OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Conclude Northern Swing in Sudbury

Published on January 24, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


After an overtime loss in North Bay on Thursday followed by a 4-1 fall at the hands of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Friday, the Guelph Storm look to conclude the northern swing on a winning note in Sudbury on Sunday.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

There's a lot more to Sunday's match-up than it seems on paper.

With the Guelph Storm (9-30-4-1) concluding their northern swing visiting the Sudbury Wolves (11-30-3-1) on Sunday afternoon, the Storm have climbed to within three points of the Eastern Conference's Wolves with a game in hand.

Moreover, the Wolves have lost three in-a-row, posting a 3-6-0-1 record in their last 10 games played, while the Storm have only three regulation losses in their last 10.

With the teams meeting for the final time in the two-game season series on Sunday, the Wolves will be pushing to snap their skid and sweep the Western Conference opponent after downing the Storm 4-2 in Guelph back on Dec. 13.

The Storm, on the other hand, will be looking to find the win-column again after falling in their last three contests.

Puck drop is set for 2:00pm.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

Registering the lone goal in the Storm's 4-1 loss in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, defenseman Garrett McFadden is now tied for second on the roster in points with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 44 games this season. That total also puts the Kincardine, Ontario native tenth overall among league blueliners. Over the last 17 games played, the third-year veteran has notched four goals for 16 points, while posting 14 points in his last 14 games.

Storm leading scorer James McEwan was also buzzing in the team's last tilt versus the Greyhounds, registering a team-high six shots on net in the 4-1 loss. The sophomore forward was more than solid at the face-off dot as well, posting a 63-win percentage on the night with 12 of 19 won. On the season, the Chatham, Ontario native has totaled for 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 44 games.

Rookie Nick Deakin-Poot is one of the notables as of late for the Storm, too, putting forth a solid display of effort night-in and night-out. Taking 15 draws against the Greyhounds this past Friday, the Georgetown, Ontario native won nine of them for 60% at the face-off dot. The six-foot-four, 201-pound forward has four points (two goals, two assists) in 37 games this season, putting him fourth among Storm first-year production.

Sudbury Wolves

Leading the way for the Wolves is recently acquired Mikkel Aagaard. The Frederikshavn, Denmark native has appeared in 21 games for Sudbury since being traded from the Niagara IceDogs earlier this season, and has posted 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) in a Wolves uniform. On the season, the OHL-sophomore has posted 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 41 games. Through the month of January, the 1995-born centre - depiste being held pointless in his last two games - has tallied five goals for six points in eight games.

Not too far behind is rookie Alan Lyszczarczyk with 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 44 games. A native of Wallington, New Jersey, the six-foot, 181-pound centre is sixth overall among league first years, sitting two points back of a top-five standing.

It's another rookie rounding out the top-three for Sudbury as Dmitry Sokolov has posted 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 45 games this campaign. The Omsk, Russia native has been held pointless in his last three games, and will likely look to change that entering Sunday's match-up hosting the Storm.

The Opponent: Sudbury Wolves (11-30-3-1, 26 points)

The New Year hasn't been too friendly to the Sudbury Wolves. After beginning 2016 with three of five wins, the Wolves have recently dropped their last three contests, including a 9-2 result at the hands of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Jan. 20, and a 7-1 fall to the Barrie Colts in their last game action on Jan. 22.

Hosting the Storm on Sunday, the Wolves will be looking to change that storyline, especially after being outscored 21-6 in the last three games played.

On the season, only one team has scored less goals than the Wolves (113) - that being the Storm with 103 goals for, while no team has allowed more goals than Sudbury's 214 in 45 games played.

GAME NOTES

Sunday's meeting is the final meeting between the Storm and the Wolves.

Sudbury leads the season series with a 4-2 win back on Dec. 13 in Guelph.

Sunday's game will conclude the Storm's northern road trip, already having visited the North Bay Battalion and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds this weekend.

Defenseman Garrett McFadden has 14 points in his last 14 games, and 16 points in his last 17.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 24, 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