OHL Guelph Storm

Game Preview: Storm Visit 67's in Saturday Matinee

Published on November 28, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


Visiting the Ottawa 67's for the second of back-to-back games on the road this Saturday, the Guelph Storm will be looking to rebound following a 3-1 loss to Kingston on Friday night.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

Moving from the top-seeded team in the East Division in the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday night, the Guelph Storm visit the division's second-sitting Ottawa 67's on Saturday afternoon.

The Storm, currently on a seven-game skid, will be looking to build off the effort displayed against the Frontenacs in a close 3-1 loss the night before.

While on the home side of things, the 67's, with a 15-9-1-0 record so far this season, carry a three-game win streak into the contest.

The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

With a notably young team, 2015 first round selection Isaac Ratcliffe is atop the eight rookies on Guelph's roster with three points (two goals, one assist) this season. Getting the Storm on the board on Friday night in Kingston, the six-foot-four, 192-pound forward made no mistake on a cross-crease pass from Tyler Boston on the two man-advantage, pocketing his second of the campaign. Outside of the score sheet, the London, Ontario native has been a silver lining through the Storm's struggles this season, progressing through with obvious effort in all areas of the ice.

Another first-year forward put up a strong display on Friday in Kingston for the Storm, with Nick Deakin-Poot working for a few solid opportunities, just unable to capitalize. The six-foot-four, 201-pound forward specifically came out for the third period against the Frontenacs providing the extra effort with the Storm trailing by a goal. The Georgetown, Ontario native registered his first OHL marker back on Nov. 20 against the Flint Firebirds.

Going three-for-three watching OHL freshmen, rookie Liam Stevens has been subtly finding a groove of his own over the past few games. Although still left without his first OHL tally, the Waterdown, Ontario native has had a few opportunities recently, with a follow-up effort on a Deakin-Poot rush in Kingston on Friday the best thus far. The five-foot-eight, 187-pound forward has one assist this season.

Ottawa 67's

Leading the way for the 67's is the 2015 first round selection (24th overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers, Travis Konecny. The five-foot-ten, 167-pound forward has 37 points in 24 games this season, a total good enough for ninth overall in the OHL. With 31 assists making an already obvious case for the playmaker label, the Clachan, Ontario native is second in the league - just one helper back of the London Knights Matthew Tkachuk. In the last three games played, Konecny has compiled one goal and eight assists.

Right behind in 67's production is fourth-year veteran Dante Salituro with 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 23 games this season. The five-foot-nine, 175-pound forward has been held pointless only three times all campaign, while off the score sheet only once through the month of November. Heading into Saturday's match-up, the Willowdale, Ontario native carries a three-game point streak, recording four goals and three assists in that stretch.

Also carrying a three-game point streak into Saturday's contest is Sam Studnicka, recording two goals and three assists while being held pointless only twice in November. In Ottawa's last match-up, a 4-1 win over the Sarnia Sting on Friday night, the Tecumseh, Ontario native registered a goal and an assist. In 19 games this season, the six-foot-one, 203-pound forward has totaled for 17 points (11 goals, six assists).

The Opponent: Ottawa 67's (15-9-1-0, 31 points)

With a second-standing in the East Division, and third overall in the Eastern Conference, the Ottawa 67's are evidently not a team to take lightly. Currently on a three-game win streak, the 67's last lost on Nov. 21 to the Hamilton Bulldogs in a 4-2 result. Since then, Ottawa has topped tough teams like the Oshawa Generals and the Kingston Frontenacs, outscoring the opposition 16-5 in the last three games.

On the note of scoring, the 67's lead all Eastern Conference teams in the goals-for department with 94 so far this season.

With the Storm visiting on Saturday afternoon, the 67's also hold the home ice advantage, something they have certainly used this campaign with only three of their 10 losses coming in Ottawa.

GAME NOTES

Saturday's match-up will be the first of two meetings between the Storm and the 67's this season.

The Storm were in Kingston on Friday night, dropping the contest 3-1, while the 67's hosted the Sarnia Sting in a 4-1 victory.

Michael Giugovaz, returning to the line-up after serving a five-game suspension on Friday night as back-up to netminder Justin Nichols, is expected to make his Storm debut in Ottawa.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2015


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