The Guelph Storm make their first and only regular season visit to the Canadian Tire Centre tonight.
Last season the Storm took the season series 2-0 and outscored the 67's 13-5. Scott Kosmachuk & Tanner Richard each had 6 points in 2 games for the Storm while Dante Salituro had 3 points also in 2 games.
With 16 returning players, the Storm's depth is considered one of their best assets. Key returnees include veterans Scott Kosmachuk, Zach Mitchell, Brock McGinn & Jason Dickinson. Those are four of their top five scorers from last season accounting for 103 goals and 222 points.
Their back end is also solid with Captain Matt Finn, Ottawa native Zac Leslie and Sens prospect Ben Harpur returning to the lineup.
The Storm also boast a lineup full of 8 NHL prospects including all those listed above aside from Zach Mitchell and add in Tyler Bertuzzi and Justin Auger.
Despite the experience still in the lineup, the Storm also parted with three key players. Tanner Richard, their second leading scorer & top playmaker is now playing in the AHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning's farm team. The Storm also said goodbye to Andrew Pedan who is also playing in the AHL but with the New York Islanders' farm team. He was arguably their best offensive defenseman last season. As mentioned earlier, depth is the Storm's best asset.
A big question mark could be goaltending. Garrett Sparks played 60 of 64 games for the Storm last season and is now playing in the Toronto Maple Leafs farm system.
After starting out 4-0-0-0 at home, the Storm come into tonight's game on a losing streak after dropping a pair of road games. The losses caused the Storm to drop from 3rd place to 8th place in the BMO CHL Top 10 rankings.
Ironically enough, the team's only two losses came when Captain Matt Finn and Tyler Bertuzzi were both serving two game suspensions for fighting after the first altercation in a game vs Owen Sound.
That addition will be a big boost to their lineup and the team will look to regroup with a win against Ottawa.
The 67's will counter and try to keep their 2 game winning streak alive and keeping rising in the standings. Starting a 4-game roadtrip next weekend, it will be important to end off at home on a good note.
The 2013-14 Regular Season Record
Ottawa 67's: 4-4-0-0
Guelph Storm: 4-2-0-0
2013-14 Pre-season Record
Ottawa 67's: 3-1-0-0
Guelph Storm: 2-2-0-0
2012-13 Regular Season Record
Ottawa 67's: 16-46-0-6
Guelph Storm: 39-23-2-4
2012-13 OHL Playoffs
Ottawa 67's: Did not qualify
Guelph Storm: Eliminated in the Westerm Conference Quarterfinals by the Kitchener Rangers in 5 games
Players to watch
Ottawa 67's
Joseph Blandisi - drafted 6th round to Colorado in 2013
Jacob Middleton - NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting B list
Alex Lintuniemi - NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list
Travis Konecny - 1st overall pick in OHL, NHL draft eligible 2015
Guelph Storm
Brock McGinn – drafted in the 2nd round by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012
Jason Dickinson – drafted in the 1st round by the Dallas Stars in 2012
Scott Kosmachuk – drafted in the 3rd round by the Winnipeg Jets in 2012
Zac Leslie – drafted in the 6th round by the Los Angeles Kings in 2013
Tyler Bertuzzi – drafted in the 2nd round by the Detroit RedWings in 2013
Matt Finn – drafted in the 2nd round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012
Ben Harpur – drafted in the 4th round by the Detroit RedWings in 2013
Justin Auger – drafted in the 4th round by the Los Angeles Kings in 2013
Robert Fabbri – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting B list
Phil Baltisberger – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list
Pius Suter – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list
Matthew Mancini – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list
Overagers
Ottawa 67’s: Ryan Van Stralen, Philippe Trudeau
Guelph Storm: Ryan Horvat, Zach Mitchell, Steven Trojanovic
Leadership Squad
Ottawa 67’s: Sean Monahan (C), Taylor Fielding (A), Ryan Van Stralen (A), Joesph Blandisi (A)
Guelph Storm: Matt Finn (C), Ryan Horvat (A), Brock McGinn (A), Zack Mitchell (A)
Potential Scratches
Ottawa 67's: Sean Monahan (NHL camp), Michel Vlajkov (IR), Also scratched last game: Troy Henley, Andrew Abou-Assaly, Connor Graham.
Guelph Storm: Justin Auger (mono)
*follow us on twitter (@msconduct or @A_Quevillon) for game day scratches
Guelph Storm
Who's Gone?
Cody McNaughton – graduated from the OHL
Saverio Posa – graduated from the OHL
Brock Beukeboom – graduated from the OHL
Patrick Watling – traded to Sault Ste Marie in offseason
Tanner Richard – in the Tampa Bay Lightning farm system, AHL
Andrew Pedan – in the New York Islanders farm system, AHL
Garrett Sparks – in the Toronto Maple Leafs farm system
Daniel Poliziani – Truro Bearcats in the MJHL (Jr A)
Who's New?
Adam Craievich – drafted 3rd round in 2013
Pius Suter – drafted 1st round of the CHL Import Draft in 2013 (38th overall)
Phil Baltisberger – drafted 1st round of the CHL Import Draft in 2013 (26th overall)
Garrett McFadden – drafted 1st round in 2013
Matthew Macina – drafted 3rd round in 2012
Steven Trojanovic – acquired from Peteborough for a draft pick
Justin Nichols – acquired from Sault Ste Marie for a draft pick
Ottawa Connections:
Ben Harpur – drafted to the Ottawa Senators
Brock McGinn – older brothers Jamie and Tye both played for the 67’s
Kyle Locke – older brother Corey Locke played for the 67’s and was in the Ottawa Senators farm system
Zac Leslie – native of Ottawa, ON (Ottawa Jr. 67's (OEMHL) & Gloucester Rangers Jr.A. (CCHL)
2012-13 Head-To-Head Stats
Record: 2-0-0-0 Guelph
Combined score: 13-5 for Guelph
Top scorers
Ottawa 67's
Dante Salituro – 3 assists in 2 games
Sean Callaghan – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Steven Janes – 1 goal, 1 assist in 1 game
Ryan Van Stralen – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Guelph Storm
Scott Kosmachuk – 4 goals, 2 assists in 2 games
Tanner Richard – 1 goals, 5 assists in 2 games
Brock McGinn – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Zack Mitchell – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
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