Sports stats



OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Host Firebirds for the First Time

November 20, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


Playing their second game of a three-in-three stretch, the Guelph Storm will host the Flint Firebirds for the first time on Friday night.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

Now with back-to-back games at home, fans who purchase a ticket to Friday's meeting with the Flint Firebirds have the chance to add a ticket to Saturday's contest featuring Storm history with Jeff O'Neill Banner Night for just $11 courtesy of the Weekend Pass Deal! Call (519) 837-9690 for more information, or click below to get your tickets now!

Click here to purchase tickets to Flint Firebirds @ Guelph Storm (Nov. 20).

Click here to purchase tickets to Kitchener Rangers @ Guelph Storm (Nov. 21, Jeff O'Neill Banner Night).

Without too much time to dwell on Thursday night's close 3-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires, the Guelph Storm will have to take all the good that came from the match-up and channel it into Friday's contest when they will be hosting the Flint Firebirds for the first time.

On a four-game skid heading into Friday's game, the Storm will be looking to earn their second victory over the Firebirds this season.

Flint, on the other hand, is playing resilient hockey as of late, earning five of six possible points in their last three games played.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

Registering a goal in Thursday's meeting with the Windsor Spitfires, James McEwan took over the roster's points lead, standing with 11 in 20 games. The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound forward is also still atop the team in goals scored with eight this season. Looking at the last match-up with Flint on Nov. 7, the 1997-born, Chatham, Ontario native recorded a goal and an assist in the Storm's 5-3 victory.

Leading all Storm defenseman is assistant captain Garrett McFadden, compiling 11 points (four goals, seven assists) through 20 games this campaign. Opening the scoring in the Storm's 3-2 loss to the Spitfires on Thursday, the five-foot-eleven, 180-pound blue liner has now scored three goals (with the addition of two assists) in his last five games played, including a marker against the Firebirds on Nov. 7.

Expected to make his fourth straight start on Friday, second-year goaltender Bradley van Schubert is coming off his best performance of the 2015-16 season so far, turning aside 27 of 30 shots faced in the 3-2 loss to Windsor on Thursday. In the game, the Barrie, Ontario native made key saves at key moments, specifically in the third period, to keep the Storm in the running for a comeback.

Flint Firebirds

Currently enjoying a breakout season, sophomore Will Bitten leads the Firebirds in both points (27) and goals (10) after recording 31 points in 63 games as a rookie in 2014-15. Now 19 games into the season, the 1998-born centre is just four points back of matching his freshman numbers, and is having an impressive month of November en route to the new career-high. Riding a five-game point streak dating back to Nov. 6, the Gloucester, Ontario native has registered three goals and eight assists in that span, all the while being recognized as a first star in two of his last three contests.

With 15 points (eight goals, seven assists), Ryan Moore is third on Flint's roster in production, while also enjoying a five-game point streak heading into Friday's match-up. Compiling three goals and seven assists since Nov. 6, the five-foot-eight, 171-pound winger has been a significant element to the Firebirds picking up five points out of a possible six in the last three games played.

Also finding individual success in November is sophomore Nicholas Caamano, recording three goals and two assists in the last four games played - almost doubling the point total (five) reached in October. The six-foot-one, 184-pound Ancaster, Ontario native has nine points (six goals, three assists) in 18 games so far, already matching his rookie point total posted in 64 games in 2014-15.

The Opponent: Flint Firebirds (8-9-3-0, 18 points)

The Firebirds may be fourth in the West Division with a .474 winning percentage, but they are certainly a team that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Going 3-6-1-0 in their last 10 games played, Flint has proved to be fairly resilient, specifically in their last three games, picking up five out of a possible six points against tough opponents in the Oshawa Generals, the Sarnia Sting, and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Going back to Nov. 8, after suffering a 5-3 loss to the Storm the previous night, the Firebirds came back from a 3-1 deficit with just under 15 minutes remaining in regulation to down the defending Memorial Cup Champions in a 4-3 result in a shootout.

In their next match-up, the Firebirds held on to a 4-0 lead and pushed off a Sting comeback to take a 4-3 victory on Nov. 13. The following night, facing off against the Greyhounds, the Firebirds would be outshot 45-12, however, still managed to hold a 3-0 lead (scoring three goals on five shots) after the opening 20 minutes. The Soo evidently pushed back, taking a 4-3 result in overtime, but Flint still found a point out of the contest.

Season Series: Guelph 1, Flint 0

Nov. 7: Guelph 5, Flint 3 (Last Match-Up)

GAME NOTES

In their inaugural season in the Ontario Hockey League, the Flint Firebirds will be visiting the Sleeman Centre for the first time on Friday night.

The Storm and the Firebirds have met only once prior this season, with the Storm earning their second win of the season in a 5-3 result.

Guelph will be playing their second game in two nights.

Following Friday's contest, the Storm will be concluding the weekend at home on Saturday hosting the Kitchener Rangers for a 4:00p.m. start. The game also includes Jeff O'Neill Banner Night.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Ontario Hockey League message board...

Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2015


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