Storm City Weekly
Published on November 23, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
This weekend, the Storm bounced back, besting the Oshawa Generals at home on Friday night and then the Otters on the road in Erie on Saturday. The Storm also played a mid-week game in Kitchener on Tuesday, falling to the Rangers.
Starting Friday's game against the Generals with something to prove following a poor weekend prior, the Storm took a commanding 3-0 lead in the first. Zack Mitchell would score shorthanded, before Matt Finn would score in his return to the team following an injury. Mitchell would close the period with another goal, on an assist from Zach Leslie, the rookie defenceman's second of three in the game. The second period was all Oshawa as they were able to beat goalie Garret Sparks twice, including a powerplay marker, to make the game close at 3-2. Mitchell would ensure his team would come away with the two points, scoring a late insurance goal to complete his hat trick, making the final score 4-2.
Hoping to build on their excellent play the night before, the Storm boarded the bus for Erie on Saturday, looking to pull ahead in the season series, which was tied with one win apiece. After a scoreless first period, the Storm came out roaring, with Brock McGinn scoring two, the second while shorthanded, in the first four minutes of the period. Scott Kosmachuk would continue the offensive attack with his tenth of the season, before Zach Leslie would get his first career goal in his second consecutive multi-point night. After a 4-0 second, the Storm would end the game with a powerplay goal from Francis Menard to pull ahead 5-0, which would be the final score. This would be Garret Sparks first career OHL shutout.
The Storm were unable to carry their momentum from the weekend into their Tuesday night match-up against the Rangers in Kitchener. The Storm had a great opening period, with McGinn scoring on the powerplay, but starting the second, Guelph saw their lead slip away. After Tobias Rieder scored his third of the game and with the Rangers ahead 4-1, Storm goalie Sparks was replaced by Brandon Foote. The Rangers, however would add another before the end of the second and then again at the beginning of the third, without an answer by the Storm to take the game 6-1.
Storm Forecast
This weekend, the Storm play host to the Belleville Bulls on Friday night and the Plymouth Whalers are in town again on Saturday, for a 7:30 pm start time. The team travels to Mississauga on Sunday to play the Majors at 2:00 pm.
Tickets for this weekend's games are still available and can be purchased online, or by calling the Storm Box Office at 519-837-9690 . Ask about our Weekend Pass!
Player of the Week
The Guelph Storm announced today that goaltender Garret Sparks is the Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 18th.
Sparks recorded two victories this past weekend and nabbed his first OHL shutout against the Erie Otters. The 18 year old had a goals against average of 1.00 and a save percentage of 0.962 in two games. Blanking the Otters 5-0 on Saturday night, the Elmhurst IL native made 25 saves and was named the third star of the game. On Friday night against Oshawa, Sparks made 25 saves letting in just two as the Storm defeated the Generals 4-2.
Sparks currently has a record of 7-5-0-2 with a goals against average of 2.89 and a 0.912 save percentage. He sits 9th overall in the league in goals against average and 10th in save percentage.
Also considered this week were defeneceman Zac Leslie and forward Zack Mitchell. Both recorded five points in two games with Leslie recording his first OHL goal on Saturday against the Otters and Mitchell netting his second hat trick of the year on Friday night against the Generals. Leslie was a +6 on the weekend while Mitchell was a +4.
Carstar Collision of the Game
Check out the CARSTAR Collision of the Game from November 12th when the Storm hosted the Sudbury Wolves.
Each week during the 2011-12 season, the Guelph Storm will name a Collision of the Game.
At the end of each month, fans will get the opportunity to vote for the CARSTAR Collision of the Month and eventually the CARSTAR Collision of the Year.
Voting is now open for September/October. Visit CARSTAR Collision of the Game and vote for what you think should be the Collision of the month.
This Friday, November 25th, when the Storm play the Belleville Bulls, the Guelph Mercury will be holding their annual Books for Kids Drive. The Books for Kids program takes book donations and distributes them to underprivileged children in our community. If you would like to help, bring a new, unwrapped book (suitable for children ages newborn to 18 years) to the game on Friday, November 25, 2011 at the Sleeman Centre.
For more information on the program visit GuelphMercury.com
Guelph Storm in the Santa Clause Parade
This past Sunday, the Guelph Storm joined Santa and his reindeer when they visited Guelph for the annual Santa Claus Parade! The Storm van escorted mascots Spyke and Stormy as well as players Tyler Bertuzzi, Zach Leslie, Patrick Watling, and Tanner Richard along the parade route.
