Game Preview: Storm visit Rangers

The Guelph Storm visit their Highway Seven rival, the Kitchener Rangers, for the last time on Tuesday, squaring off for the seventh of eight match-ups this season. 

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com —

Following Tuesday’s game, the Storm host the Rangers on Feb. 26 for Pevs Protects Night, a partnership with Rich Peverley and the Heart and Stroke Foundation to raise funds and awareness for AED’s (Automated External Defibrillator) and AED training. Fans attending are encouraged to wear red.

For more information, CLICK HERE. For tickets to Friday’s game, CLICK HERE. 

The Highway Seven rivalry will come to a close this season as the Guelph Storm (12-37-4-2) and the Kitchener Rangers (38-12-5-1) face off in the final two match-ups this week.

Starting on Tuesday night, the Storm visit the Rangers, looking to build off the last tilt with their Midwest Division opponent on Jan. 3 that saw Guelph earn a 7-3 victory at home.

More recently, the Storm have strung together a 3-7-0-0 record in their last 10 games played, and are coming off a split home-and-home series with the Owen Sound Attack, taking a 5-3 win on Feb. 19 and falling in Owen Sound in a 4-1 fashion on Feb. 20.

The Rangers, on the other hand, are 4-4-1-1 in their last 10 games played, sitting fourth overall in the Western Conference – just three points behind another Midwest Division rival in the London Knights.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00pm.

Player Watch

• Guelph Storm

Second-year Givani Smith has seemed to enjoy getting up for the Highway Seven rivalry this season, registering multi-point displays two out of six match-ups including a hat trick performance in Guelph’s 5-3 loss back on Nov. 1. In six games against the Rangers this campaign, the Brampton, Ontario native has compiled six goals for seven points. Overall on the season, the six-foot-one, 197-pound forward is second on the roster in production with 33 points (19 goals, 14 assists) in 53 games played.

Also recording a hat trick against the Rangers this season is another Storm sophomore in James McEwan, tallying for a three-goal performance in Guelph’s 7-3 win on Jan. 3. Appearing in all six games against the Midwest Division opponent, the Chatham, Ontario native has compiled six points (three goals, three assists). The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound forward has team-leading 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 55 games this campaign.

Captain C.J. Garcia is another notable heading into Tuesday’s match-up, having registered five assists in the six previous tilts between the Storm and the Rangers this season. The Pickering, Ontario native is sixth overall in scoring, while sitting second among Storm defensemen with 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in 55 games played.

• Kitchener Rangers 

Atop of Kitchener’s roster is third-year veteran Ryan MacInnis, totaling for 72 points (34 goals, 38 assists) in 49 games this season – a career-high for the second round (43rd overall) selection of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, surpassing his previous best of 62 points registered in 67 games last season. Against the Storm this campaign, the St. Louis, Missouri native has posted one goal and four assists in four games played. Heading into Tuesday’s game, the six-foot-four, 191-pound forward carries a four-game point streak, compiling seven goals and two assists in the stretch.

Five-foot-nine, 199-pound forward Adam Mascherin is second on the roster in production, recording 69 points (30 goals, 39 assists) in 53 games this season. The sophomore forward has more than doubled his rookie total of 29 points, registered through 62 games in 2014-15. In five games against the Storm this season, the Maple, Ontario native has posted two goals and six assists.

Rounding out the top three for the Rangers, Jeremy Bracco comes in third on the roster with 52 points (17 goals, 35 assists) in 40 games played. The second round (61st overall) selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has appeared in four games against the Storm this season, compiling two goals and three assists.

Last Match-Up: Kitchener 3 @ Guelph 7 (Jan. 3)

GAME NOTES

• Tuesday’s match-up is the seventh of eight meetings between the Storm and the Rangers this season.

• Kitchener leads the season series 5-1.

• Both James McEwan and Givani Smith have recorded a hat trick against the Rangers this season.

• Following Tuesday’s game, the Highway Seven rivalry concludes on the season this coming Friday as the Storm host the Rangers at the Sleeman Centre in Pevs Protects Night. For more information on Rich Peverley and Pevs Protects, CLICK HERE.

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COMING UP IN STORM CITY… 

Friday, February 26: Guelph Storm vs. Kitchener Rangers (Pevs Protects Night): 

• As the Storm host the Highway Seven rivals, Kitchener Rangers, the game will also feature Pevs Protects. Fans are encouraged to wear red to show their support.

Friday, March 4: Guelph Storm vs. Ottawa 67’s (AM Roofing Night in support of Children’s Foundation of Guelph/Wellington and Ronald MacDonald House Charities): 

• The Storm are hosting AM Roofing Night, teaming up with Toronto Maple Leafs’ legend Darryl Sittler to help raise funds for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph/Wellington and Ronald MacDonald House Charities. Tickets are available HERE. For more on the game, CLICK HERE.