With two contests remaining in 2011, the door is still open for more noteworthy nights, but GuelphStorm.com looks back at the year that was with the five top individual performances of 2011. Between December 23 - 27, GuelphStorm.com will list the top five performances in chronological order...

PERFORMANCE #5...

Friday, November 18th... Oshawa Generals at Guelph Storm

Zack Mitchell (3 G / 1  A / 4 Pts)

Through the first half of the season, Friday nights have not been kind to the Storm as they've struggled at home and on the road on the first night of the weekend.  However, on one Friday in front of over 4,500 fans at the Sleeman Centre, Guelph came out flying in the first period and never looked back largely thanks to an oustanding performance by Zack Mitchell.

During his first two seasons with the Storm, Mitchell scored only 12 goals in 121 regular season contests, but when the puck dropped on the 2011/12 season, there was no question that a young Storm squad would be counting on the Caledon native to rediscover the scoring touch that he showed in Midget hockey.  With the first half behind them, Mitchell has done just that as he leads the surprising Storm in goals (17) and points (38).    

With a full-house at the Sleeman Centre, Mitchell and the Storm came out flying peppering Kevin Baillie with shots but unable to find the back of the net.  It looked like the momentum might change though when Andrey Pedan was whistled for tripping at 4:28 of the first.  Instead, Mitchell energized the crowd shorthanded when he buried a Tanner Richard feed to give the Storm a 1-0 advantage.  Guelph continued to press as they fired 22 shots on Baillie in the opening twenty and they were finally rewarded with two late goals to grab a 3-0 lead.  Matt Finn made it 2-0 with Mitchell collecting a helper and then Mitchell grabbed a loose puck in the high slot and snapped it past Baillie for the eventual game winner.

After scoring three times in the first, the Storm offence dried up for nearly forty minutes allowing the Generals to cut the lead to 3-2.  Fortunately for the home side, Mitchell wasn't done as he deflected a Zack Leslie point shot to complete the hat trick.