Hy-Grade Steel Roofing Player of the Week
January 5, 2015
GUELPH – The Storm have announced that goaltender Justin Nichols has been named the club’s HY-GRADE STEEL ROOFING PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the holiday season ending January 4th.
In seven games spanning December 18 – January 3, Nichols backstopped the Storm to a 3-3-1 record, during which the team has missed several players due to injury and participation at the World Junior Championships.
With Robby Fabbri, Pius Suter, Phil Baltisberger, Garrett McFadden, Austin Hall and Noah Carroll all missing significant time, the club has been buoyed by incredible netminding from the St. Catharines native.
Entering this past weekend’s action, the Storm led the Owen Sound Attack by just two points in the Midwest Division standings. Nichols led the Storm to back-to-back victories by stopping a remarkable 89 of 92 shots sent his way during the two games.
In fact, Nichols stopped 35 or more shots in six of the aforementioned seven games during the holiday season, the one exception being a 4-1 loss in London on December 19th. Of those seven games, five of them were played against teams above the Storm in the OHL standings, with the two exceptions being the recent herculean efforts to preserve the Storm’s standing ahead of Owen Sound.
During the most tumultuous portion of the season’s schedule, it’s been ‘In Nichols we Trust’ as usual, prompting assistant coach Bill Stewart to remark after Friday’s win over Owen Sound that he’s been the best goaltender in the CHL during the calendar year 2014.
Overall in 2014-15, Nichols leads the OHL in saves with 1159, sits sixth in save percentage at .917 and is second in wins behind Oshawa’s Ken Appleby.
Nichols and his Storm teammates can expect their head coach back Tuesday as Scott Walker returns from the World Junior Championship with a gold medal in tow. Also returning with a gold medal is Robby Fabbri, who will rejoin the team but is out 6-10 weeks with a high ankle sprain.
Pius Suter and Phil Baltisberger will also be back in the fold this weekend, having returned from representing Switzerland. The Storm will play yet another ‘three in three’ scenario this weekend, as they host Mississauga on Friday night and then travel to Sarnia on Saturday. The weekend is capped with a Sunday evening Highway 7 Rivalry date with the Kitchener Rangers at the Sleeman Centre.
Fans can take advantage of the ‘Weekend Pass’ offer this week, as those who purchase a ticket for Friday’s game can buy a ticket to Sunday’s game for just $10.00.
Tickets are available by visiting the Storm box office at Old Quebec Street Mall, the Storm kiosk at Stone Road Mall, by phone at 519-837-9690 or by clicking HERE to buy online.
The 2014-15 season is presented by RBC Play Hockey.
