Sportsnet CHL Saturday Showcase: London at Guelph
A battle for first place in the Midwest Division comes to Sportsnet on this weekend’s edition of the CHL Saturday Showcase as the Guelph Storm host the red hot London Knights at 3:30pm.
The high-scoring Storm sit one point back of London, winning their only other meeting of the season against the Knights by a score of 3-2 in overtime back on October 14th as Nate Schnarr scored the deciding goal.
Guelph boasts the OHL’s second-ranked power play thanks in large part to the contributions of San Jose Sharks prospect Ryan Merkley who has registered 13 of his 24 assists this season a man up. Merkley’s primary target, Arizona Coyotes prospect Schnarr, has scored seven of his 14 goals this season on the man advantage.
???? The give. The go. The Goal! @cedricralph14 puts us up 3-0 Shorthanded!! #GUEvsFLNT pic.twitter.com/XWeoZOtsyX
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) November 17, 2018
Storm captain Isaac Ratcliffe leads the team in goal-scoring with 15 to his credit. The 6-foot-6 Philadelphia Flyers prospect recently joined Schnarr and Merkley in representing the OHL in the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Storm teammates Dmitri Samorukov and Alexey Toropchenko each suited up for Russia.
The visiting Knights enter play on a seven-game winning streak that dates back to October 27th. They feature one of the league’s most talented defence corps with first round 2018 NHL Draft picks Evan Bouchard (Edmonton) and Adam Boqvist (Chicago) eating up minutes and quarter-backing the team’s power play.
Up front, the Knights are led in scoring by veteran power winger Cole Tymkin with 20 points (11-9–20) while 2019 NHL Draft prospect Connor McMichael leads the team with 12 goals. Newly added Vegas Golden Knights prospect Paul Cotter made his Knights debut on Friday, going 9-for-17 in the faceoff circle with a plus-3 rating.
One week ago @EdmontonOilers prospect @EvanBouchard02 of @GoLondonKnights put on a puck protection clinic to help preserve a Team #OHL victory ????@CIBC #CANvsRUS | #TBT ???????? pic.twitter.com/ZsORNb1Hga
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) November 15, 2018
Both teams come off offensive outbursts in victories on Friday as Guelph defeated the Flint Firebirds 8-2 on home ice behind a four-point performance from Cedric Ralph (2-2–4). London defeated the visiting Peterborough Petes 7-3 as Ottawa Senators prospect Alex Formenton scored twice.
Catch all of today’s action with RJ Broadhead and Sam Cosentino live coast-to-coast on Sportsnet when the puck drops at 3:30pm ET/12:30pm PT at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph.
