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Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Game #1 Guelph at Kitchener, 7:30pm

March 23, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


After missing the previous two seasons, the Storm find themselves back playing post season hockey. Although Kitchener won the season series 5-3, the Storm did win the final two match ups between these teams in March. Tonight's game starts at 7:30 pm in Kitchener. Game #3 and Game #4 will be played in Guelph on Tuesday, March 27th at 7pm and Wednesday, March 28th at 7pm respectively.

This is the fourth playoff series between these two rivals. The previous three took place in 2002, 2003 and 2013. Over those series, Kitchener has won 2 of 3 and have an 8-6 lead in goals scored. Guelph did sweep Kitchener in 2002, as Storm legends Dustin Brown and Martin St. Pierre put together incredible performances. Brown scored five goals and four assists in those four games, while St. Pierre scored twice and assisted on six others. Daniel Paille was also strong in that series, but really took off in 2003, scoring seven goals in five games with two assists.

Kitchener Rangers

Kitchener was the top team in the Midwest Division, earning themselves the second seed in the Western Conference. With a record of 43-21-3-1 this season, they accumulated 90 points.

Look out for winger Adam Mascherin. He was Kitchener's top scorer for the third consecutive year. Hitting the 40-goal mark for the first time in his OHL career, the Maple, ON native racked up 86 points in 67 games played.

Guelph Storm

Returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2015, the Guelph Storm were the seventh seed this season, compiling a record of 30-29-5-4 for a total of 69 points

Though captain McFadden and James McEwan are the only players remaining from the 2015 team, this Storm team will lean on Isaac Ratcliffe to lead them. Recently named the team's MVP, Ratcliffe was the leader in goals and points on the Storm. Surpassing the 40 goal mark for the first time in his career, the Philly prospect placed 7th in the league for goals scored. The London native heads into the playoffs hot as he recorded nine goals and 14 points in his final nine games of the season. Also a force on the powerplay, 24 of his 68 points, including 12 goals, came with the man advantage.

Head to Head

HEAD TO HEAD

2017-18 Regular Season

GUE 2-4-1-0 KIT 5-1-1-0

2016-17 Regular Season

GUE 2-5-1-0 KIT 6-2-0-0

Last Five Years

GUE 17-20-2-0 KIT 22-16-1-0

Last Five Years At Guelph

GUE 12-6-2-0 KIT 8-11-1-0

Last Five Years At Kitchener

GUE 5-14-0-0 KIT 14-5-0-0

Previous Meetings This Season

Kitchener 3 @ Guelph 4 (2018-03-13)

Kitchener 5 @ Guelph 4 (2018-03-04)

Guelph 2 @ Kitchener 4 (2018-01-21)

Kitchener 10 @ Guelph 3 (2017-12-10)

Guelph 5 @ Kitchener 7 (2017-11-17)

Guelph 1 @ Kitchener 4 (2017-11-03)

Kitchener 2 @ Guelph 5 (2017-10-07)

TOP SCORERS

LAST 5 GAMES

Guelph Kitchener

4 - 3 W v. Kitchener (2018-03-13) 3 - 4 L @ Sarnia (2018-03-14)

1 - 2 L @ Sarnia (2018-03-10) 3 - 4 L @ Guelph (2018-03-13)

0 - 3 L v. Saginaw (2018-03-09) 3 - 2 W v. Saginaw (2018-03-11)

2 - 5 L @ London (2018-03-07) 3 - 4 L v. Sault Ste. Marie (2018-03-09)

4 - 5 L v. Kitchener (2018-03-04) 5 - 2 W v. Sarnia (2018-03-06)

MATCH UP

Guelph Kitchener

Season Record 29-28-5-4 43-20-3-1

Last 10 Games 2-5-3-0 5-3-1-1

Streak 1-0-0-0 0-0-1-1

Last Game 4-3 W vs Kitchener (2018-03-13) Final 4-3 L @ Sarnia (2018-03-14) Final SO

Home Record 17-10-5-2 22-10-1-0

Away Record 12-18-0-2 21-10-2-1

Goals For 216 242

Goals Against 250 211

Power Plays 52/241 (21.6%) 47/226 (20.8%)

Power Plays - Home 22/120 (18.3%) 27/116 (23.3%)

Power Plays - Away 30/121 (24.8%) 20/110 (18.2%)

Penalty Killing 43/218 (80.3%) 42/250 (83.2%)

Penalty Killing - Home 18/112 (83.9%) 23/115 (80%)

Penalty Killing - Away 25/106 (76.4%) 19/135 (85.9%)

Leading Rookie Hillis (19-36-55) York (3-6-9)

Most Penalty Minutes Ryan Merkley Logan Stanley

Team PIM/GM 8.7/66 9.9/67

Players to Watch

You can look just about anywhere and find NHL talent on these teams. Between both teams, there are 13 players with NHL affiliation. The Rangers have Connor Hall (Pittsburgh Penguins), Logan Brown (Ottawa Senators), Logan Stanley (Winnipeg Jets), Adam Mascherin (Florida Panthers), Givani Smith (Detroit Red Wings) and Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets). The final 6 players are on Guelph. They are Mark Shoemaker (San Jose Sharks), Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton Oilers), Liam Hawel (Dallas Stars), Nate Schnarr (Arizona Coyotes), Alexey Toropchenko (St. Louis Blues) and Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia Flyers).

The Rangers were very happy when Columbus decided that another year in the OHL was the best route for prospect Kole Sherwood, who started the year with Cleveland in the AHL. He has been dominant for Kitchener this year, scoring 30 goals and 30 assists, giving him 60 points in 57 games. After returning from injury, Cam Hillis has also put on a show, scoring a goal and 4 assists in his final three games of the season. Hillis finished second in OHL rookie scoring with this 20 goals and 39 assists for 59 points in 60 games.

Upcoming Game

The next playoff game will also be in Kitchener for the Storm, on Sunday March 25th. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm.

The series shifts to Guelph next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 27th and 28th, as Game #3 and Game #4 will be played at the Sleeman Centre.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2018


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