Another OHL match-up on Friday Night Hockey, featuring defending OHL champion Guelph at home to Peterborough.
The Petes were expected to be contenders in the Eastern Conference, but haven’t played up to expectations. Peterborough is loaded with talent but has yet to put it all together. Add in some off-ice issues and the Petes are struggling to maintain a playoff position.
As Nick Ritchie goes, so go the Petes. Peterborough has won just once in seven tries when Ritchie doesn’t record a point. With the expectation that Ritchie will make Canada’s world junior team, the Petes will have to find a way to win without him—he could miss up to 10 games.
When Matthew Mancina was acquired from Guelph earlier this season, the Petes figured their goaltending woes were solved. Mancina got off to a hot start, but it’s been a roller-coaster ride ever since, including giving up six goals on 32 shots in Thursday’s shutout loss to Oshawa. If coach Jody Hull goes back to him, no doubt redemption will be on Mancina’s mind in his first opportunity to play against his former mates.
It’s not the same Guelph team as a year ago, but the Storm are still very dangerous. Guelph features returnees Justin Nichols in goal, defenceman Ben Harpur, Zac Leslie and Phil Baltisberger to bolster the back end. Up front, first-rounders Robby Fabbri and Jason Dickinson are surrounded by a strong supporting cast that includes Tyler Bertuzzi and Pius Suter and GM Mike Kelly has bolstered the lineup with recent moves for overagers Chris Marchese and Luke Cairns.
The Storm have won seven of their past 10 and some of the high-scoring offence from last season has returned—Guelph has averaged 4.4 goals per game during the stretch. With the potential to lose up to four players to world junior duty, Guelph must make hay now in the tough Midwest Division.
Of note, Storm coach Scott Walker has been dealing with a serious illness and has not been behind the bench. Assistants Bill Stewart and Todd Harvey have been filling-in.
Peterborough Petes 9-12-1-3 (2-7-1-2 Road), 1 loss (5th Eastern Division, 8th Eastern Conference)
Individual Stats
In Goal
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Nick Ritchie (Anaheim, 10th in 2014)
Eric Cornel (Buffalo, 44th in 2013)
Dominik Masin (Tampa Bay, 35th in 2014)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW B
Matt Spencer
Under The Radar
Steven Varga, D
The second-round OHL pick is a Pete through and through and one of just two regulars with a positive plus-minus.
Guelph Storm 15-10-0-1 (8-4-0-0 Home) 1 win, (4th Midwest Division, 5th Western Conference)
Individual Stats
In Goal
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Robbie Fabbri (St. Louis, 21st in 2014)
Jason Dickinson (Dallas, 29th in 2013)
Tyler Bertuzzi (Detroit, 58th in 2013)
Ben Harpur (Ottawa, 108th in 2013)
Zac Leslie (Los Angeles Kings, 178th in 2013)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW C
Pius Suter
Garrett McFadden
Under the Radar
Garrett McFadden Has had a steady if unspectacular start to the season. Offensive gifts yet to be fully tapped, but still takes care of things in his own end.