Guelph Storm

The Guelph Storm are a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.

Guelph Storm
CityGuelph, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionMidwest
Founded1991–92
Home arenaSleeman Centre
ColoursCrimson, white, and black
     
General managerGeorge Burnett
Head coachGeorge Burnett
Affiliate(s)Cambridge Redhawks
Websitewww.guelphstorm.com
Franchise history
1904–1989Toronto Marlboros
1989–1991Dukes of Hamilton
1991–presentGuelph Storm
Guelph Storm face off on home ice. February 15th, 2006

History

The franchise started as the Toronto Marlboros, who moved to Hamilton to become the Dukes of Hamilton in 1989. Following the 1990–91 season, the franchise was relocated to Guelph and a contest was held to name the team. Tom Douglas submitted the winning entry "Storm" and the team was renamed the Guelph Storm.[1]

The first year in Guelph was dismal, but the building process for Guelph was soon successful. The Storm finished first place in the 1994–95 season. General Manager Mike Kelly was voted the OHL Executive of the Year and Craig Hartsburg voted the Coach of the Year for the Canadian Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League. Draft picks from the early years in Guelph include Jeff O'Neill and Todd Bertuzzi.

Guelph reached the OHL finals in 1995 and 1996. The team qualified for the 1996 Memorial Cup by playing against the Memorial Cup host Peterborough Petes in the OHL final.

The Storm won their first J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1998. This success continued into the Memorial Cup Tournament as the Storm rallied to the Championship Game where they lost to the Portland Winter Hawks in overtime in the final game.

In the year 2000, the team moved from the historic but aging Guelph Memorial Gardens into the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre (since renamed the Sleeman Centre). The Storm were selected to host the 2002 Memorial Cup tournament. It marked the team's third appearance in the national junior championship, their first as host team.

Two years later, the Storm won their second OHL Championship, and returned to the 2004 Memorial Cup hosted in Kelowna, British Columbia.

In the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, defenceman Drew Doughty was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Kings, the highest ever selection of a Guelph Storm player.

In 2014, the Storm captured their third OHL Championship, and subsequently advanced to the 2014 Memorial Cup final, hosted in London, Ontario. The Edmonton Oil Kings won Cup championship on 25 May 2014 with a 6-3 win over the Storm.[2]

In late April 2019, the team captured the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as 2019 OHL Western Conference Champions again winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup.[3] On 12 May 2019, in the sixth game of the finals, the Storm defeated the Ottawa 67's to win the OHL championship and were again headed to the Memorial Cup, their sixth appearance, to start on 17 May in Halifax.[4] Nick Suzuki (a Montreal Canadiens prospect) earned the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoff MVP. He was the third Storm player in the team's history to win this award.[5]

Championships

The Guelph Storm have appeared in the Memorial Cup tournament six times, won the J. Ross Robertson Cup four times, won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy four times, and have won five division titles.

Coaches

Craig Hartsburg was awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as the OHL Coach of the Year for the 1994–95 season, and was also voted the Canadian Hockey League Coach of the Year. He is a former NHL defenceman with the Minnesota North Stars. He has also been the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Ottawa Senators as well as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He has twice been an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Dave Barr coached the team from 2004–08, and won the Matt Leyden Trophy in 2005–06.

List of coaches with multiple seasons in parentheses.

  • 1991–1992 – Ron Ivany, Mike Kelly, Bill LaForge
  • 1992–1994 – John Lovell (2)
  • 1994–1995 – Craig Hartsburg
  • 1995–1997 – E.J. McGuire (2)
  • 1997–1998 – George Burnett
  • 1998–1999 – Geoff Ward
  • 1999–2000 – Paul Gillis
  • 2000–2002 – Jeff Jackson (3)
  • 2002–2003 – Jeff Jackson, Shawn Camp
  • 2003–2004 – Shawn Camp (2)
  • 2004–2008 – Dave Barr (4)
  • 2008–2010 – Jason Brooks (2)
  • 2010 (interim) – Mike Kelly
  • 2010–2015 – Scott Walker (5)
  • 2015–2016 – Bill Stewart
  • 2015 (interim) – Mike Kelly
  • 2015–2017 – Jarrod Skalde (2)
  • 2017–present – George Burnett

Players

Award winners

Retired numbers

18 – Paul Fendley, a former member of the Guelph CMC's who died in an on-ice accident at Guelph Memorial Gardens in 1972. His number has not been issued to a player since, by the Guelph CMC's, Guelph Platers, or Guelph Storm. The number was officially retired in a ceremony before a November 15, 2008 game.

