OHL Playoff Preview – Round 1: Rangers vs. Storm

Call it, “The Givani Bowl.”

It seems fitting the Kitchener Rangers and the Guelph Storm should see each other in the post-season the same year they finally agree on a trade for an active player, Givani Smith.

There’s no denying the hatred between the two franchises, and it doesn’t dwindle despite different players.

The history is there. Dating back to 1963 before Eugene George purchased the Rangers for $1.00, the franchise was the Guelph Royals, and before that, the Guelph Mad Hatters.

It’s called the Highway 7 rivalry, but it hasn’t resulted in a best-of-seven often.

The two franchises have met in the playoffs just three times since the Hamilton Dukes became the Storm in 1991 – (2012-13 – Kit 4-1), (2002-03 – Kit 4-1) (2001-02 – Gue 4-0).

But, familiarity will not be far for the two teams. The Rangers faced the Storm in two of their final three games of this season, both losses, but hold five wins in eight match-ups this season.

REGULAR SEASON STATS 

 

 Kitchener Rangers (2nd)  Guelph Storm (7th)
Record 43-21-3-1 (90 pts) 30-29-5-4 (69 pts)
Home Record 22-11-1-0 (45 pts) 17-10-5-2 (41 pts)
Road Record 21-10-2-1 (45 pts) 13-19-0-2 (28 pts)
GF 246 (4th in West) 228 (6th in West)
GA 218 (4th in West) 263 (8th in West)
PIM 677 (5th in West) 580 (10th in West)
PP % 20.7% (10th) 22.2% (7th)
PP% Home 23.1% (8th) 18.3% (14th)
PP% Road 18.2% (13th) 25.8% (3rd)
PK % 82.9% (3rd) 79.7% ( 9th)
PK% Home 79.5% (9th) 83.9% (5th)
PK% Away 85.9% (1st) 75.5% (18th)

 

TOP SCORERS

  Kitchener Rangers   Guelph Storm
(LW) Adam Mascherin: 40-46-86pts (LW) Isaac Ratfliffe: 41-27-68pts
(D/RW) Joseph Garreffa: 12-53-65pts (D) Ryan Merkley: 13-54-67pts
(RW) Kole Sherwood: 30-30-60pts (C) *Cam Hillis: 20-39-59pts
(C) Connor Bunnaman: 27-23-50pts (D) Garrett McFadden: 6-38-44pts
(C) Logan Brown:
KIT: 9-15-24pts
WSR: 13-11-24pts
(C) Liam Hawel: 14-27-41pts

*Rookie

 

GOALIE STATS

Kitchener Rangers GP W L OTL SOL GAA SV% GA SO
Mario Culina 30 15 11 2 1 2.89 .913 83 2
                     KIT 20 13 6 0 1 2.63 .919 51 2
                    SBY 10 2 5 2 0 3.43 .903 32 0
Luke Richardson 39 23 11 2 0 3.22 .898 116 1
 Guelph Storm GP W L OTL SOL GAA SV% GA SO
Anthony Popovich 60 29 21 4 3 3.44 .902 196 1
Nico Daws 14 1 7 1 1 4.06 .880 42 0

 

Previous Meetings: 

Oct 7: Kit 2 @ 5 Gue – Storm thankful for Rangers sluggish start

Nov 3: Gue 1 @ 4 Kit –HIGHLIGHTS: Storm vs. Rangers

Dec 10: Kit 10 @ 3 Gue – Rangers put up avalanche of goals vs. Storm

Jan 21: Gue 2 @ 4 Kit – Smith burns Storm

Mar 4: Kit 5 @ 4 Gue – Garreffa overtime hero, again

Mar 13: Kit 3 @ 4 Gue – Guelph storms back to defeat Rangers in OT

Mar 16: Gue 6 @ 3 Kit – Rangers wrap up regular season at home to Guelph

Game Times: 

Friday, March 23 at Kitchener – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 25 at Kitchener – 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday,, March 27 at Guelph – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28 at Guelph – 7:00 p.m.

*Friday, March 30 at Kitchener – 7:30 p.m.

*Sunday, April 1 at Guelph – 2:00 p.m.

*Tuesday,, April 3 at Kitchener – 7:00 p.m.

*If necessary

 

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