Game Preview: Storm, Knights begin season series
Beginning a three-in-three stretch, the Guelph Storm host the London Knights in the first match-up of the Midwest Division rivals’ season series.
Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com —
It will be another big challenge for the Guelph Storm this Friday as they host the London Knights in the first meeting for the Midwest Division rivals this season.
The Knights, leading the OHL in goals scored, bring a three-game win streak that has seen them outscore their last three opponents 19-3.
On the other hand, the Storm are in search of their second win on the season, slowly pushing out of their offensive and confidence struggles with an almost-comeback rally this past Sunday that saw the club fall just short in a 5-3 result to the league-leading Kitchener Rangers.
The puck drops on this Midwest Division rivalry at 7:30 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre this Friday night.
Player Watch
- Guelph Storm
In a 5-3 loss to the Kitchener Rangers this past Sunday, one very good thing emerged: Givani Smith. Named the team’s Rookie of the Year in 2014-15, Smith recorded a natural hat trick in the contest (the first of his OHL career), a feat that included a shorthanded tally, to bring his team to within one in an almost-comeback attempt against the OHL’s best. The six-foot-one, 197-pound winger now leads the Storm in points with nine on the season, recording four goals and five assists in 14 games played.
Not too far off is James McEwan, arguably the Storm’s most consistent in the category of effort-given since the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign. The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound winger is second on the roster in points with eight, registering six goals, while adding two assists this past Sunday against the Rangers. The Chatham, Ontario native is only two points removed from surpassing his rookie point total of 10 registered in 45 games in 2014-15.
Expected between the pipes is none other than veteran goaltender Justin Nichols. Appearing in 12 games this season, the St. Catharine’s, Ontario native may have a 1-8-1-0 record, but has been a significant factor in the Storm having a chance at several contests so far this campaign. With a 3.01 goals-against-average and .920 save percentage, the 1995-born goaltender is undoubtedly the backbone of this young Storm roster, sitting fifth overall among OHL netminders in saves made with 366 on the season. All four goaltenders slated higher have compiled over 100-plus more playing minutes than that of Nichols.
- London Knights
Playing his first season in the Ontario Hockey League, JJ Piccinich, a native of Paramus, New Jersey, leads the high powered Knights’ offense in goals scored, pocketing 11 of London’s league-high 77 goals so far this season. Additionally, the 1996-born winger is fourth overall on the roster in points with 20, while standing in tenth among the OHL’s Top 20 point-getters. Piccinich also ranks third amongst the league’s top goal scorers through 13 games played so far this campaign.
Even with a top-slated offensive roster, Mitchell Marner isn’t one to ignore. A Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, the five-foot-eleven, 164-pound centre is third on the Knights in scoring with 21 points on the season, while sitting second in goals with nine through 13 games. The third-year OHL veteran is also a notable league-wide, standing ninth overall in points and 12th in goals scored. Marner recorded an impressive 126 points (44 goals, 82 assists) in 63 games as a sophomore last season, and has already compiled 206 points through 140 career games in the OHL.
Production is also coming from London’s rookies, with Max Jones leading the way. The Orion, Michigan native is second in the OHL’s rookie scoring with 13 points (nine goals, four assists) through 13 games this season, while also placing among the OHL’s Top 20 in goals scored with an 11th standing. The 1998-born forward is one of two rookies to crack the league’s Top 20 goal scorers this season.
The Opponent: London Knights (11-2-1-1, 24 points)
As they usually do, the London Knights are defining themselves with offense so far this season, leading the league in goals for with 77 while standing third in the Midwest Division with just one point removed from the Erie Otters.
Recently, boasting their offensive prowess, the Knights have strung together a three-game win streak, outscoring their opponents 19-3 in that stretch. Following a 6-3 loss to the Windsor Spitfires on Oct. 25, London turned things around with the same opponent in the Spitfires on Oct. 30, taking the first of three wins in a 6-3 fashion. The Knights followed up the effort with a 7-0 win over Saginaw on Oct. 31, while concluding the weekend with a 6-0 victory against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Nov. 1.
Paired with the ability to find the back of the net, London also stands as the most penalized team in the Western Conference with 249 penalty minutes, only second in the league to that of the Kingston Frontenacs (268). Despite being the second most penalized team in the league, the Knights, however, are 16th in penalty killing, with 89 times shorthanded for 21 goals against (76.4 PK%). On the other hand, London is no stranger to the man advantage, ranking second overall in the league on the power play with 77 advantages thus far for 20 goals (26.0 PP%). Looking to Friday’s match-up, the Storm will have to be the most disciplined team on the ice if they look to push for an upset against their Midwest Division opponent.
GAME NOTES
- Friday night’s match-up is the first meeting between the Guelph Storm and the London Knights.
- The Knights have the most goals for (77) in the OHL entering Friday’s game.
- London is also the second most penalized team in the league, second to only the Eastern Conference’s Kingston Frontenacs.
- Rookie Isaac Ratcliffe remains out of the line-up as he is away representing Team Canada at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
- James McEwan is only two points separated from surpassing his rookie point total of 10 registered in 45 games through the 2014-15 season.
- The Storm have a three-in-three stretch this weekend, playing in Flint following Friday’s tilt versus the Knights, and then returning home on Sunday to host the Windsor Spitfires.
- Fans who purchase a ticket to Friday’s game against the Knights (tickets can be purchased here), have the chance to add a regular ticket to Sunday’s game against the Spitfires for just $11 is available with the Storm’s Weekend Pass deal! Call (519) 837-9690 for more information.
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Jeff O’Neill Banner Night, November 21 vs. Kitchener Rangers
The Guelph Storm will honour Jeff O’Neill on Nov. 21 at the Sleeman Centre by raising #92 to the rafters in an on-ice ceremony prior to the game against the Kitchener Rangers. The game will be the hockey club’s first homecoming game for Storm alumni and their families. Get your tickets to a special moment in Storm history here!
