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OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm, Otters Battle in School Day Game

December 1, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


The Guelph Storm travel to Erie on Wednesday to face off against the top-seeded Erie Otters for a school-day game with puck drop at 11:00am.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

The Storm return home this Friday, hosting the Hamilton Bulldogs in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game AND the Guelph Mercury's Books for Kids! Get your tickets HERE.

For the Guelph Storm, it's been solid effort paired with a lot of almost's and so-close so far this season. After visiting two of the Eastern Conference's strongest teams in the Kingston Frontenacs and the Ottawa 67's, the Storm travel south of the border looking to snap an eight-game skid against the OHL's best on Wednesday.

With that, routine will go out the window as the Erie Otters have a school day game with the Storm in town. Puck drop is scheduled for 11:00am.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

Leading the Storm offensively heading into Wednesday's match-up is second-year forward Tyler Boston. The Newmarket, Ontario native has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 24 games this season, while putting together a steady month of November ??" registering at least a point in seven of 11 games. Looking at the last five games, the five-foot-eleven, 160-pound forward has four assists.

Moving from the sophomores of the squad to the eight freshmen, Isaac Ratcliffe leads that group. Although only with four points (two goals, two assists) in 19 games this season, the six-foot-four, 192-pound rookie has noticeably grown into a bigger roll up front recently, earning ice time in all situations, and evidently capitalizing with three points (one goal, two assists) in his last three games played.

Assistant captain Garrett McFadden tops all Storm defensemen in points so far this season, recording 13 (four goals, nine assists) in 24 games. After compiling 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in 56 games in his second year in 2014-15, the five-foot-eleven, 180-pound blue liner is well on his way to setting a new career high. With the opponent in Wednesday's contest in mind, the Kincardine, Ontario native has registered four assists in eight career games against the Otters - including his first OHL point in his first game back on Sept. 20, 2013.

Erie Otters

When looking at the success of the Otters this season, one can't go far without the mention of Alex DeBrincat. Now in his second OHL campaign, the five-foot-seven, 160-pound forward leads the league with 52 points in 25 games - impressively averaging just over two points per game. The Detroit, Michigan native also tops the OHL in goals scored with 31. Breaking down the 2015-16 season, DeBrincat has only been held pointless twice, and is carrying a 15-game point streak (18 goals, 14 assists) into Wednesday's contest.

Not too far behind is the Otters' captain and Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome. The six-foot-three, 194-pound forward is fifth in OHL scoring with 47 points in 22 games this season, while standing 13th in goals scored with 14 and second overall in assists with 33. The Mississauga, Ontario native has been held off the score sheet only three times this campaign, last going pointless on Nov. 26 versus Kitchener. In the last two games played, Strome registered two goals and four assists.

The Otters also have things covered on the blue line, with third-year veteran Travis Dermott holding a seventh standing among OHL defensemen with 24 points (one goal, 23 assists) in 26 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has two assists in his last two games played, while boasting a team second-best plus-17 so far this season.

The Opponent: Erie Otters (22-3-1-0, 45 points)

It's no secret the Erie Otters are a force to be reckoned with, standing first overall in the OHL with 45 points and only four losses on the season. With the league's top scorer, the Otters are also second in the OHL in goals-for with 118 in 26 games, proving offensive power to be the main threat for the opposition.

In the last 10 games played, the Otters have compiled a 9-1-0-0 record. The loss, coming at the hands of the Flint Firebirds in a 6-5 result on Nov. 22, ended a six-game win streak. Since then, Erie has won three straight, downing the Kitchener Rangers 3-2 on Nov. 26, the Mississauga Steelheads in a 3-1 score the following night, and lastly the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in a 6-3 win on Nov. 28.

Looking at special teams, the Storm will need to remain disciplined in order to limit opportunity for the Otters, who boast a second ranked power play unit, registering 26 goals on 86 chances (30.2 PP%).

GAME NOTES

Wednesday's meeting is the second this season between the Storm and the Otters.

The first match-up of the 2015-16 campaign came back on Oct. 17, with Erie taking a 4-2 win at home.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2015


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