Game Preview: Storm, Rangers Continue Rivalry
Published on November 1, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
The Guelph Storm will conclude their two-game road stand this weekend visiting their Highway Seven rival in the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm.
The Storm return home next weekend to host the London Knights on Nov. 6. Click here to get your tickets. Any fan who purchases a regular ticket to Friday's game, can add another ticket to Sunday's contest versus the Windsor Spitfires for just $11!
Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---
It's right back at it for the Guelph Storm on Sunday, as the team visits the Kitchener Rangers for a 2:00 p.m. puck drop.
The Storm, dropping their 11th of the season in a 5-1 result on Saturday afternoon in Windsor, will have their work cut out for them as they look to challenge the OHL's best Rangers, the only team in the league left without a regulation loss.
Kitchener last played this past Friday, keeping their nine game win streak alive with a 4-3 shootout victory over the North Bay Battalion.
Player Watch
Guelph Storm
Storm captain C.J. Garcia has been leading by example over the last few games, finding a place on the score sheet in three of the last four contests with two goals and one assist. Finding the back of the net last against Windsor on Saturday afternoon, a goal that brought the Storm within one at the time, the Pickering, Ontario native seems to always find a way to breathe some life back into his team. The six-foot, 184-pound defenseman will have to continue his strong play on the backend come the Storm's tilt with the OHL's best in the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
Likely to get the start in Kitchener on Sunday afternoon is goaltender Justin Nichols, who continues to be outstanding in the blue paint for the Storm. Boasting the best numbers of his four-year OHL career thus far, holding a 2.77 goals-against-average with an OHL third-best .926 save percentage, the veteran netminder has been a significant reason Guelph has been in so many close contests so far this season. The St. Catharine's, Ontario native ranks fourth in saves made with 353, while all three goaltenders slated higher have played in at least two or more games. With a 1-7-1-0 record, Nichols holds numbers right alongside and better, than that of netminders playing behind the likes of OHL contenders.
Going up against the OHL's best, the Storm's struggling offense will be at the forefront entering the game. With that, the team will need it's leading point and goal scorer in James McEwan to come up with a big 60-minute display. The Chatham, Ontario native has six goals through 13 games this season, including two multi-goal performances. Off the score sheet, McEwan has put forth one of Guelph's most consistent efforts night-in and night-out, and will need to continue that on Sunday afternoon in Kitchener.
Kitchener Rangers
When looking at Kitchener's success so far this season, you can't go very far without seeing Ryan MacInnis. A second round selection (43rd overall) of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, MacInnis leads the Rangers in both goals (10) and points (20) while standing with a plus-six rating. Producing at a 1.54-point(s)-per-game rate, the six-foot-four, 191-pound forward is also fifth in league scoring.
Not too far off is Brandon Robinson, who sits third in points on Kitchener's roster with 12 (seven goals, five assists) through seven games played this season. The Pickering, Ontario native is coming off a big game individually, helping lift the Rangers to a 4-3 shootout victory over the North Bay Battalion on Oct. 30. Contributing two goals, while also adding the lone shootout goal to seal the Rangers ninth straight win, the 1995-born forward was named the game's first star.
Leading the Rangers on the blue line is third-year defenseman Frank Hora. The 1996-born, Cheektowaga, New York native has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 14 games this season, while maintaining a plus-four rating heading into Sunday's contest. The six-foot-one, 203-pound blueliner has consistently improved from season to season, jumping to 33 points after a 20-point performance in his rookie campaign. Now with a .57 point-per-game production, Hora is on pace to have another career-best this season.
The Opponent: Kitchener Rangers (11-0-3-0, 25 points)
The Rangers are making a certain kind of statement this season, and are doing so by being the only team left in the OHL without a regulation loss. With 25 points, Kitchener is two points ahead of their fellow Midwest Division counterpart in the Erie Otters, and stand atop of the league as the current team to beat.
The Rangers are also carrying a nine game win streak into Sunday's contest against the Storm, with their last loss coming back on Oct. 11 to the Mississauga Steelheads in a 3-2 overtime result. The game stands as Kitchener's third loss on the season.
The current success of the Rangers can be found in a few areas, one starting with the number 32 - the number of goals the blue shirts have allowed through 14 games this season, the fewest allowed throughout the OHL. With that comes the focus on the Storm's struggle for offense heading into Sunday's match-up, proving Guelph will need to keep things simple when it comes to getting on the board against this strong Kitchener club.
Staying disciplined will also be key for the Storm, as the Rangers boast the best power play in the OHL with a 13 goals for on 45 opportunities (28.9 PP%).
GAME NOTES
The Storm and the Rangers last met on Oct. 18 at the Sleeman Centre, with Kitchener coming away with a 2-0 victory to start the season series.
The Storm return home next weekend to host the London Knights on Nov. 6. You can get your tickets for the match-up here. Any fan who purchases a regular ticket to Friday's game, can add another ticket to Sunday's contest versus the Windsor Spitfires for just $11!
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