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OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Open 25th Season Hosting Generals

September 23, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


The Guelph Storm begin their 25th anniversary season with the Oshawa Generals in town on Sept. 25, a tilt that features both of the Ontario Hockey League's most recent champions.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

With the stage set for the Ontario Hockey League's last two championship clubs to begin the 2015-16 season on Sept. 25, the headlines should also emphasize the different stages both the Guelph Storm and the Oshawa Generals present heading into this campaign.

The Guelph Storm, 2014 OHL champions, are now two seasons removed from their historic and memorable run, with only four names remaining from that particular squad, including the likes of Justin Nichols, Marc Stevens, Garrett McFadden, and Robby Fabbri. With 11 rookies on the roster heading into Friday's home opener, the Storm will begin their 25th anniversary season with an obvious focus on youth and development. But, with that comes noticeable room for players to distinguish themselves as key members of the line up, opportunity that will surely see the new generation of Storm talent become a strong core group.

The 2015 Memorial Cup champions in the Oshawa Generals enter Friday's season opener just months separated from their season to remember. Not unlike the Guelph Storm roster of 2014-15, the Generals are losing significant names such as Michael McCarron, Dakota Mermis, and Tobias Lindberg, among others. But, familiar faces are still around, prepared to defend the title. Leading scorer Michael Dal Colle may very likely return if he doesn't remain with the NHL's New York Islanders, while others such as Stephen Desrocher and Anthony Cirelli will be looked upon to have career years.

Friday's match-up may feature two recent champions on paper, however, when the puck drops at the Sleeman Centre, it will feature two squads playing to rebuild and maintain their team's identity. Game time is scheduled for 7:30pm.

2014-15 Season Recap

Guelph Storm

The Guelph Storm opened the 2014-15 campaign prepared to defend the 2014 OHL championship title as a contender in a seemingly always-competitive Midwest Division. Nevertheless, after a historic run in 2013-14 where almost everything went right, the Storm faced an abundance of injuries through the following defending season leaving not a single game featuring a complete and healthy roster. Notable injuries to the likes of offensive star Robby Fabbri and defensive leader Zac Leslie were just the tip of the iceberg for a Storm line up that overcame adversity to remain within the middle of the Western Conference pack, finishing fourth on the regular season with a 38-26-2-2 record for 80 points.

With the playoff berth, the Storm extended their postseason appearance streak to 23 seasons, currently the longest active streak in the OHL. Facing off against the fifth-standing Owen Sound Attack (who finished a mere point behind Guelph in the regular season standings) in the first round, the Storm would only drop the first match-up, going on to win four straight, taking the series 4-1. Next up would be the heavily favoured and first overall Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Unable to contain the Soo's offensive depth, the Storm would be swept in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

2014-15 Record: 38-26-2-2 (third in Midwest Division, fourth in Western Conference)

Notable graduates: Jason Dickinson, Tyler Bertuzzi, Pius Suter, Zac Leslie, Phil Baltisberger, Chris Marchese, Luke Cairns

Leading scorer: Robby Fabbri (30 GP, 25 goals, 26 assists, 51 points)

Leading scorer (defenceman): Zac Leslie (57 GP, 11 goals, 37 assists, 48 points)

Leading scorer (rookie): Tyler Boston (55 GP, 10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points)

Leading goaltender: Justin Nichols (59 GP, 34-20-2-1, 3.26 GAA, .907 SV%, two shutouts)

Opening Week Schedule: Fri. Sept. 25 vs. Oshawa Generals (7:30 p.m.), Sat. Sept. 26 at Owen Sound Attack (7:30 p.m.)

Oshawa Generals

The Generals aren't too far separated from a season to remember, coming into the 2015-16 as the defending Memorial Cup Champions. On their way to the feat, Oshawa secured second overall in the OHL, finishing the regular season just two points back of the West's best Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Capturing both the East Division and the Eastern Conference with a 51-11-2-4 record, the Generals went on to eliminate the Peterborough Petes (4-1 series), the Niagara Ice Dogs (4-1 series), and the North Bay Battalion (4-2 series) en route to meeting the Erie Otters in the OHL Championship Series. Proving to be the very powerhouse that had been attached to their name for the duration of the season, the Generals defeated the Otters in five games, taking the OHL title.

Traveling to Quebec City for the 2015 Mastercard Memorial Cup, the Generals would nurse a perfect record through four games, including an exciting 2-1 victory 1:28 into overtime to become national champions over the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets.

