OHL Playoff Preview – Round 1: Rangers vs. Storm
Posted Mar 23, 2018 04:55:45 AM.
Last Updated Mar 23, 2018 07:33:19 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
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