From the Stands

By Paul Osborne
Guelph Tribune

The series everyone wanted to see begins tonight at the John Labatt Centre in London.  It’s the Knights against the Guelph Storm.  The two best teams (by far) during the regular season will meet in the Western Conference final.

 

London is a favourite in almost everyone’s book outside of Guelph.  They set a league record for points this season with 110 points and have galloped through the playoffs by easily sweeping two series against Windsor and Erie.

 

The Storm finished the year with a franchise record 103 points and knocked off a very determined Owen Sound team in seven games before sweeping Plymouth in four straight.

 

“We’re going to embrace the underdog role” says Storm Coach Shawn Camp.  “We are quietly going to go about our business.  We’re playing our best hockey of the year and I think we match-up well against them.”

 

The Knights are a cocky bunch.  With comments they have made over the past month, I’m sure they’re looking at this series as more of a nuisance than anything else.  To them, Guelph is that annoying mosquito in tent after you shut off the flashlight.  As far back as six weeks ago Corey Perry said after his team had beaten Kingston on a nationally televised game that he was glad the teams from the Western Hockey League and the Quebec League had seen what they can expect at the Memorial Cup.

 

Interesting.

 

However, after many team meetings, Guelph has decided they will show up and play in this series.

 

For Guelph to win they will have to be on top of their game.  Egos aside in London, they truly are a great team.  Wasn’t it Reggie Jackson who said “It ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up”.

 

“Their powerplay is outstanding” says Camp.  “They can beat you single-handedly with that, so number one we are going to have to be very disciplined.  We have to skate well and get pucks to the net and be mindful of their defensemen who love to jump into the rush.”

 

The Storm need all three lines to be contributing in this series.  They can’t afford to have just one hot line, every unit needs to play a patient, responsible defensive game while remaining dangerous on the attack.

 

“Our guys feel like they are on a mission” says Camp matter-of-factly.  “We’ve been playing all year for a chance at meeting London and now we have to be ready for it.  Fans will be in for a real treat because both teams play a high tempo style of game and I expect it will be a fairly physical series.  Not dirty, but physical.”

 

Get your tickets early for this one.  Games one, three and five in London are already sold out.  I’m guessing by the time game two arrives Thursday the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre will also be sold out.

 

From the Land of Oz?.The Knights will be without their captain Danny Bois who is suspended for eight games after smashing Otters forward Rob Hisey’s head with an elbow.  Defenseman Frank Rediker is also out for the season after a knee operation?.The Knights top player offensively is Corey Perry.  He is a wonderfully talented individual but spends an inordinate amount of time complaining to referees when things don’t go his way?.London’s most dangerous player is defenseman Dennis Wideman who is always jumping into the rush?Marty St. Pierre leads all playoff scorers with 20 points in 11 games. Perry is next with 17 in 8 games.  The Storm’s Ryan Callahan and Brett Trudell are 4^th and 5^th in scoring with 14 and 13 points respectively.  Kevin Klein leads all defensemen in scoring with 11 points.