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OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Honour O'Neill in Highway Seven Match-Up

November 21, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


With the Kitchener Rangers in town to conclude the Guelph Storm's three-in-three weekend on Saturday, the club will honour Jeff O'Neill prior to the game in a special banner raising ceremony.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

Be part of Guelph Storm history and get your tickets to Jeff O'Neill's Banner Night here.

The Highway Seven rivalry continues at the Sleeman Centre on Saturday with the Kitchener Rangers visiting for a 4:00 p.m. puck drop.

The Storm, fresh off of back-to-back losses to the Windsor Spitfires (3-2) and the Flint Firebirds (5-2) this weekend, will be looking to pull off an upset in the club's first homecoming game for alumni.

The Rangers, on the other hand, are one of the OHL's most threatening clubs, currently sitting as the league's second ranked team with 37 points and one more game played than that of the Erie Otters.

Kitchener is on a Midwest Division stretch, starting with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Owen Sound attack on Nov. 14. The following night, the Rangers fell 5-2 to the Otters, and most recently took a 4-2 victory over the London Knights on Friday.

Outside of the match-up, Saturday will feature a special pre-game banner raising ceremony that will honour former Storm forward Jeff O'Neill.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

With an assist against the Flint Firebirds on Friday night, second-year forward Tyler Boston took over the points lead for the Storm, now with 12 (six goals, six assists) on the season. The five-foot-eleven, 160-pound centre has recorded three goals for six points in his last seven games played, going pointless only three times through the month of November.

Defenseman Garrett McFadden has also been picking up some slack on the score sheet as of late, compiling three goals for six points in his last six games played. The Kincardine, Ontario native has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 21 games this season, sitting six points back of matching his career-high of 18 set through 56 games in his sophomore season in 2014-15.

Finding the back of the net against the Firebirds, Luke Burghardt matched his rookie point total of five points (one goal, four assists) compiled in 54 games through the 2014-15 season. Now, registering three goals for five points in 16 games this campaign, the Storm will need the five-foot-ten, 150-pound forward to continue to add some necessary offensive flare to the club's struggles up front.

Kitchener Rangers

No. 72 is hard to miss when facing off against the Broadway blue, and for good reason. Ryan MacInnis is currently second amongst the league's goal scorers with 17 on the season, while also holding the ninth position for points with 30 through 21 games played. The six-foot-four, 191-pound centre adds to his threat with the ability to come up big in key moments, something shown in his first league standing in game winning goals with seven. Heading into Saturday's match-up, the St. Louis, Missouri native carries a five-game point streak dating back to Nov. 10, registering seven points (five goals, two assists) in that span. Through the month of November, the Arizona Coyotes prospect has only been held pointless once through eight games.

Second year forward Adam Mascherin follows MacInnis on the team's production, registering 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists). Just 19 games into the season, the 1998-born, Maple, Ontario native is a mere six points removed from surpassing his rookie point total of 29, recorded in 62 games in 2014-15. Also a notable, the five-foot-nine, 199-pound winger has only been held pointless three times this campaign.

On a defensively sound club, Dmitrii Sergeev leads all Kitchener blue liners with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) through 19 games. The Chelyabinsk, Russia native is coming off a strong performance against the London Knights on Friday night, recording three assists in the Rangers' 4-2 win.

The Opponent: Kitchener Rangers (17-2-3-0, 37 points)

Discipline should be priority for the Storm when it comes to hosting the Rangers on Saturday. After dropping a 5-2 result to the Flint Firebirds, with two quick power play goals in the middle frame doing the damage, staying out of the box against the third overall power play unit in the OHL would be the first step to pulling off an upset at home.

The Rangers, registering 22 goals on 73 power play opportunities, hold a 26 PP%, while the Storm are ranked 17th overall on the penalty kill, allowing 23 goals against on 89 opportunities.

Playing smart defensively should also top the list for Guelph, with Kitchener boasting the second fewest goals allowed in the league with 53. Only one team has allowed less goals so far this season, being that of the Eastern Conference's Barrie Colts (52).

The Rangers, second overall in the OHL, have gone 8-2-0-0 in their last 10 games played, and will be looking to make it three straight against the Storm this season.

Season Series: Kitchener 2, Guelph 0

Oct. 18: Kitchener 2 @ Guelph 0

Coming out of the opening 20 minutes still knotted at zeroes, the difference in the game would be two Kitchener goals in the second period off of 17 shots, eventually resulting in a 2-0 loss at home for Guelph.

The Storm fired 30 shots at Luke Opilka, but would be unable to capitalize.

Nov. 1: Guelph 3 @ Kitchener 5 (Last Match-Up)

Despite falling behind 4-0 with two markers in the first and second periods from the Rangers, the Storm put together a valiant effort through the second half of the game to make things interesting. Givani Smith registered a natural hat trick, pulling Guelph within a goal with less than four minutes remaining in the game.

Ryan MacInnis, however, would deflate and deny the comeback effort, pocketing a power play tally to solidify the 5-3 win for the Rangers.

GAME NOTES

The Storm and the Rangers will meet for the third out of eight times this season.

Kitchener leads the season series 2-0.

The last time these teams met, Givani Smith recorded his first career hat trick in natural fashion in what would be a 5-3 loss for the Storm.

Saturday's game features a special banner raising ceremony in which will honour former Storm forward Jeff O'Neill. It will also serve as the club's first homecoming game for alumni.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2015


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