Jake Smith tries to recover to make a save during action last May against the Guelph Storm in the OHL Final. FILE PHOTO BY LINDSAY SARAZIN.
The Battalion begin a busy weekend on Thursday night as the Guelph Storm pay a visit to the Gardens.
The Troops come into the re-match of last year's OHL final with a 12-5-4 record.
The Troops fell to the Storm in 5 games in the OHL final including a humbling 10-1 loss on home ice in Game 4 of the final series; the last time the Storm visited the Gardens.
The two finalists hooked up on October 10th in Guelph where the Storm edged the Battalion 3-2 in overtime. Stephen Pierog was the Storm hero as he scored the OT winner.
“Guelph is coming in here, and they’re starting to play well,” said Head Coach Stan Butler on Battalionhockey.com.
“That doesn’t surprise me, as they’ve got a lot of players back from last season’s team."
Robby Fabbri is leading the way for the Storm offensively of late. The St. Louis Blues prospect has recorded 3 goals and 6 points in his last 2 games.
It's anticipated Justin Nichols and Smith will be between the pipes tonight.
The Battalion will continue the busy week with a visit to Owen Sound Saturday night and then finish off the weekend with a visit from the new look Niagara Ice Dogs on Sunday afternoon at the Gardens. The Ice Dogs have bolstered their lineup with the addition of Josh Ho-Sang from the Windsor Spitifires, plus 34 goal man Brendan Perlini is expected to return to the lineup. The Sault Ste. Marie native has been out of the lineup since he sustained a hand injury at Phoenix Coyotes training camp.
"Owen Sound is hanging in there with the big boys in the Western Conference, and then we have to come home and Niagara will be waiting for us,” said Butler on Battalionhockey.com
The Battalion hold a comfortable 6-point lead on the Barrie Colts atop the Central Division.
Goodrow contributing
Last year's captain Barclay Goodrow is making an impact now that he has become a regular in the San Jose Sharks lineup.
In 10 games Goodrow has contributed with 2 helpers and was called on recently in the shootout as Goodrow was stopped trying to go 5-hole on his signature move against Coyotes' Devan Dubnyk on a November 23rd 4-3 shootout loss to the Coyotes.
Here's video of Goodrow's early shot on goal Wednesday night against the Calgary Flames:
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/video/karri-ramo-save-barclay-goodrow-034509878.html?soc_src=copy
Also, former Battalion defenceman Mat Clark recorded his first NHL point for the Ducks on November 25th in a game against the Calgary Flames.
Clark last patrolled the blueline for the Battalion back in 2009-10.
