Sports stats



OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm, Attack Face off in First of Home-And-Home

February 18, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


It's a home-and-home for the Guelph Storm and the Owen Sound Attack this weekend, beginning with the Attack visiting the Sleeman Centre on Friday for a 7:30pm puck drop.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

Don't miss a second of the Highway Six rivalry action, get your tickets to Friday's match-up HERE.

It's a weekend full of the Highway Six rivalry as the Guelph Storm (11-36-4-2) host the Owen Sound Attack (25-19-7-3) in the first of a home-and-home stretch on Friday.

Despite the Attack holding on to the Western Conference's sixth position with 60 points in 54 games so far this season - in comparison to the 10th sitting Storm - the rivalry between these Midwest Division opponents has stayed hot, with the the Attack holding a close 3-2 season series lead thus far.

With neither team losing at home yet in the previous five meetings, the Storm took a 3-1 result on Oct. 9, and a 4-3 shootout victory on Jan. 15, while the Attack earned a 1-0 win in overtime to start the season series on Sept. 26, a 4-1 win on Oct. 21, and a 6-2 victory in the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 6.

Looking to Friday's match-up, the Storm are 2-7-0-1 in their last 10 games, while the Attack have compiled a 6-3-0-1 record in their last 10, with a 3-0-1-0 stretch spanning over their last four games.

Puck drop is slated for 7:30pm.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

Leading the Storm offensively for the majority of the 2015-16 campaign has been second-year James McEwan. Having a career year, the Chatham, Ontario native has compiled 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 53 games. Looking to Friday's match-up against the Owen Sound, the five-foot-eleven, 190-pound forward has registered three goals for five points in five games played this season against the Midwest Division rival.

Second on the roster is another sophomore in Givani Smith. Recording 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 51 games this season, the Brampton, Ontario native is also enjoying a breakout year, sitting one goal removed of the 20-mark after recording seven in his rookie campaign split between the Barrie Colts and the Storm. Against the Attack this season, the six-foot-one, 197-pound forward has one goal and one assist in five games.

Looking at recent performance, rookie Liam Stevens has been a notable stand out. The five-foot-eight, 187-pound forward, after tallying three goals and one assist in the first four months of the season, has posted two goals for three points in his last seven games. Overall, appearing in 48 games this campaign, the Waterdown, Ontario native has four goals for eight points on the season.

Owen Sound Attack

With 13 goals for 24 points in 53 games, fourth-year veteran Jaden Lindo is enjoying a career-year, surpassing his previous high of 22 points recorded as a rookie in 63 games during the 2012-13 season. This campaign, the Brampton, Ontario native has also enjoyed success against the Storm, tallying for three goals - including the overtime winner on Sept. 26 - and an assist, recording one-sixth of his total points in the Highway Six battle.

Third-year veteran Ethan Szypula is notable, not just for his offensive production, but for the all-around effort that comes from the five-foot-eleven, 170-pound forward. In five games against the Storm this season, the London, Ontario native has posted one goal and three assists, while also hitting the seven-shot total twice in the season series - once in the first meeting back on Sept. 26, and again in the most recent match-up on Feb. 6. On the season, the 1997-born centre is enjoying a career-year, compiling 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 52 games.

Moving from fourth-year and third-year veterans, sophomore Petrus Palmu is not one to ignore on the Attack's roster. After registering 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 52 games as a rookie during the 2014-15 campaign, the Joensuu, Finland native has 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 38 games this season. Against the Storm, the five-foot-six, 172-pound winger has one goal and three assists in four games.

Last Match-Up: Guelph 2 @ Owen Sound 6 (Feb. 6)

GAME NOTES

Friday's meeting is the sixth of eight meetings this season between the Storm and the Attack.

The Attack hold a 3-2 season series lead.

The home team has won every game in the Highway Six rivalry so far this campaign.

The Storm are back in action on Saturday night, visiting the Attack to conclude the home-and-home series.

Following game action this weekend, the Storm host the Guelph Giants at the Sleeman Centre on Sunday in support of special needs hockey in Guelph. Admission is complementary, but monetary donations are appreciated.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central