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OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Start Northern Swing in North Bay

January 21, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


The Guelph Storm look to continue their recent strong play on the road this weekend, beginning the northern road trip visiting the North Bay Battalion on Thursday night.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

After a strong stretch at home last week, the Guelph Storm hit the road this weekend, beginning their northern swing in North Bay on Thursday night.

The Storm will surely be taking confidence into the trip after grabbing five wins in their last seven games, while ensuring at least a point in 10 of their last 12. Most recently though, Guelph has only lost one of their last four games, with the loss coming at the hands of the Peterborough Petes on Sunday in a shootout result.

On the home side of things, North Bay put an end to a losing skid in their last contest versus the Sudbury Wolves. Prior to the 5-3 win on Jan. 17, the Battalion's last victory was back on Jan. 7, taking a 3-2 victory over the Erie Otters. Over their last 10 games played, the Battalion have compiled a 4-4-1-1 record and are one point back of the third-sitting Misssissauga Steelheads in the Central Division.

Puck drop is slated for 7:00pm.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

Just as the Storm began their hot play dating back to Dec. 18, third-year veteran Garrett McFadden was leading the charge. One of Guelph's assistant captain's this campaign, McFadden has posted three goals for 12 points in his last 12 games played, and 14 points in his last 15. In the month of January alone, the five-foot-eleven, 180-pound defenseman has eight points (two goals and six assists) through eight games, recording multi-point efforts twice. The Kincardine, Ontario native is having a career-year, with his previous high coming last season with 18 points recorded through 56 games. This season, McFadden has totaled for 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 42 games so far.

Sophomore Givani Smith has also had a hot hand as of late, specifically in the month of January, tallying for seven goals in his last seven games played, while totaling for nine points over the stretch including two three-point efforts. The six-foot-one, 197-pound forward has 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) in 40 games this season.

Second-year defenseman Noah Carroll has had some luck in the month of January as well, coming off a career-best game this past Sunday - registering his first three-point effort (one goal, two assists) against the Peterborough Petes. In the last seven games, the six-foot-one, 173-pound blueliner has registered one goal for five points after totaling for three assists in the first three months of the season.

North Bay Battalion

Leading the way for the Battalion is fourth-year veteran Mike Amadio. A third round (90th overall) selection of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the 1996-born forward has 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 42 games this season, and is certainly playing with the hot recently, posting four goals in his last three games played.

Next up is rookie Cam Dineen. The Toms River, New Jersey native is not only second on the Battalion roster in production, but second among league-first year's with 38 points (seven goals, 31 assists) in 42 games. Picking things up offensively in the month of December, the five-foot-eleven, 182-pound forward has stayed consistent since, posting four goals for 21 points over his last 17 games played.

Rounding out the top three for the Battalion is another fourth-year veteran in Mathew Santos. The six-foot, 209-pound winger has 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 38 games this campaign, setting a new career-high after surpassing the previous best of 29 registered in 67 games through the 2014-15 season. The overage forward six goals for 10 points in his last nine games played.

The Opponent: North Bay Battalion (21-16-2-3, 47 points)

The North Bay Battalion find themselves fourth in the Central Division, a single point back of the third-ranked Mississauga Steelheads. Over the last 10 games played, the Battalion have posted a 4-4-1-1 record, while winning only one of their last five. That one, though, came in the Battalion's last match-up this past Sunday, taking a 5-3 result over the Sudbury Wolves.

With a .560 win percentage through 42 games this season, the Battalion will be looking to stay in the win-column with a win over the visiting Storm on Thursday night. Home ice will certainly play a factor for North Bay, as the Battalion have a 16-7-0-0 record when holding home ice advantage - a significant improvement from that of their 5-9-2-3 record compiled while on the road.

GAME NOTES

The Storm and the Battalion meet for the first of two times this season.

The Storm have won five of their last seven games, while earning at least a point in 10 of their last 12.

Defenseman Garrett McFadden has posted three goals for 12 points in his last 12 games played, and 14 points in his last 15.

Guelph is back in action following Thursday's match-up, traveling to Sault Ste. Marie to face the Greyhounds on Friday night. 

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2016


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