OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Host Bulldogs in Teddy Toss Game

Published on December 4, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


After three games on the road, the Guelph Storm host the Hamilton Bulldogs for the first time in a game that also features the Teddy Bear Toss and the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

Hosting the Hamilton Bulldogs for the first time, the Guelph Storm also have their annual Teddy Bear Toss and the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids on Friday. Get your tickets to the game HERE.

For more information on the Teddy Bear Toss sponsored by Wellington Motors, click HERE.

For more information on the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids, click HERE.

A little bit of history will be made this Friday at the Sleeman Centre, with the Hamilton Bulldogs - in their inaugural season as an OHL franchise - visiting for the first time.

The Bulldogs, fresh off a big 2-1 overtime victory over the Owen Sound Attack this past Wednesday, are 10-16-1-0 on the season, going 4-5-1-0 in their last 10 games played.

The Storm, on the other hand, are returning home after three games on the road, and will be looking to snap a nine-game skid with the most recent loss coming at the hands of the OHL's best Erie Otters in a 7-1 result on Wednesday.

Teddy Bear Toss:

Friday's game also features the Storm's annual Teddy Bear Toss sponsored by Wellington Motors, encouraging fans to bring new or gently used stuffed toys to throw on the ice when the Storm score their first goal. All of the toys will then be donated to local charities.

Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids:

In addition to the Teddy Toss, fans are also encouraged to donate books that are suitable for children ages newborn to 18-years-old for the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids on Friday night. Books will be accepted at all arena entrances.

Friday's game time is scheduled for 7:30pm.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

Former 2015 first round selection Isaac Ratcliffe has been hard to ignore as of late. After recording one point - his first career OHL goal - through the first 16 games played, the London, Ontario native now carries a four-game point streak into Friday's match-up. Starting with an assist against the Kitchener Rangers back on Nov. 21, the six-foot-four, 192-pound forward has two goals and two assists in the stretch. Off the score sheet, the Storm rookie has been earning a bigger role in all areas of the ice, including special teams.

Moving to Storm sophomores, second-year Tyler Boston leads the roster in points with 14 (six goals, eight assists) in 25 games this season. In the last three games played, the five-foot-eleven, 160-pound forward has two assists, while looking back to the month of November, registered at least a point in seven out of 11 games.

With focus on the opponent of Friday's match-up, recently acquired Jake Bricknell will be one to watch with his former team lining up on the other side of the red line. Playing in his third OHL season, the six-foot, 207-pound forward recorded three goals for four points in 16 games with the Bulldogs before being acquired by the Storm via trade in November. In his first game with the Storm on Nov. 13 versus the London Knights, the Port Perry, Ontario native recorded a goal and an assist.

Hamilton Bulldogs

Leading the way for the Bulldogs is overager Stephen Harper. The six-foot-three, 215-pound forward has compiled 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) in 27 games so far this season. Notably, after registering 36 points in 62 games (second to his career high of 38 set in 2012-13) last season, the 1995-born centre is well on his way to setting a new career best this campaign. Looking to the beginning of November, the Burlington, Ontario native put together five goals for nine points in four games. Since then, Harper has one goal and one assist in nine games, leaving the former Erie Otter to find his offensive game once again come Friday night in Guelph.

Next up is another overager in Mason Marchment. The six-foot-four, 200 pound forward has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 23 games this season - just four points back of his career high of 26 points recorded through 54 games in his first OHL season in 2014-15. In the last 14 games, the Uxbridge, Ontario native has been held pointless only four times.

Michael Cramarossa finishes off the big-three for the Bulldogs, coming in with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 23 games this campaign. The six-foot, 188-pound forward has one goal for four points in his last five games played.

The Opponent: Hamilton Bulldogs (10-16-1-0, 21 points)

The Hamilton Bulldogs, through their first OHL season, find themselves in the basement of the East Division, currently three points back (with the same amount of wins) of the defending Memorial Cup Champions, the Oshawa Generals.

Going 4-5-1-0 in their last 10 games played, the Bulldogs are coming off a big 2-1 overtime victory over another Midwest Division opponent in the Owen Sound Attack this past Wednesday. With that in mind, Hamilton has strung together two straight victories only once this season, dating back to Oct. 15 (4-3 win over the Niagara IceDogs) and Oct. 17 (4-2 win over the Kingston Frontenacs).

With the Bulldogs visiting the Sleeman Centre on Friday, a road record of 3-10-1-0 should be noted, as 11 of Hamilton's total 17 losses have come away from home ice.

The Bulldogs have also allowed the second most amount of goals in the Eastern Conference with 104 on the season, with the Sudbury Wolves the only team to allow more with 130. The Storm have allowed 113.

GAME NOTES

Friday's match-up will be the first ever meeting between the Storm and the Bulldogs, with Hamilton in their inaugural OHL season. 

The Bulldogs were formerly the Belleville Bulls.

Jake Bricknell, acquired via trade in November, will be facing off against his former club for the first time on Friday night.

Rookie Isaac Ratcliffe takes a four-game point streak (two goals, two assists) into Friday's contest.

Friday's game also features the Storm's annual Teddy Bear Toss sponsored by Wellington Motors and the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2015


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