Erie Otters win in coach Kris Mallette's return behind the bench
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Erie Otters coach Kris Mallette wasn't aware the Guelph Storm lost their last nine Ontario Hockey League games before Sunday's matinee at Erie Insurance Arena.
Nor, by its conclusion, did he particularly care the visitors' streak extended to 10.
All that mattered to Mallette, aside from a return to pacing behind Erie's bench, was the team's 6-4 victory.
The Otters, despite inconsistent play over the first 40 minutes of action, dominated most of the last 20. Sam Alfano recorded their go-ahead goal with just over 11 minutes left in regulation and Malcolm Spence's second score during the final period, an empty-netter, provided insurance.
"Finding a way (to win), as late as it took for us, will pay dividends moving forward," Mallette said. "The (upcoming playoff) games are going to be harder. You saw our guys blocking shots with their bodies. That's part of winning hockey."
Sunday's result left Erie with a 33-26-4-2 record going into the final week of the league's regular season.
Guelph, with its losing streak now in double digits, slumped to 18-37-5-4. The Storm and thePeterborough Petes are tied at a league-worst 45 team points.
'Great to be back'
Before Sunday, Mallette was last seen seated in the Otters' club level suite for Saturday's home game against Niagara.
It was the last of five straight the former Philadelphia Flyers draft pick watched from such a vantage point.
Mallette's suspension was for his role in a March 2 in-game brawl between the host Otters and Peterborough. The league also banished Petes coach Rob Wilson for five games.
Erie forward Alex Messier was suspended for the reminder of the regular season and Peterborough's Grayden Strohack for four games. In addition, the teams were fined a cumulative total of $12,5000.
The Otters went 3-2 during Mallette's absence.
"It was great to be back on the bench (Sunday)," he said. "It was tough to watch from upstairs, but the guys did great while I was gone."
Alfano at 40
Alfano nudged his game-winner into Guelph's net through a scrum that included Storm goaltender Colin Ellsworth. It doubled as the forward's team-leading 40th goal this season.
Alfano became the first Otter who achieved that single-season total since Chad Yetman's 43 for the 2019-2020 team, according to communications director Shawn Bednard.
"It was nice to get that done with, to be honest," Alfano said. "It's been a goal of mine for awhile. It's something I'm very proud of, but at the end of the day I couldn't have done it without my teammates."
New Otter knows teammate
Kayden Edwards, the newest Otter, was listed on their roster for Sunday's game.
If that last name sounds familiar to Erie's fans, it should. He's the younger brother of veteran Dylan Edwards.
The Otters drafted Kayden Edwards during the 11th round of last year's OHL draft. He joined Erie upon the conclusion of his 2024-25 season with the Toronto Nationals, a member of the under-18 Greater Toronto Hockey League.
"Getting the call (to Erie) and having the opportunity to play with my brother is definitely mind-blowing," Kayden Edwards said. "I didn't really realize that until I was in the same dressing room with him.
"That's when it hit me. 'I'm playing with my brother! This is pretty cool!'"
Kayden Edwards' next achievement is to record his first OHL point. His brother has 52 of them over 63 games this season.
What's next
Sunday's game was the first half of an elongated home-and-home series for Erie and Guelph. The teams will reconvene Thursday at the Sleeman Centre, which houses the Storm's rink.
Erie concludes its regular season with EIA games against the Ottawa 67's this Saturday and the London Knights on March 23.
That's followed by Erie's probable Robertson Cup series against the Saginaw Spirit.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters beat Guelph in coach Kris Mallette's return from suspension
