The CHL on TSN returns for a second straight week as the Peterborough Petes (23-15-1-2) come off a Thursday night win, visiting the Guelph Storm (17-19-4-1) tonight at 7:30pm.
Victor Findlay and OHL alumnus Marc Methot provide tonight’s call as Peterborough brings a high-powered offence into the Sleeman Centre, taking on a Storm squad with some prominent names of its own.
Here’s some notes leading into tonight’s cross-conference affair that can be seen on TSN 3.
Gold medal additions: Additions in Brennan Othmann (Flint) and Owen Beck (Mississauga) give Peterborough a pair of Canadian World junior gold medalists in their lineup as they hunt their first OHL championship since 2006. Othmann scored twice in Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Oshawa Generals, netting the game winner with 52 seconds left in the third period.
Championship experience: The Petes recently added a pair of 2022 OHL champions in Avery Hayes and Gavin White from the Hamilton Bulldogs. Hayes sits two goals back of the OHL goal-scoring lead with his 29 on the campaign. A former U18 Priority Selection pick turned Dallas Stars prospect, White has four points (1-3–4) in five games with Peterborough.
Number one in net: The Petes feature 19-year-old Michael Simpson in the crease, who currently leads the OHL with a .918 save percentage through 32 games. The London, Ont. native is a former 10th round pick in 2019 who leads the League with 1,863 minutes played.
Pro connections: Petes forward and Philadelphia Flyers prospect J.R. Avon is the step-son of former long-time NHL forward Steve Larmer. Chase Stillman’s older brother, Riley, is a former OHL champion with the Hamilton Bulldogs and now plays defence for the Vancouver Canucks.
Third period blues: The Petes have dominated second periods this season, outscoring opponents 60-30. This in contrast to their third period performance, being outscored 49-42.
Turning a corner: The Storm had a tough start to the season, losing nine of their first 10 games. Named head coach to start the season, Scott Walker stepped down from the role due to health reasons, giving way for Chad Wiseman. The Storm have begun to find some consistency, picking up points in seven of their last 10 games.
Coming of age: A pair of young blue line prospects in Cam Allen and Michael Buchinger had strong rookie seasons in 2021-22. Buchinger was selected in the third round by the St. Louis Blues last summer while Allen, a 2005-born player who was voted OHL Rookie of the Year, is a top prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft. Buchinger sits second in Storm scoring with 33 points (7-26—33) in 34 games. Allen, who will compete in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, just returned from injury and has 17 points (4-13—17) on the season.
Namestnikov finds his spot: After struggles with consistency with the Sarnia Sting, former third overall Priority Selection choice Max Namestnikov has found his spot with the Storm, recording 23 points (12-11—23) in 22 games wearing crimson. Namestnikov is the younger brother of NHL forward Vladislav Namestnikov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Bowman lighting the lamp, Poitras picking up assists: Braeden Bowman enters action on a five-game goal-scoring streak. Bowman lit the lamp five times in three outings last week as Guelph defeated Hamilton and London before falling short against Owen Sound. Bowman missed the entire month of November due to injury has 15 goals in 27 games, following up a 27-goal campaign last season. Boston Bruins prospect Matthew Poitras is riding a five-game assist streak, collecting six in three games last week.
Leaver brings experience to Storm crease: Having surrendered the second-most goals in the OHL this season, the Storm made a move earlier this month to bring in veteran Oshawa Generals goaltender Patrick Leaver, who is off to a 2-0 start with his new club. Leaver’s 1,473 saves were the third-highest in the OHL in 2021-22.
Last-ranked penalty kill: The Storm sit 20th in the OHL in penalty killing this season, with a PK operating at just 68.4%. Fortunately for them, they’ve been fairly disciplined, sitting 17th in OHL penalty minutes this season.
