OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Look to Rebound in the Soo

Published on January 22, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


After a tough 4-3 overtime loss in North Bay on Thursday night, the Guelph Storm will be looking to rebound visiting the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Friday.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

Friday night's match-up will be consistent meeting inconsistent.

The Guelph Storm, who consistently struggled through the first half of the season, have maintained that very level of consistency in the second half of the 2015-16 campaign, but have instead, flipped the script into a team who has grabbed at least a point in 11 of their last 13 games played. In the last five games, the Storm haven't lost in regulation, posting a 3-0-1-1 record, and are 6-2-1-1 in their last 10 games.

The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, on the other hand, have been consistent at being inconsistent. The club's last two contest - a home-and-home with the Sudbury Wolves - illustrate just that, starting with a 4-2 loss on Jan. 15, followed by a huge 9-2 victory on Jan. 20. In the last 10 games, the Greyhounds have a 3-4-2-1 record.

Puck drop is slated for 7:07pm on Friday night.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

After posting four goals in the first 22 games of the season, sophomore Givani Smith has found his hot-hand, registering nine goals in his last eight games played. The month of January has been the Toronto, Ontario native's best stretch of hockey, suddenly sitting with 18 goals through 41 games this campaign, and a mere two-goals removed from the 20-goal milestone. On the season, the six-foot-one, 197-pound forward has amassed for 29 points and has four goals in his last three games played.

Third-year veteran Garrett McFadden has made his presence known on the blueline for the Storm, tallying 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his last 13 games played, and 15 points in his last 16. On the season, the Kincardine, Ontario native has 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 43 games - a total good enough to stand tenth overall among the league's defensemen.

Rookie Nic Sicoly will also be one to watch come Friday night as the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native makes the first visit to his hometown wearing a Storm jersey. The 1998-born forward has five points (two goals, three assists) in 40 games this season, putting him third among Storm rookies in production.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Leading the way for the Greyhounds is five-foot-eleven, 183-pound winger Blake Speers. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Speers has 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) in 43 games this season. The third round (67th overall) selection of the New Jersey Devils in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft had three assists in one game against the Storm this season, and has one goal and four assists in his last four games played. Through the month of January, Speers has totaled for one goal and eight assists in eight games.

Rookie Boris Katchouk earned first star honours the last time the Storm and the Greyhounds met back on Oct. 2, pocketing two goals and an assist in the 8-4 win in Guelph. Now, through 41 games on the campaign, the six-foot-one, 179-pound forward has 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) and has three goals for five points in his last eight games played.

Sophomore Tim Gettinger was the second star in the last tilt between the two clubs, tallying for three assists on the night. The six-foot-six, 202-pound winger has since recorded 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 36 games this season, and with a three-point (one goal, two assists) effort against the Sudbury Wolves on Wednesday, is only three points removed from matching his rookie point total of 25 previously set through 54 games in 2014-15.

The Opponent: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (19-18-5-1, 44 points)

After a dominating regular season in 2014-15, the Greyhounds are third in the West Division with 44 points through 43 games this campaign. Most recently, the Soo has been consistent at being inconsistent, specifically dating back to Jan. 6 in a 6-4 loss to the Sudbury Wolves that began a three-game skid. After a 5-1 loss to the Sarnia Sting on Jan. 10, the Greyhounds rebounded with a 5-4 win over the North Bay Battalion on Jan. 14. The Soo would fall the very next night to the Wolves in a 4-2 result, and most recently, downed the Wolves in a dominating 9-2 score on Jan. 20.

From there, the Greyhounds have a .512 win percentage so far this season, and are 3-4-2-1 in their last 10 games played.

Notably, the Soo has managed to remain consistent at one thing this season - discipline. With 360 penalty minutes on the season, the Greyhounds are the least penalized team in the league, and the Storm will need to match the discipline level to give themselves a chance at two-points come Friday night.

GAME NOTES

Friday's match-up is the second of four meetings between the Storm and the Greyhounds this season.

Sault Ste. Marie leads the season series 1-0 after downing the Storm 8-4 in Guelph on Oct. 2.

Rookie Nic Sicoly is a native of Sault Ste. Marie.

Givani Smith has nine goals in his last eight games played.

Defenseman Garrett McFadden has 13 points in his last 13 games played, and 15 points in his last 16.

The Storm have earned at least a point in 11 of their last 13 games played.

Following Friday's game, Guelph concludes the northern road trip traveling to Sudbury for a Sunday contest with puck drop at 2:00pm.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2016


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