Dom Commisso didn't have time to learn names, never mind the playbook.
The newest member of the Guelph Storm walked through the doors at the Sleeman Centre at 3 p.m. Friday, hours after being acquired from the Oshawa Generals for a pair of draft picks.
But he was out there for the opening face off and played a solid two-way game as the Storm scored with 2.5 seconds left in the third period to down the Sarnia Sting 6-5.
"I just met them today," he said of his new teammates. "I've never played with any of them. All new faces for me.
"I fit in pretty well and I was pretty comfortable out there," he said of his Storm debut. "Hopefully I can continue that and gel with this group."
The overage centre found out at 10 a.m. Friday he'd been traded from the the team he has spent his entire OHL career with.
"I was a little bit surprised, but I'm really happy to be here and I'm looking forward to being with this group," said Commisso, who had 62 points last season with the Generals.
He said he did not ask for a trade out of Oshawa.
"I'm going to compete every night and I want to win every night. I'm a real competitor," the Oakville native said.
Storm coach/general manager George Burnett said he and Oshawa GM Roger Hunt had been discussing trade for a few days.
"He brings a wealth of experience and he's had good success in our league scoring," Burnett said of Commisso, who has 184 points in 223 career OHL games.
"He's going to be a big part in all parts of the game," Burnett said.
"To add a player at this point in time for draft picks, whether you like the price or don't like the price, we didn't have to disrupt our group. We needed a forward for sure and it's uncommon to see a real proven guy be available at this time of the year."
Friday's game ended on a bizarre turn of events.
WIth the clock winding down and overtime seemingly inevitable, Sarnia goaltender Aidan Hughes carelessly iced the puck with eight second on the clock.
On the ensuing faceoff, the Storm's top faceoff man, Nate Schnarr, was thrown ouf of the face off circle.
Liam Hawel stepped in and won the draw cleanly back to Ryan Merkley, and despite being urged to "shoot!" by 3,330 fans with the clock ticking down, he calmly held the puck then found Schnarr at the side of the Sarnia goal.
The Arizona Coyotes prospect calmly one-timed the puck in for the game winner.
It was his second goal of the game to go with a pair of assists, giving Schnarr 11 points in the Storm's first five games.
"We found a way to improvise," Schnarr said.
"You know Merkley's looking pass all day and I was lucky to find a little lane and he found me, so it was perfect," Schnarr said."It wasn't long into my first season that I learned that if I'm on that side of the ice and Merkley's rolling down that other side, to be ready for a pass," Schnarr said.
"He'll feed it through three guys skates, sticks, whatever it takes to find you."
Guelph was down by a pair of goals on two occasions in the game but took a 5-4 lead when Isaac Ratcliffe scored his second of the game at 8:28 of the third period. Sarnia's Anthony Salinitri tied the game three minutes later.
Guelph will play the winless Flint Firebirds in Flint Saturday night.
Next home game is Friday when Owen Sound visits.
