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OHL Guelph Storm

Storm Begin 3-In-3 Visiting Spitfires

November 18, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


Starting off another three-in-three weekend, the Guelph Storm will visit the Windsor Spitfires on Thursday for a 7:05pm puck drop.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

Following Thursday's match-up, the Guelph Storm have back-to-back home games this weekend, allowing fans who purchase a ticket to Friday's game against the Flint Firebirds to add a ticket to Saturday's tilt against the Kitchener Rangers (featuring Storm history with the special Jeff O'Neill Banner Night) for just $11! Call (519) 837-9690 for more information.

Click here to purchase tickets to Flint Firebirds @ Guelph Storm, Nov. 20.

Click here to purchase tickets to Kitchener Rangers @ Guelph Storm, Nov. 21 (Jeff O'Neill Banner Night).

The Guelph Storm and the Windsor Spitfires are in two different positions this season.

It's the Storm, currently on a three-game skid, visiting the Spitfires, who boast a four-game win streak heading into Thursday's meeting.

These opponents, however, have managed to fire up a rivalry this campaign, meeting three times already with Thursday's match-up the last of the 2015-16 season.

Guelph will be pushing for much needed redempetion, especially after falling 4-0 to Windsor last on Nov. 8, while the Spitfires will be looking to keep their own win streak alive, pushing for a season series sweep.

The puck is slated to drop at 7:05pm.

Player Watch

Guelph Storm

After sidelined two games due to a suspension received following an altercation in the last match-up with the Spitfires on Nov. 8, Givani Smith is likely to jump right back into things with an extra jump to his game. Currently topping the Storm in point production, the Toronto, Ontario native has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 17 games this season. The six-foot-one, 197-pound winger has also registered three multi-point displays in his last six games played, recording seven points (four goals, three assists) in that stretch.

Leading the team in goals scored is sophomore James McEwan, compiling 10 points thus far. The 1997-born, Chatham, Ontario native is one point away from surpassing his rookie point total registered in 45 games in 2014-15. Reaching the mark in 19 games this campaign, the five-foot-eleven, 190-pound forward seems to have a pattern of coming out of the gates for a strong performance, recording four multi-point displays while registering a single point game only twice this season.

Tyler Boston is third on the team in production, tallying for 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 19 games. The five-foot-eleven, 160-pound centre has picked things up heading into the month of November, registering three goals for four points in his last five games played. Looking to Thursday's match-up, the Newmarket, Ontario native has posted two assists in three games versus Windsor this season.

Windsor Spitfires

Topping the Spitfires in points is Cristiano DiGiacinto, registering 24 (11 goals, 13 assists) in 21 games this season. Currently in his third OHL season, the 1996-born winger is 19th in league points while sitting 15th overall in goals scored (11). The Hamilton, Ontario native is also carrying a six-game point streak into Thursday's contest, registering five goals (all coming in his last five games played) for 11 points dating back to Oct. 31.

In the middle of Windsor's top three, Christian Fischer is having a strong start to his OHL career, ranked 20th overall in the league with 10 goals while totaling for 22 points in 19 games played. The 1997-born Arizona Coyotes prospect also currently boasts a plus-16, the highest plus-minus rating on the Spitfires. Looking to Thursday's tilit, the Wayne, Illinois native has posted two goals for five points in three games versus the Storm this season.

Third on the Spitfires in point production is sophomore Logan Brown, coming off a fairly solid rookie campaign with 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 56 games in 2014-15. Now, the 1998-born centre has compiled 22 points this season, while sitting ninth overall in the OHL in assists with 18 in 15 games played. Additionally, the six-foot-six, 218-pound centre has only been held pointless twice this season, and carries a six-game point streak extending back to Oct. 31 in which the Chesterfield, Missouri native has compiled three goals for 11 points in that stretch. Brown has also had some success against the Storm this season, registering six points in three match-ups.

The Opponent: Windsor Spitfires (14-4-3-0, 31 points)

Leading the West Division with 31 points, the Windsor Spitfires head into Thursday's match-up on a four-game win streak, while also defeating the Storm in the last three contests between the clubs this campaign.

The Spitfires' last loss came on Nov. 5 in a 5-4 result to the Niagara IceDogs, only to then go on to down the Erie Otters, the Storm, followed by the Mississauga Steelheads, with a 3-2 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds the most recent.

In those contests, Windsor has outscored their opponent 20-10.

With the Storm visiting Windsor on Thursday for the last meeting this season between the teams, the focus needs to be on a simple, fundamental-based game with the Spitfires holding the majority of their success on home ice. Five of Windsor's seven losses, including all four in regulation, have come on the road, emphasizing the Spitfires' ability to use home ice advantage, and use it well.

Notably, the Storm will also need to maintain a disciplined game following the last meeting on Nov. 8 that saw a total of 64 penalty minutes handed out between the teams.

Season Series: Windsor 3, Guelph 0

Oct. 16: Windsor 2 @ Guelph 1

With just over five minutes remaining in the opening frame, Garrett McFadden opened the scoring, giving his team a 1-0 lead in a strong 20-minute period for the Storm. The Spitfires, however, responded under four minutes later, tying things up at one with a power play marker.

The Spitfires doubled up on the effort 4:40 into the second period, taking a 2-1 lead that the Storm would never be able to respond with despite outshooting Windsor 37-31 on the game.

Oct. 31 Guelph 1 @ Windsor 5 

Coming out of the gates with a slow start, the Storm would be facing a 2-0 deficit before the 10-minute mark of the first period.

Looking to turn things around in the middle frame, captain C.J. Garcia got the visiting squad on the board 54 seconds into the period, however, that would be it from the Storm, with the Spitfires going on to tally two more second period goals, while adding another in the third for a 5-1 final.

Nov. 8: Windsor 4 @ Guelph 0 (Last match-up)

Despite managing to come out of the first period scoreless, the Storm would struggle to get much of anything going through the first 40 minutes, allowing 17 shots against in the opening frame, followed by 12 in the second.

The middle frame would be where the Spitfires capitalized, pocketing three goals in just over five minutes. The hole would be too much for Guelph to pull out of, falling 4-0 in the final result.

GAME NOTES

Thursday's match-up is the final meeting of the season between the Storm and the Spitfires.

Windsor leads the season series 3-0.

James McEwan is one point away from surpassing his rookie point total of 10 registered in 45 games in 2014-15.

The Storm return home to host the Flint Firebirds on Friday, followed by a Highway Seven rivalry match-up with the Kitchener Rangers in town on Saturday. Saturday's game features a special pre-game ceremony, honouring Jeff O'Neill. More information is below, or call (519) 837-9690. 

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2015


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