Game Preview: Storm visit Steelheads in mid-week match-up

The Guelph Storm make lone visit to Mississauga to face off against the Steelheads for the final time this season on Wednesday night.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com —

Let’s rewind to December 19.

The Mississauga Steelheads versus the Guelph Storm at the Sleeman Centre. The last game before the holiday break.

The Storm, with only two wins on the season at that point, were pushing to break a lengthy skid, while the Steelheads were looking to end the first half of the campaign on a winning note.

Guelph would come away with the morale boosting 4-3 victory in the shootout, a win that can undoubtedly be seen as the turning point in what began as a very tough season.

Since the win, the Storm have compiled an 8-4-2-2 record, and are coming off a solid display for a 4-2 victory over the Saginaw Spirit this past Sunday. 

The Steelheads, on the other hand, have struggled to maintain any sort of consistency, currently sitting fourth in the Central Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 24-22-1-3 record for 52 points in 50 games. In the last 10 games, the Steelheads are 4-6-0-0. 

The puck is slated to drop at 7:00pm on Wednesday night. 

Player Watch

• Guelph Storm

Second-year forward James McEwan is coming off registering his 20^th goal of the season in a three-point effort against the Saginaw Spirit this past Sunday. The Chatham, Ontario native currently leads the Storm roster in goals and points with a total of 36 through 47 games this season. Looking to the sophomore’s rookie campaign last season, McEwan tallied three goals for 10 points through 45 games in 2014-15 – evidently improving largely offensively this year, registering 17 more goals and a full 26 more points in just two more games played. Over the last 18 games, the 2016 NHL draft eligible forward has amassed 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists), being held pointless only four times in the stretch.

Looking to the back end, not much is left to be said about defenseman Garrett McFadden that hasn’t already been noted. Second on the Storm roster in production, while leading all blue liners, with 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 47 games, the third-year OHL veteran sits 11^th in OHL defensemen in production – separated from the Top 10 by just a single point. The Kincardine, Ontario native is enjoying a career year in every aspect, with the most recent display coming against the Saginaw Spirit on Sunday – registering an assist, holding a plus-three rating, and putting four shots on net in the 4-2 victory. 

Turning the focus to the freshmen on the roster, rookie Liam Stevens put forth a strong effort in Guelph’s 4-2 win over Saginaw, tallying a second-period marker that extended the lead to three. The five-foot-eight, 187-pound winger was also a plus-two on the night, while going 1/2 in the faceoff dot. On the season, the Waterdown, Ontario native has tallied three goals for six points in 42 games. 

• Mississauga Steelheads

Doing most of the damage for the Steelheads the last time these cross-conference squads faced off was none other than the captain – Josh Burnside. Recording one goal and two assists in the 4-3 loss on Dec. 19, the overager earned second star honours. In 37 games this season, the Brampton, Ontario native has compiled 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists). 

Sophomore Michael McLeod is one to watch as well, standing second on the Steelheads in points with 54 (19 goals, 35 assists) in 47 games – almost doubling his rookie total of 29 (12 goals, 17 assists) set in 63 games last season. Over the last five games, the Mississauga, Ontario native has compiled two goals for eight points while being held pointless only once in the stretch. 

Lastly, you can’t get too far in regards to the Steelheads without the mention of rookie Alexander Nylander. The Sodertalje, Sweden native has 58 points (26 goals, 32 assists) in 41 games this season, putting him first among OHL freshman and an overall league-standing of 13^th. Through the month of January, the six-foot, 172-pound forward has posted five goals for nine points in eight games. 

Last Match-Up: Mississauga 3 @ Guelph 4 (SO) (Dec. 19)

GAME NOTES

• The Storm and the Steelheads meet for the second and final time this season on Wednesday night. 

• Guelph leads the season series with a victory after downing Mississauga 4-3 in a shootout result on Dec. 19. 

• The Storm have compiled an 8-4-2-2 record since earning their third win of the season against the Steelheads back on Dec. 19. 

• James McEwan has compiled 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in his last 18 games, being held pointless only four times in the stretch. 

• Following Wednesday’s match-up, the Storm return home to host the Saginaw Spirit on Friday. Don’t miss a second of the action and get your tickets HERE.

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Your Storm in the Community…

• February 16: Served by the Storm – Get served by your favourite Storm players and enjoy a delicious meal at Bobby O’Brien’s and Opus! Click here to reserve your spot now! 
• February 21: Guelph Giants and Guelph Storm Annual Benefit Game – Watch your Guelph Storm battle the Guelph Giants at the Sleeman Centre in the sixth annual match-up between the teams! Complimentary admission with monetary donations benefiting special needs hockey in Guelph accepted throughout the event.