Guelph Storm This Week
December 20, 2006 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
The Storm entered the Christmas break on a high note last week completing a perfect weekend and picking up six of a possible six points with wins over Peterborough, London and Erie. On Friday night, Matt Kennedy scored twice, including the game winner, to lead his team past the Petes 3-2 in front of a home crowd of 4,710. Saturday night the Storm traveled to London to take on the first place London Knights. Mike McLean picked up the Biltmore 'Hat Trick' and Tyler Doig was awarded with three assists as the Storm beat the Knights 6-3. In their third game in less than 48 hours the Storm faced off against the Erie Otters for the last match-up before the Christmas break beating the last placed Otters 6-3. Tyler Doig garnered first star honours scoring once and adding two helpers. With six points this weekend, the Storm improved their record to 16-14-1-4 and currently sit fourth in the Midwest Division with 37 points, one point behind the third place Owen Sound Attack.
Guelph Storm Grand & Toy Player of the Week (Week ending December 10th)
Tyler Doig-The Storm overager picked up one goal and six assists for seven points in three games this week. Doig began the week with his first of six assists in the Storm's 3-2 home win on Friday night against the Peterborough Petes. On Saturday night in London, Doig picked up three assists and was a +3 helping to lead the Storm past the London Knights 6-3. On Sunday afternoon, Doig scored a goal and was awarded with two helpers, a performance that earned him first star honours in Guelph's 6-3 win. The Seaforth native leads all Storm players with 46 points, is first in assists with 27 and second in goals with 19. Doig also leads the team in plus/minus with a +13 rating and has scored the most short handed goals on the squad with three.
Thursday December 28th: Oshawa Generals at Guelph Storm, 7:00 pm
John Tavares and the Oshawa Generals visit the GSEC for the first and only time this season. So far this year, the 16 year old has scored 30 goals and recorded 58 points in 31 games played. The next time these two teams face off against each other is on Thursday, February 15th at 7:05 pm when the Storm travel to the General Motors Centre. With a record of 14-15-0-3, the Oshawa Generals currently sit fourth in the East Division one point behind the third placed Peterborough Petes.
Saturday December 30th: Guelph Storm at Plymouth Whalers, 7:05 pm
The Storm travel to Plymouth on Saturday to face off against the Whalers for the fourth time this year. The previous contests have all belonged to the Whalers as they are 3-0 thus far in the regular season series. The first game was the closest and the Storm picked up one point from the Whalers as Plymouth won 3-2 in a shootout. The next two contests were a home and home that saw the Whalers visit Guelph on Friday and Guelph travel to Plymouth on Saturday. Plymouth won both match ups 5-3 and 4-0. With a record of 22-10-1-1 the Whalers have 46 points and are currently tied for first in the West Division with the Saginaw Spirit.
Sunday December 31st : Guelph Storm at Barrie Colts, 7:30 pm
New Year's Eve the Storm travel to the Barrie Molson Centre to take on the Barrie Colts for the first time this season. The next game between these teams is on Friday, January 26th when the Barrie Colts travel to the GSEC for a 7:30 pm start. The Colts are currently number one in the OHL leading all teams with a record of 25-8-0-1 and 51 points.
Family 4 Pack
For all Sunday games, including this Sunday, the Guelph Storm have introduced the $48 Family 4 Pack - over $20 worth of savings. Bring the family to any Sunday afternoon game during the 2006/07 regular season and receive four Storm family day tickets (2 adult/2child), two large soft drinks and two large popcorn as well as two Gametime Magazines. Family packs must be purchased 48 hours in advance of the selected game. For more information call 519-837-9690.
Tavares Appearance Could Bring 5th 4,500 Plus Crowd of Season
Thus far during the 2006-2007 season Storm fans have continued to fill the GSEC at a record pace. Through 16 home games this season, average attendance is 4,114 with Sunday afternoon's crowd of 3,533 being the smallest of the season. Always among the most popular games of the Storm season, the game between Christmas and New Year's could be the fifth 4,500 plus crowd in only 17 home dates this season with Tavares in uniform for Oshawa. In 2004/05, the Storm hosted only four 4,500 plus crowds and last season six dates had crowds in excess of 4,500.
The current average attendance of 4,114 represents a per game increase of 219 versus 2005/06 through 16 home dates. In the past six seasons, Storm fans have set team attendance records on five occasions including 2004/05 when the club hosted an average of 4,067 per game. To surpass the mark set in 2004/05 and establish another team attendance record, the Storm will have to average 4,024 for the remaining 18 home games. With 3,869 seats in the lower bowl of the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre, average sales this season through 16 games are approximately 3,650 per game or 94%.
