New Coaches, New Players, New Direction, New Season…

The Owen Sound Attack open the 2024-25 Ontario Hockey League regular season this weekend with a home and home set against Midwest Division rivals the Guelph Storm.  The Attack will first travel to the Sleeman Centre on Friday night for a 7:07pm start, before returning home to the Bayshore for their home opener on Saturday night at 7pm against the same Storm.  Friday night’s games can be seen on Rogers TV Georgian Bay, streamed on CHLtv or listened to both on the radio or online on 560 CFOS Bear radio.

The opening weekend should be a nice early test for the Attack who will face a Storm team in a similar situation to the Bears, both with a youth movement taking place in their organizations.  A year ago the Storm took the season series winning six of the eight games with three of them needing overtime or a shootout.  Last years stats may not matter much as with many players from each team having moved on or possibly still away at NHL camps, the Attack will need to find a way to solve Storm netminder Brayden Gillespie who battled George save for save last season.  Gillespie finished last season with a 3.15 GAA and a 0.898 save percentage. The Attack will turn to an offence by committee that will hope to see recent Toronto Maple Leaf draft pick Sam McCue take another big step this season and veteran presences Landen Hookey and Declan Waddick find their stride and help drive the teams offence this weekend.

The Attack still have three players away at NHL camps, goaltender Carter George (LA Kings), defenceman Konner Smith (Anaheim Ducks) and forward Colby Barlow (Winnipeg Jets).  While it is rumoured that George will be back in time for the opening weekend, there is no news on Smith or Barlow.  In an unrelated roster move, the Attack released 18-year old defenceman Sam Ethier late Wednesday and would like to thank him for his hard work and dedication this past season.  This brings the Attack roster to 14 forwards, seven defenceman and two goalies ahead of opening weekend.  Currently still away for the Storm are Jett Luchanko (Philadelphia Flyers), Vilmer Alrikson (Washington Capitals) and Cam Allen (Washington Capitals), now word on their return to Guelph.

Tickets for Saturdays home opener are still available but going fast.  Get your tickets in person by visiting the MacVicar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 or online at tickets.attackhockey.com.  Both games this weekend will be broadcast on Rogers TV Georgian Bay Channel 53 and the Super Sports Pack, streamed on CHLtv, while Friday nights game can be heard on 560 CFOS Bear Radio both on line and on your radio dial.