44 – Todd Bertuzzi

92 – Jeff O'Neill

NHL alumni

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

SeasonGamesWonLostTiedOTLSLPointsPct %Goals
For		Goals
Against		Standing
1991–926645111--190.1442354258th Emms
1992–936627336--600.4552983607th Emms
1993–946632286--700.5303232903rd Emms
1994–956647145--990.7503302001st Central
1995–966645165--950.7202971861st Central
1996–976635256--780.5763002512nd Central
1997–986642186--900.6822631891st Central
1998–996844222--900.6623002181st Midwest
1999–200068293441-630.4562502564th Midwest
2000–0168342392-790.5662272052nd Midwest
2001–0268412241-870.5962462182nd Midwest
2002–0368292892-690.5072172083rd Midwest
2003–0468491450-1030.7572761822nd Midwest
2004–05682334101-570.4121671895th Midwest
2005–06684024-13840.6182322063rd Midwest
2006–07683323-39780.5742152003rd Midwest
2007–08683425-54770.5662131873rd Midwest
2008–09683526-43770.5662262092nd Midwest
2009–10683529-31740.5442422553rd Midwest
2010–11683427-43750.5512492584th Midwest
2011–12683131-24680.5002342384th Midwest
2012–13683923-24840.6182532104th Midwest
2013–14685212-221080.7943401911st Midwest
2014–15683826-22800.5882372373rd Midwest
2015–16681349-42320.2351562975th Midwest
2016–17682140-52490.3602022975th Midwest
2017–18683029-54690.5072282634th Midwest
2018–19684018-64900.6623082302nd Midwest
2019–20633223-35720.5712182093rd Midwest

Playoffs
  • 1991–92 – Out of playoffs.
  • 1992–93 – Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 1993–94 – Defeated London Knights 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to S.S.Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in division semi-finals.
  • 1994–95 – First place in OHL. Earned first round bye.
    Defeated Owen Sound Platers 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
    Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
    Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 2 in finals.
  • 1995–96 – First place in OHL. Earned first round bye.
    Defeated Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
    Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 1 in semi-finals.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 3 in finals.
    Finished 4th place in Memorial Cup hosted by Peterborough Petes.
  • 1996–97 – Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
    Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 3 in semi-finals.
  • 1997–98 – First place in OHL. Earned first round bye.
    Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
    Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
    Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished round-robin portion of Memorial Cup in 2nd place.
    Defeated Spokane Chiefs 2–1 (OT) in semi-finals.
    Lost to Portland Winter Hawks 4–3 (OT) in finals. Finished 2nd place in Memorial Cup.
  • 1998–99 – Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Owen Sound Platers 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
  • 1999–2000 – Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2000–01 – Lost to Brampton Battalion 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2001–02 – Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
    Finished round-robin portion of Memorial Cup tied for third place.
    Lost to Victoriaville Tigres 4–3 in tiebreaker game. Finished 4th place as hosts of Memorial Cup.
  • 2002–03 – Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2003–04 – Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Defeated London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference finals.
    Defeated Mississauga Ice Dogs 4 games to 0 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished 4th place in Memorial Cup hosted by Kelowna Rockets.
  • 2004–05 – Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2005–06 – Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  • 2006–07 – Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2007–08 – Defeated London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2008–09 – Lost to Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2009–10 – Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2010–11 – Lost to Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2011–12 – Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2012–13 – Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2013–14 – Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals
    Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
    Defeated North Bay Battalion 4 games to 1 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished round-robin portion of Memorial Cup in 1st place.
    Lost to Edmonton Oil Kings 6–3 in finals. Finished 2nd place in Memorial Cup
  • 2014–15 – Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2015–16 – Out of playoffs.
  • 2016–17 – Out of playoffs.
  • 2017–18 – Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2018–19 — Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
    Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 3 in conference finals.
    Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished round-robin portion of Memorial Cup in 2nd place.
    Lost to Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 6–4 in semifinals. Finished 3rd place in Memorial Cup
  • 2019–20 – Cancelled.

Uniforms and logos

For the 2007/08 season, the team switched to a crimson and white colour scheme with the same logo that was on the last jerseys, except the "stripes" that appear across the "belly" of the Storm logo itself were modified from black to crimson. The white jersey has "STORM" written on top of the logo, and the crimson jersey has "GUELPH" above the logo. The new shoulder patches, featuring the alternate "GS" logo, have been redesigned and are meant to be read from the inside (the "G") outward (the "S").

The Guelph Storm primary logo is one of the team's mascots "Spyke" surrounded by a twister with the team name above it. The team colours are white, grey, crimson and black. Home jerseys have a white background with "STORM" above the logo, and away jerseys have a crimson background with "GUELPH" above the logo.

The previous Guelph Storm logo (inset right) was used from 1991 to 1995. The team colours then were white, blue, grey and black. Home jerseys had a white background and away jerseys had a blue background.

Arenas

The Guelph Storm played at the Guelph Memorial Gardens from 1991 until the year 2000 when moving to the new Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre, since renamed the Sleeman Centre. The GSEC was built into what was a former Eaton's department store in a downtown shopping mall. The GSEC hosted the 2001 Hershey Cup and the 2002 Memorial Cup.

Ice Size = 200' x 85'
Capacity = 4,715 seating, 4,981 (with standing)

Profiles and photos from "The OHL Arena & Travel Guide:"

See also

References
  1. http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/guelph-storm-5953.html
  2. "2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup – Championship Game – Memorial Cup".
  3. "Guelph Storm are 2019 Western Conference Champions – Ontario Hockey League". OHL. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  4. "Guelph Storm win OHL championship with Game 6 win over Ottawa". Sportsnet. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  5. "Storm's Suzuki earns Wayne Gretzky '99' Award as OHL Playoff MVP – Ontario Hockey League".
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