Game Preview: Storm Look to Rebound in Windsor
October 30, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
Facing a two game road stand this weekend, the Guelph Storm look to get back on track visiting the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday for a 1:05p.m. puck drop.
Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---
The Guelph Storm are back at home on Nov. 6, with the London Knights visiting for the first match-up of the season for the Midwest Division rivals. You can purchase your tickets here.
It's all about a short memory for the Guelph Storm heading into this weekend's two game road stand.
For a squad that has been weighed down with a struggling start to the 2015-16 campaign, the Storm will be looking to rebound on Saturday in Windsor after a backbreaking loss to the Kingston Frontenacs, suffered this past Sunday. The game saw a rare 2-0 lead slip out from under the Storm, eventually falling 3-2 in the final minute of regulation.
Heading into Windsor on Saturday afternoon, Guelph will be facing off against a Spitfire club that will be on the tail end of a three-in-three weekend, already downing the Flint Firebirds in a 3-0 result on Thursday, with a Friday night visit to the London Knights, only to return home to meet the Storm on Saturday.
For the second meeting between these two teams, with the first match-up featuring a 2-1 Windsor victory at the Sleeman Centre on Oct. 3, the puck is scheduled to drop at 1:05pm.
Player Watch
Guelph Storm
Second year goaltender Brad van Schubert is expected to be in the paint come Saturday's afternoon tilt, potentially making his third start on the 2015-16 campaign. Last getting the nod on Oct. 17 against the OHL's best Erie Otters, the Barrie, Ontario native put forth a strong performance with 36 of 39 saves, including 17 of 18 alone in the second period, in what would be a 4-2 loss for the Storm. The 1997-born netminder got his first start of the season back on Oct. 3 in Saginaw, facing 40 shots in a tough 8-5 fall for Guelph. Through three appearances, the six-foot-two, 200-pound goaltender has made 97 saves, and will potentially look to give the Storm a chance to take home their second win of the season come Saturday's match-up in Windsor.
James McEwan is the one to watch offensively for the Storm, leading the team with a high of six goals through 12 games played. The Chatham, Ontario native pocketed his sixth of the season against the Kingston Frontenacs this past Sunday, giving the Storm a two-goal cushion 16:14 into the opening period. Noteably, four of the five-foot-eleven, 190-pound forward's goals have come on even strength play, scoring once on the man-advantage, and another shorthanded. McEwan is only four points removed from surpassing his rookie point total of 10, registered in 2014-15 through 45 games.
Also finding the back of the net against the Frontenacs this past Sunday was Givani Smith, registering his first of the 2015-16 campaign in the 3-2 loss. The six-foot-one, 197-pound winger has totaled for six points through 12 games, maintaining a pace to more than surpass his 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) totaled in his rookie season, appearing in 31 games initially for the Barrie Colts, and then concluding the final 30 with the Storm.
Windsor Spitfires
Leading the way up front for the Spitfires in both points and goals is third year veteran Cristiano DiGiacinto. The five-foot-eleven, 183-pound forward has registered 13 points (six goals, seven assists) through 14 games this season, while maintaining a plus-four rating. The 1996-born, Hamilton, Ontario native has almost doubled his point production by the season, going from 28 through 50 games in his rookie season, while posting 45 through 63 in his sophomore campaign. A prospect of the Tampa Bay Lightning, selected 170th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, DiGiacinto is clearly on pace to surpass his last recorded total, almost achieving a point-per-game production thus far.
Third on team in points is Bradley Latour, who already pocketed a goal against the Storm this season, opening the scoring for his visiting Spitfires to tie things up at one in the first period back on Oct. 3. A former Oshawa General for his first three seasons in the OHL, the now Spitfire has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) through 14 games and is a plus-four on the season. The overage forward recorded 50 points with the Generals in 2014-15, and is on pace to maintain the same production, if not surpass it, with almost maintaining a point-per-game to open the 2015-16 season.
Rounding out the offensive pressure goes right back to the blue line in rookie Mikhail Sergachev. The freshman is 16th among the league's first years, recording seven points (three goals, four assists) and a plus-five through 14 games this season. Second in Spitfires defensemen, the six-foot-two, 205-pound Russia native is coming off a two-point performance (one goal, one assist) in a 3-0 win over the Flint Firebirds on Oct. 29 to begin the three-in-three stretch for the Spitfires this weekend.
The Opponent: Windsor Spitfires (9-2-3-0, 21 points)
(Prior to Saturday's contest with the Storm on Saturay, the Spitfires will play in London on Oct. 30, with the game scheduled to begin at 7:30pm.)
The Windsor Spitfires may be holding second place in the Western Conference, only two points removed from the OHL's best of the Erie Otters, but they are nothing the Storm haven't competed with already this season. Back on Oct. 3, the Spitfires visited the Storm in what would be one of the many close contests Guelph has seen so far this campaign. Falling 2-1, the Storm would begin the contest taking the lead, only to see the Spitfires tie things up at one heading into the middle frame, while eventually taking the lead, and solidifying the final 2-1 result, 4:40 into the second period. The Storm, however, would outshoot the Spitfires 37-31 on the game.
Evident in the previous match-up between the teams, only two teams in the Western Conference have allowed fewer goals than Windsor - who have only 36 against through 14 games - being that of the Sarnia Sting (32) and the Kitchener Rangers (29). The Storm, who have undoubtedly struggled offensively so far, will have to simplify things in order to capitalize against the obviously defensively strong Spitfires.
With 52 goals for, however, (and keeping in mind that the team stands as one of the league's best) the Spitfires don't have a representative in the top scoring, boasting a notable well-rounded offensive attack. Windsor has six forwards who have hit, or surpassed, the 10-point mark so far this season, while three have five or more goals.
While the Storm open their weekend play in Windsor on Saturday, the Spitfires will be concluding a three-in-three stretch, already downing the Flint Firebirds on Oct. 29 in a 3-0 win, and visiting the London Knights on Oct. 30. The Spitfires, though, have already recently downed the Knights on Oct. 25, taking a 6-3 victory over one of the tough Midwest Division clubs.
In the past ten contests, Windsor has compiled a 6-2-2-0 record, and has recorded a .750 winning percentage so far this season.
Last Match-Up: Windsor 2 @ Guelph 1, Oct. 16
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2015
- Kitchener Prevails 4-3 in a Shootout - North Bay Battalion
- Wolves Fall in OT - Sudbury Wolves
- Steelheads Shut out Bulldogs - Brampton Steelheads
- Kopacka, Frost, Tokarev Combine for 6 Pts over Ottawa - Soo Greyhounds
- Sting Fall 6-2 in Niagara - Sarnia Sting
- Brandon Robinson Nets Pair of Goals, Adds One in Shootout as Rangers Win Ninth Straight - Kitchener Rangers
- Spirit Knock off Attack 3-2 - Saginaw Spirit
- 67's Hounded Without Konecny in Lineup - Ottawa 67's
- IceDogs Silence Sting with Second Straight Victory - Niagara IceDogs
- Attack Fail to Get by Spirit - Owen Sound Attack
- Attack Take to Road - Owen Sound Attack
- Foegele Joins Kingston Frontenacs - Kingston Frontenacs
- Game Preview: Storm Look to Rebound in Windsor - Guelph Storm
- Spirit Look to Stay Hot Versus Attack on Friday - Saginaw Spirit
- Flinn Faces 43 Shots in 4-2 Loss - Brampton Steelheads
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