Ryan Merkley is back where he belongs after showing he may not be as far away from the pros as we thought.
The 18-year-old defenseman made his Guelph Storm season debut over the weekend after an extended stay in San Jose that saw him remain as one of the final nine players at his position in his first NHL training camp.
Merkley was able to get a nice taste of the next level, and is now expected to step things up as a leader back in Guelph. If his first two games are any indication, he’s hungry to prove the Sharks right for the faith displayed and time invested in him to date, but he may also need some time to catch his breath.