2014-15 Record: 51-11-2-4 (first in Eastern Conference, second in OHL)

Notable graduates: Josh Brown, Dakota Mermis, Michael McCarron, Tobias Lindberg, Chris Carlisle, Hunter Smith, Brent Pedersen, Aidan Wallace, Michael Turner, Sonny Hertzberg

Leading scorer: Michael Dal Colle (56 GP, 41 goals, 51 assists, 93 points)

Leading scorer (defenceman): Mitchell Vande Sompel (58 GP, 12 goals, 51 assists, 63 points)

Leading scorer (rookie): Anthony Cirelli (68 GP, 13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points)

Leading goaltender: Ken Appleby (50 GP, 38-7-0-4, 2.08 GAA, .924 SV%, six shutouts)

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

With new names being the majority for the Guelph Storm this season, familiar faces seem to have made a statement through the short five-game preseason stint. Leading the charge is sophomore Tyler Boston, who recorded six points (three goals, three assists), finishing fifth overall in OHL preseason points. The Newmarket, Ontario native is coming off a steady rookie season that saw him lead all Storm rookies in points with 23 (10 goals, 13 assists) through 55 games in 2014-15. The Storm will look to Boston to be a leader, specifically down the middle as a key member to the line up, evidently making the five-foot-eleven, 160-pound centerman's already confident play a strong sign for things to come.

Looking back to the blueline, for anyone who's seen even a few shifts of preseason action, now-third year defenceman Garrett McFadden has been near impossible to ignore. The Kincardine, Ontario native has been noticeably controlling the tempo in large stints using his standout speed and ability to move the puck, and the play, quickly. In four games this preseason, McFadden pocketed three points (all assists), and is coming off a sophomore season that saw him record 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in 56 games. Although, the five-foot-eleven, 180-pound defenceman arguably made his biggest splash last campaign in the postseason, earning deserved minutes in significant situations and posting one goal and five assists for six points through nine games. McFadden is the lone defenceman left from the 2014 OHL Championship squad, and will be heavily leaned on to not only lead the backend, but be a leader on an overall young roster for the Storm this season.

It's no secret, however, that the Storm's most influential leader stands between the pipes wearing No. 39. Justin Nichols enters his overage season this campaign, returning as one of four remaining names from the 2014 Championship team. Nichols earned Most Valuable Player honours for the Storm in 2015 after appearing in 59 games, posting a 3.26 GAA and a .907 SV% with a 34-20-2-1 record. With his 34 victories, and 35 earned in 2013-14, the St. Catharines, Ontario native became the first goaltender in Storm history to post back-to-back 30-win seasons. Nichols poised himself with consistency through 2014-15, finishing third overall in OHL netminders in minutes played with 3295, and second overall in saves with 1935 on the season. To no one's surprise, Nichols has returned to the blue paint in the same fine form, putting together a strong 60 minutes against the Peterborough Petes in preseason action, turning aside 33 of 34 shots in a 6-1 win for the Storm.

Oshawa Generals

There's no doubt that all eyes will be on Anthony Cirelli this campaign, a name most came to know after the then-rookie pocketed the overtime marker for the Generals in the Memorial Cup final. A once-free agent invite to Oshawa's training camp in 2014, Cirelli was selected in the third round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in June and now heads full force into his sophomore season ready to make an even bigger impact. As a rookie, the Woodbridge, Ontario native registered 37 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 68 games, while pocketing 10 points (two goals, eight assists) through 21 playoff games. With the Generals losing key offensive threats, such as the likes of Tobias Lindberg and Michael McCarron, Oshawa will look to Cirelli to become an even more influential name to their line up.

Additionally, the backend is no exception to significant names lost for the Generals as the likes of Josh Brown, Dakota Mermis, and Chris Carlisle will surely be missed. Nevertheless, names such as Mitchell Vande Sompel and Stephen Desrocher remain, among others, and will be leaned on to fill the void. Desrocher, returning from rookie camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs, had a strong showing in his sophomore season, posting 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) and a plus-33 through 66 games played. In postseason action, the six-foot-four, 198-pound defenceman registered 12 points (four goals, eight assists) through 21 games. Desrocher only built on his numbers as a rookie in 2013-14, where he posted eight points (four goals, four assists), nearly tripling it the following season.

Outside of returning names, up-and-coming youth have also made an impact on the Generals roster, with 2015 first round selection Jack Studnicka a notable in that department. The Tecumseh, Ontario native registered four points (one goal, three assists) through five preseason games, standing fourth among Oshawa skaters in points. Studnicka, a 16-year-old rookie, is a six-foot, 163-pound centre who will only continue to push to distinguish himself as one of the Generals' offensive threats.

Tickets are still available for the Storm's 25th home opener! Get yours here!

Game Notes

Sept. 25 will mark the Guelph Storm's 25th home opener, beginning the special 25th anniversary season for the organization.

The Oshawa Generals come into the 2015-16 season as defending Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup champions.

The Storm and the Generals are the OHL's most recent champions, with Guelph capturing the title in 2014, and Oshawa following up the effort in 2015.

Heading into the season opener on Friday, the Storm have 11 rookies on their roster.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 23, 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.

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