The Storm loved seeing fans out showing off their Christmas spirit! Did you see the Storm and get a picture of them' Please send it to community@guelphstorm.com
Check out the Storm on Facebook to see yours and other fans' pictures from the parade!
Mo Storm Mo!
Members of the Storm have been sporting an extra bit of facial hair this month in support of Movember. Click on the photo gallery to see how the Mo's have grown.
Introduced as a league initiaive this year, all CHL teams are participating in the Movember campaign. Thanks to all of your donations, the Storm currently sits 7th with $1,980! Please continue to show your support and help us become the top team in the CHL! Visit the Guelph Storm 'MO' space to donate today.
Be sure to visit the Fan Satisfaction Table behind Section 115 at both weekend home games to vote on the Storm MO's for your chance to win a team autographed stick!
Stayed tuned to guelphstorm.com as well as Storm City on Facebook for updates, fun contests and more!
The Guelph Storm and Guelph Public Library Present 'Hockey Stories'
Throughout the season, keep an eye out for your favourite Guelph Storm players at your local branch of the Guelph Public Library! Players will be scheduled at the branch to read books to children aged 4-8. The next library visit will be November 24th at 6pm at the Scottsdale Branch.
Storm and Gryphons Coach4Food
The Guelph Storm in conjunction with the Guelph Gryphons and the Guelph Food Bank are pleased to announce that they will participate in the successful Coach4Food program throughout the 2011-12 season.
Originating in North Bay, Coach4food is a program started by Tom Hedican, a professional goaltending consultant and University of Guelph alumnus, wherein his coaching services at local minor hockey practices is offered in exchange for food donations.
Over a three week period in December the program started in 2005 raising 1,000 pounds of food and has since exploded to 107, 969 pounds raised in 2010, just its sixth year running. The program has become the North Bay Food Bank's single largest fundraiser.
"Coach4Food is especially meaningful for us because its founder, Tom Hedican, is a University of Guelph graduate and played goal on back-to-back provincial championship teams," said Guelph men's hockey coach Shawn Camp.
"This is a win, win, win situation. Local minor hockey players get a chance to be coached by some of the top coaches in North America; the food bank gets some much needed supplies at a critical time of the year; and young hockey players get a chance to contribute to their community, particularly to those who may be a little less fortunate and in need of a hand. The hockey community has a reputation for being generous and this is another example of the Storm, the Gryphons and youth hockey working together for a common goal," Storm Vice President and GM Mike Kelly said.
This year the Storm and Gryphons will exchange high calibre, NHL style drills for donations to the Guelph Food Bank. All minor hockey teams are encouraged to participate with the top four earning (donating) teams winning a practice ran by the Guelph Storm and the University of Guelph Men's Hockey team. The team that donates the most food to the food bank will receive free tickets to an upcoming Storm game as well as on ice recognition with a puck drop to start the game.
If teams would prefer they can donate money instead as every dollar collected is equal to approximately 1.5lbs food and allows the food bank to purchase things they don't get donated such as diapers, baby food etc. The cutoff date for collecting all food and money is December 9th at 5:00pm.
Everyone from NHL Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold Medal winning coach Ken Hitchcock, to rock legend Bruce Springsteen, a vocal supporter of food banks, has endorsed Coach4Food.
Hedican is based in North Bay but works as a goaltending consultant for professional hockey teams in the top league in Switzerland. He will be co-ordinating the effort in the Niagara-St. Catharines region with the Niagara IceDogs and Brock Badgers and in Guelph with the Storm and Gryphons.
If your team would like to take part, you can contact Sarah Twigger at stwigger@guelphstorm.com or 519-837-9690 ext. 104.
Stay tuned to guelphstorm.com for details on the Coach4Food dates and time
Your Next CHL FRIDAY NIGHT HOCKEY Match-Up on Sportsnet
Friday November 25 - Medicine Hat Tigers at Edmonton Oil Kings (Sportsnet One) at 9:00 pm Mountain
Next Home Game
Fri, Nov. 25th: Bulls, 7:30 pm
Sat, Nov. 26th: Whalers, 7:30 pm
Next Away Games
Sun., Nov. 27th: Majors, 2:00pm
Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 23, 2011
- Whalers Down Spirit 7-3 in Plymouth - Saginaw Spirit
- Khokhlachev, Maletta, Bateman & Bilcke to Make Subway Restaurant Appearance - - Windsor Spitfires
- CHL Announces BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings - OHL
- Majors Can't Hold off Battalion - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
- Storm City Weekly - Guelph Storm
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.
