Playoff Preview: Guelph Storm vs. Sarnia Sting

The Guelph Storm and the Sarnia Sting are set to face off in the first round of the 2023 OHL Playoffs.

The series will kick off in Sarnia this coming weekend and shift to Guelph next week. Games 3 and 4 will be played at the Sleeman Centre on Tuesday, April 4th, and Thursday, April 6th, and if necessary Game 6 will be played on Sunday, April 9th at 2:00pm. Click here for your playoff tickets!

Regular Season Recap

During the regular season, the Storm and the Sting faced off four times, splitting the series with two wins each. Charlie Paquette and Cooper Walker led the Storm in goals scored against the Sting with a pair apiece. Braeden Bowman and Matthew Poitras each have 5 points in the four games against the Sting. 14 Storm players picked up a point or more in the four games.

The Storm and the Sting went to a shootout in three of the four games played. Each with only one goal scorer in the shootout. On November 2nd Sasha Pastujov was the lone scorer to lift the Storm 6-5 over the Sting. Two weeks later on November 17th, the Storm would trade Pastujov to the Sting. The trade sent over Max Namestnikov and picks. For the Storm, Namestnikov went on to appear in 47 games notching 35 goals and 19 assists for 54 points. Prior to the trade in his time with the Sting this season he had 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points in 18 games. While for the Sting, Pastujov appeared in 46 games notching 30 goals and 49 assists for 79 points. The Sting would take the next two games, before another electric shootout game to wrap up the regular season series between the teams. On March 17th Braeden Bowman stood out for the Storm posting 1 goal and 4 assists during 60 minutes of play, before solidifying the win as the only goal scorer in the shootout.

Playoff History 

The two have not met in the playoffs since 2003. The Storm took the series in 6 games with a convincing score of 9-1 in the final game, before falling to the rival Kitchener Rangers in the second round.

First Round Series vs. Sarnia Sting
Game 1 – Friday March 31st 7:05pm @ Sarnia Sting
Game 2 – Sunday April 2nd 2:05pm @ Sarnia Sting
Game 3 – Tuesday April 4th 7:00pm vs. Sarnia Sting – Click for tickets
Game 4 – Thursday April 6th 7:00pm vs. Sarnia Sting – Click for tickets
Game 5 – Friday April 7th 7:05pm @ Sarnia Sting*
Game 6 – Sunday April 9th 2:00pm vs. Sarnia Sting* – Click for tickets
Game 7 – Tuesday April 11th 7:05pm @ Sarnia Sting*
*-if necessary