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Storm and Sting meet on Rogers Sportsnet Friday

January 31, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting and Drew Doughty of the Guelph Storm are the top two prospects for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and on Friday night, the two will go head-to-head in an OHL regional broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet (7:00 p.m. Eastern).

Stamkos, a centre, was the top rated player in the mid-term draft rankings released by NHL Central Scouting three weeks ago while Doughty, a defenceman, was rated second.

Stamkos is 10th in the OHL scoring race with 34 goals and 65 points in 40 games after a sensational rookie season that included 42 goals and 92 points in 63 games. He also put in a four-point performance as a rookie in the OHL All-Star Classic in Saginaw, MI.

"He's so dynamic," Sting coach Dave MacQueen told The Canadian Press earlier this month. "His skill level, awareness on the ice and hockey sense are so much more advanced than a lot of the players in our league."

Meanwhile, Doughty leads the Storm with 41 points from the blueline. The third year defender scored 21 goals and 74 points in a breakout season last year.

"The enthusiasm that he brings every time he steps on the ice, whether it's a practice or a game, is what makes him a special player, along with his high skill level," said Storm coach Dave Barr.

The pair played together on Canada's gold medal winning World Junior Team and faced off against each other in the Home Hardware CHL NHL Top Prospects Game two weeks ago in Edmonton. They will team up again next week on the Western Conference squad in the OHL All-Star Classic in Sault Ste, Marie (Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on Rogers Sportsnet).

To top things off, the two teams are one point apart in the Western Conference standings.

Sarnia has won six of their past 10 games and is in sixth place in their conference. They trail the London Knights by six points for the final spot that guarantees home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Veteran left winger Justin DiBenedetto is enjoying a career season with the Sting and has racked up 30 goals and 67 points in 45 games. The 19-year-old from Vaughan will join linemate Stamkos in the OHL All-Star Game next week.

Sarnia picked up overage sniper Vladimir Nikiforov and goaltender Andrew Perugini from the Barrie Colts just before the trade deadline earlier this month. While Nikiforov is sidelined with a broken jaw, Perugini is 8-3-0-0 since coming to Sarnia.

Guelph has won seven of its past 10 games and sits in seventh place, five points ahead of the Saginaw Spirit, who currently hold the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Doughty will be joined in the OHL All-Star Game by fellow blueliner Michael Caruso, who has developed into one of the top two-way defenders in the Western Conference.

The Storm also has a deep group of talented forwards including Brandon Buck, Luke Pither, Anthony Nigro and captain Rafael Rotter.

Guelph has won the first two games of the season series.

Highlights of the 2008 CHL on Rogers Sportsnet broadcast schedule include the regional broadcast of the Ontario Hockey league All-Star Game from Sault Ste. Marie on February 6. The 2008 CHL on Rogers Sportsnet schedule concludes with live coverage of the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Kitchener May 16 - 25.

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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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