023.
Meanwhile, the Spitfires will advance from the conference quarterfinals for the second-consecutive postseason; they will take on the Flint Firebirds in the second round. Game 1 of that series is set to take place on April 10th at Windsor's WFCU Centre.