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OHL Guelph Storm

Storm City Weekly

February 18, 2010 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


Wednesday night at the Sleeman Centre, the Storm faced off against the red hot Whalers who were riding a 8-1-0-1 recording heading into the game. Michael Latta scored four goals on the night leading his Storm to a 6-3 victory over the Whalers. Defeating the Sarnia Sting 4-3 on home ice Friday night, the Storm lost an important match up against the Owen Sound Attack on Saturday and fell to the Knights on Monday in a special Family Day Game at the Sleeman Centre.

With a record of 25-27-3-1 the Storm currently sit two points back of the Owen Sound Attack for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Storm AMJ Player of the week /OHL Boston Pizza Player of the week

Michael Latta was named the Storm's AMJ Campbell Player of the week and the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 14 after scoring five goals and four assists for nine points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Latta opened the week with two straight four-point games including the first four-goal game of his career Wednesday night against the Plymouth Whalers. The game's first star netted his hat-trick goal on the power play at 18:03 of the second period which held as the game-winner, with his fourth goal of the night providing the insurance for the Storm at 8:58 of the third period in the 6-3 win. On Friday night Latta helped supply all of the offense for the Storm playing a part in all four goals by scoring one and assisting on three in the 4-3 win over the Sarnia Sting as third star of the game. His week finished Saturday with an assist despite a 6-2 loss to the Owen Sound Attack.

Latta, an 18-year-old from St. Clements, ON, is playing in his third OHL season and first full year with the Storm after beginning his career with the Ottawa 67's. A third round choice of the Nashville Predators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Latta has 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points in 46 games played this season.

Also considered for the award this week was Nazem Kadri who was named first star in all three London Knights' wins this week scoring two goals and seven assists for nine points in three games. Bryan Cameron of the Barrie Colts led the OHL with six goals in three games and added an assist for seven points. In goal, Edward Pasquale stole the show for the Saginaw Spirit making 103 saves in two games notching a pair of victories with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of.963.

7 Day 'Storm Forecast'

Currently two points back of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Storm faces a weekend away from the Sleeman Centre. Starting on Friday night in Kitchener, they travel to Sudbury on Saturday and then to Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday.

Storm Announces Top 20 of All-time

After narrowing the field of Storm all-time players from nearly 300 down to 100 and then down to the 'Fans Choice 40', the 'Top 20 Players of All-time' were decided by a panel of 8 last week.

When the calendar flipped to 2010, it brought the 20th year of Guelph Storm hockey to the Royal City. The Guelph Storm will celebrate their 20th season beginning this summer with an Alumni Reunion Weekend (June 11-13) featuring a banquet for former players and their families. The marquee event of the weekend will be an Alumni Game for local charities at the Sleeman Centre featuring many Storm greats including countless players that graduated from the OHL and moved on to the NHL.

To help celebrate the Storm's 20th year, the club conducted a survey including fans and local Storm experts to decide the Top 20 Storm Players of all-time.

The panel of Larry Mellott (CJOY), Tony Saxon, Rob Massey (both Guelph Mercury), Dave Pollard (formerly Guelph Mercury now with Slam!Sports), Paul Osborne (Guelph Tribune), Bill Grainger (Rogers TV), Jim Rooney (former Storm President) and Russ Hammond (longtime Equipment Manager) quickly cut the Fans Choice 40 down to around 30 players.

From that list each player was reviewed with a quick vote deciding seven unanimous selections including:

Forwards - Todd Bertuzzi, Ryan Callahan, Jeff O'Neill, Daniel Paille and Martin St. Pierre

Defence: Drew Doughty, Ryan Parent

With seven spots decided, the panel went to work to determine the remaining 13 players beginning with goaltenders.

Chris Madden was the first consensus pick among netminders, leaving a tough decision between Craig Anderson, Adam Dennis and Thomas McCollum. After some deliberation, the panel selected Thomas McCollum as the second goaltender.

With two goalies determined, it was time for the forwards with a long list of players to consider. Spots were quickly awarded to Jeff Bes, Dustin Brown, Sylvain Cloutier, Brian Willsie and Jamie Wright. There was considerable debate concerning the final two positions among the trio of Jason Jackman, Manny Malhotra and Todd Norman. The discussion would go on for several minutes until it was decided to delve into the defencemen.

With unanimous picks Drew Doughty and Ryan Parent holding down two spots, several defenceman were considered for the remaining four defence posts. Kevin Dallman, Chris Hajt and Kevin Mitchell quickly rose to the top of the list leaving just one vacant spot. After some lengthy conversation, the list of contenders was whittled down to three former blueliners including Dan Girardi, Regan Stocco and Fedor Tyutin. Like the decision on the final forward spot, this choice was going to have to wait after some more debate.

Returning to the forwards, the panel decided on Malhotra and Norman, leaving Jackman off the final list.

With just one position left to be determined, the panel chose Dan Girardi over Stocco and Tyutin closing the books on the 'Top 20 Storm Players of All-Time'.

TOP 20 STORM PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME (*denotes unanimous pick)

FORWARDS (alphabetically)

Todd Bertuzzi*

Jeff Bes

Dustin Brown

Ryan Callahan*

Sylvain Cloutier

Manny Malhotra

Todd Norman

Jeff O'Neill*

Daniel Paille*

Martin St. Pierre*

Brian Willsie

Jamie Wright

DEFENCE

Kevin Dallman

Drew Doughty*

Daniel Girardi

Chris Hajt

Kevin Mitchell

Ryan Parent*

GOALTENDERS

Chris Madden

Thomas McCollum

Click here to purchase tickets to the Alumni Game

Rogers Night with the Storm

WIN A 42" PLASMA TV! BRING YOUR OLD CELL PHONE TO THE STORM GAME ON FRIDAY MARCH 5 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!!!

Friday, March 5 is Rogers Night with the Guelph Storm and you could score yourself a 42" Plasma TV by helping Rogers collect Phones for Food. Bring your old cell phone or Guelph Food Bank donation to the game and you will receive a ballot to win a 42" Samsung Plasma TV or an iPhone!

The goal of Phones for Food is to alleviate hunger and divert waste from landfill sites. Proceeds raised through the process of recycling used wireless devices are donated to Food Banks Canada. One wireless device, depending on its age and condition, can generate an average of $2 to $5 which is equivalent to one carton of milk, a jar of peanut butter or even a whole meal to someone in need.

Rogers Night with the Guelph Storm, hosted by Rogers TV, Rogers Plus, AML Communications and Rogers Home Phone will feature several onsite activities and giveaways. Prizes include; a Blackberry Bluetooth headset and visor mount; a Rogers Home Phone gift pack; $100 Rogers Plus Entertainment Package; and one of three authentic Storm jerseys. Plus, with each Storm goal, one lucky fan will win a $100 Rogers Gift Card

Watch Inside Guelph weekdays at noon, or First Local weeknights at 5:30 on Rogers TV, Cable 20 for your opportunity to win tickets to the game!

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics

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