storm

Walker Buys Into Team

Scott Walker goes from being coach to part owner.

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/721792--scott-walker-buys-piece-of-guelph-storm

There are now many, many questions to be answered. Namely, where does this leave Mike Kelly?

Walker will undoubtedly want say and a finger in the hockey operations pie, yet Kelly came to Guelph with the understanding that he had complete control over the hockey decisions.

 

Saluting The Storm

Hey Storm fans. The annual "Saluting The Storm" special edition is inside Thursday's Guelph Mercury. Lots of pics and year-end wrap-up interviews.

Final Central Scouting Rankings

Eight Storm players ranked amongst North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting final rankings for the June draft.

Matt Finn (15), Scott Kosmachuk (24)m Tanner Richard (41), Brock McGinn (49), Justin Auger (107), Zack Mitchell (151), Patrick Watling (155), Zack Leslie 204).

Knights Extra Pick

Kingston and Niagara got compensatory picks in the first round because their first round picks last season (Max Domi and Adam Bateman) didn't report.

London got an extra second round pick as compensation due to the death of goaltending prospect Ian Jenkins, a draft pick out of Michigan last season who died in a truck accident in the off season.

Draft Tidbits

The Nolan Stevens taken by the Storm in the ninth round off the LA Junior Kings is the son of Los Angeles Kings assistant coach and former Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Stevens.

John Stevens played in the OHL with Newmarket and Oshawa in the early 1980s.

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Other notable names drafted by other teams yesterday: Claude Lemieux's son, Pat Verbeek's nephew and Doug Gilmour's son.

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Was funny walking into the rink at 8:30 a.m. with CJOY's Larry Mellot Saturday and seeing Mike Kelly waiting in the parking lot of the Fabbri family to show up.

Technically still not drafted, Kelly asked we not report his arrival until his name was officially called.

So what if Sault Ste. Marie had changed their minds at the last minute and taken Fabbri ahead of the Storm?

Would have been funny, in that not so funny way.

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I've talked to Storm scouting coordinator Chris McCleary about a lot of players over the years, rarely have I heard him rave about anyone quite like Fabbri.

It seems to be that combination of extreme work ethic and top-end skill that has them excited.

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Fabbri was given number 9 on Saturday.

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Fabbri said he took the key defensive faceoffs for his Mississauga Rebels team, which could help fill a big need on the Storm if he can do it at this level.

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The seven locals drafted has to be the highest since the nine players were taken in the 2007 draft that included Mike Cazzola and Josh McFadden.

 

First Flyer

Storm takes its first roll of the dice in the fifth round, taking Syracuse NCAA-bound centre Alex Tuch, a centre who had 40 goals in 26 games.

Family Ties

Brandon Lemieux, son of Claude, goes to Barrie in the 4th round.

Chris McCleary Raves About Fabbri, Locke

Storm scouting co-ordinator Chris McCleary absolutely raves about Fabbri. He sees him as an elite skill player whose compete level is on par with Hunter Garlent's.

"He does everything at high pace, which translates well to the OHL," McCleary said."It's tough not to like this kid."

On second round pick Locke:

"A Ryan Parent-type player."

"Great skater and physicall mature. Can play in the top 6 right now because of his skating and the fact he is physically mature."

"Got a little bit of a nasty streak in him."

 

Matt Mancina

Mancina is the highest the Storm has drafted a goaltender since they drafted Mark McArthur with the first pick in the third round of the 1992 draft.

Third Round

Sun County Panthers goaltender Matt Mancina, a 6' 160 lb goalie from the Windsor area who had a 7-3-5 record and 1.98 goals against average last year.

Mike Kelly said Mancina will not make the team next year and will likely play junior B.

Mancina was the third goalie taken in the draft.