Game Preview: Storm Host Firebirds, 7:30pm
March 2, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
For the first game in the month of March, Guelph will welcome the Flint Firebirds into the Sleeman Centre on March 2nd. This is the last game between these two clubs this year with the Storm leading the season series 2-1 after winning the last match up 5-3. Isaac Ratcliffe put forth a first star performance scoring a hat-trick and picking up an assist to round out a 4-point night.
Tickets are still available for Friday and Sunday and can be purchased either in-person at the Sleeman Centre Box Office, by calling (519) 837-9690 or online at ticketmaster.com here.
Head to Head
2017-18 Regular Season
FLNT 1-1-1-0 GUE 2-1-0-0
2016-17 Regular Season
FLNT 4-0-0-0 GUE 0-3-1-0
Last Five Years
FLNT 7-10-2-0 GUE 12-5-1-1
Last Five Years At Flint
FLNT 3-5-2-0 GUE 7-3-0-0
Last Five Years At Guelph
FLNT 4-5-0-0 GUE 5-2-1-1
Top Scorers
Last 5 Games
Match Up
Flint Guelph
Season Record 16-39-3-2 27-25-3-4
Last 10 Games 0-9-0-1 3-4-2-1
Streak 0-10-0-1 0-4-2-1
Last Game 9-0 L @ Sarnia (2018-02-25) Final 5-2 L vs Mississauga (2018-02-25) Final
Home Record 12-17-1-0 16-9-3-2
Away Record 4-22-2-2 11-16-0-2
Goals For 163 192
Goals Against 277 223
Power Plays 42/243 (17.3%) 48/216 (22.2%)
Power Plays - Home 20/118 (16.9%) 18/104 (17.3%)
Power Plays - Away 22/125 (17.6%) 30/112 (26.8%)
Penalty Killing 59/232 (74.6%) 41/205 (80%)
Penalty Killing - Home 27/116 (76.7%) 18/106 (83%)
Penalty Killing - Away 32/116 (72.4%) 23/99 (76.8%)
Leading Rookie McCourt (4-16-20) Hillis (19-35-54)
Most Penalty Minutes Fedor Gordeev Ryan Merkley
Team PIM/GM 10/60 9.2/59
Players to Watch
This game will feature 8 players with NHL affiliation. Defencemen Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) was signed as a free agent, while teammate Fedor Gordeev (Toronto Maple Leafs) was a 5th round draft pick in 2017. The other 6 players are on Guelph and were all drafted. Forwards Liam Hawel (Dallas Stars, 4th round), Nate Schnarr (Arizona Coyotes, 3rd round), Alexey Toropchenko (St. Louis Blues, 4th round) and Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia Flyers, 2nd round) were all drafted in 2017. Defenceman Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton Oilers, 3rd round) was also a 2017draftee, while Mark Shoemaker (San Jose Sharks, 6th round) is the sole player drafted in 2016 on Guelph.
Leading scorer Maurizio Colella is trying to right the ship in Flint. He was recently on a 7-game point streak, which ended on Feb. 17. He has 19 goals, 33 assists and 52 points in 59 games this year. Rookie star Cam Hillis has had strong performances against Flint, including a 3-assist game last time the 2 teams played. On the season, he has 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points, now tied for 8th in Guelph's all-time rookie scoring.
Upcoming Game
In another 3-game weekend, Guelph travels to Owen Sound to play the division rival Attack. It will be the final game between these teams this season. The previous match went to overtime at the Sleeman Centre, where Owen Sound came away with the win. On Sunday, the Storm return home to the Sleeman Centre to play host to the Kitchener Rangers. Game time is set for 2pm. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 519-837-9690, in person at the Guelph Storm Box Office or online at ticketmaster.ca.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2018
- Game Preview: Playoff Positioning on the Line Tonight against Windsor - Saginaw Spirit
- Bulldogs Use Some Olympic Mojo to Beat the Ottawa 67's 3-1 - Brantford Bulldogs
- Sting Narrowly Fall to Hounds 6-5 in Shootout - Sarnia Sting
- Troops Top Steelheads 2-1 - North Bay Battalion
- William Ennis Wins OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for February - Oshawa Generals
- London Capitalizes on Off-Night for Frontenacs - Kingston Frontenacs
- Hague Collects More Points But Steelheads Fall to Battalion - Brampton Steelheads
- Generals Sweep Regular Season Series with 3-2 Win over Rangers - Kitchener Rangers
- Colts Barrie the Dogs 7-2 in Niagara - Barrie Colts
- 67's Fall 3-1 in Hamilton - Ottawa 67's
- IceDogs Fall to Colts 7-2 - Niagara IceDogs
- Preview: Firebirds & Storm Collide in Guelph Friday - Flint Firebirds
- OHL Academic Players of the Month for February - OHL
- Spirit, Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan Host 7th Annual Hockey for the Homeless Night in Saginaw, Michigan - Saginaw Spirit
- Game Preview: Storm Host Firebirds, 7:30pm - Guelph Storm
- Steelheads' Hague Sets New Franchise Single Season Points Mark for Defencemen - Brampton Steelheads
- Knights Keep Coming Back in Peterborough - London Knights
- Petes Fall Late to London Knights - Peterborough Petes
- 67's Kickoff Road Trip with 4-2 Win over Battalion - Ottawa 67's
- Ottawa Slips Past Battalion - North Bay Battalion
- Bulldogs Win Battle of the Dogs with 5-4 OT Win in Niagara - Brantford Bulldogs
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.