Storm Attendance Comparison - through 16 games
Season Avg (through 16 games)
2006/07 4,114
2005/06 3,895
2004/05 3,767
2003/04 3,319
2002/03 3,281
2001/02 3,052
2000/01 2,949
1999/00 2,612
1998/99 2,593
Ryan Parent and the World Junior Championships
Guelph Storm defenceman Ryan Parent will make his second trip to the World Junior Championship later in December. The roster for Team Canada features 11 players that won a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver including Parent.
Parent's trip to the World Junior Championship will mark the 22nd occasion that a Guelph Storm player has represented his native country in the top pool of the Under-20 Championship.
Canada has medaled in eight straight World Junior Championships including: back to back gold medal performances in 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.
At the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden, Canada will look to win a third consecutive gold medal for the first time since Canada's string of five consecutive World Junior Championship titles (1993-1997).
Parent and Team Canada's schedule: Tuesday, December 26th: Sweden vs. Canada, 1:00 pm Wednesday, December 27th: Canada vs. USA, 1:30 pm Friday, December 29th: Germany vs. Canada, 1:00 pm Sunday, December 31st: Canada vs. Slovakia, 7am
Rotter and Team Austria Win Silver
Guelph Storm forward Rafael Rotter and Team Austria finished up the IIHF World U20 Group B Championship Division I on Sunday with a 3-2-0 record. Rotter picked up eight points in the five games. Austria finished the tournament in second place, with Kazakhstan capturing the gold medal and returning to the top U20 division for the first time in six years.
After winning two of their first three games, Austria dropped a 6-3 decision versus the previously winless French National team. The loss would prove costly, as a 3-0 win by Great Britain later on Friday would have pulled Austria into a three-way tie for first place heading into the final day of the tournament with Great Britain and Kazakhstan at 3-1 if Rotter and Austria had defeated France.
On Sunday, Rotter had his best game of the tournament picking up one goal and two assists to lift Austria to a 5-3 win over Great Britain denying the Brits a promotion to the top Under 20 division for the 2008 World Junior Championship.
For the tournament, Rotter had three multi-point games and added an assist in Austria's 3-2 win over Norway. The only game that Rotter was held off the scoresheet was Austria's 3-2 loss versus Kazakhstan.
FINAL STANDINGS 1 - Kazakhstan 4-1-0 2 - Austria 3-2-0 3 - Great Britain 3-2-0 4- Norway 2-3-0 5 - France 2-3-0 6 - Italy 1-4-0
Spyke's Sport Shop is Holiday Ready
New inventory is arriving weekly at Spyke's Sports Shop in Old Quebec Street Mall. Roots and Reebok merchandise are always available and would make great Christmas gifts. The store is open at all home games and during the week from 10 am-5 pm.
Hockey Camp
The Guelph Storm Holiday Hockey Camp is limited to 25 participants and only five spots remain for the Camp on January 2nd and 3rd, 2007. The Camp is designed for participants aged 5-12 and will be held at the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre in two sessions. The first session will be held on January 2nd at 9:00 am-10:50 am and the second on the 3rd at 9:00 am-10:50 am. The Guelph Storm coaching staff including Head Coach/General Manager Dave Barr and assistants Jason Brooks and Bill Armstrong will be the head instructors for the camp accompanied by five Storm players. The Storm players will run the drills and work on a face-to-face basis with all participants under the guidance of the Storm coaches.
The Guelph Storm Holiday Hockey Camp Package includes:
- Two hours of on-ice instruction with head instructor and five Storm players
- A practice jersey
- Two free regular bowl tickets to the Storm home game on Sunday, January 7th versus the Kingston Frontenacs
- Tour of the Storm Dressing Room
- Certificate of Participation
The cost to participate is $99.00. For more information call the Guelph Storm Box Office at 519-837-9690.
Mask Winners
The Guelph Tribune "Design a Goalie Mask" competition came to a close last week with nearly 100 entries received from Storm fans between the ages of 4 - 16. The entries were narrowed down to ten finalists, then with the quality of all of the submitted designs, two winners were selected to receive the Grand Prize packages - instead of one as planned.
The Guelph Storm and the Guelph Tribune are proud to announce that fourteen year old Alora Griffiths of Rockwood and ten year old Elijah Ridder of Guelph are co-winners of the "Design a Storm Goalie Mask Contest". These two Grand Prize winners will be introduced in an on-ice presentation prior to the Guelph Storm home game on Sunday, January 7th, 2007 versus the Kingston Frontenacs. During the on-ice presentation, the winners will receive:
- A custom painted goalie mask featuring their winning design signed by the Guelph Storm Hockey Club.
- A second version of the winning design will be created and presented to a Guelph Storm goaltender on Sunday, January 7th during the on-ice presentation. The masks will be worn by the Storm goaltenders for the remainder of the 2006/07 season
The Guelph Storm and the Guelph Tribune would like to thank all of the entrants for their hard work in participating in the contest.
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2006
- Whalers Break For Christmas Tied for First Place - Plymouth Whalers
- Guelph Storm This Week - Guelph Storm
- Kevin Beech named ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week - OHL
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