| Guelph Storm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Guelph,Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey League |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | Midwest |
| Founded | 1991–92 |
| Home arena | Sleeman Centre |
| Colours | Crimson, white, and black |
| Owners | Joel Feldberg Jeffrey Bly[1] |
| General manager | George Burnett |
| Head coach | Cory Stillman |
| Affiliates | Ayr Centennials |
| Website | www.guelphstorm.com |
| Franchise history | |
| 1904–1989 | Toronto Marlboros |
| 1989–1991 | Dukes of Hamilton |
| 1991–present | Guelph Storm |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
TheGuelph Storm are a majorjunior ice hockey team based inGuelph,Ontario, Canada. They have played in theOHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at theSleeman Centre.
The franchise started as theToronto Marlboros, who moved toHamilton to become theDukes 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.[2]
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 theOHL Executive of the Year andCraig Hartsburg voted the Coach of the Year for theCanadian Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League. Draft picks from the early years in Guelph includeJeff O'Neill andTodd Bertuzzi.
Guelph reached the OHL finals in 1995 and 1996. The team qualified for the1996 Memorial Cup by playing against the Memorial Cup hostPeterborough Petes in the OHL final.
The Storm won their firstJ. Ross Robertson Cup in 1998. This success continued into theMemorial Cup Tournament as the Storm rallied to the Championship Game where they lost to thePortland Winter Hawks in overtime in the final game.
In the year 2000, the team moved from the historic but agingGuelph Memorial Gardens into the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre (since renamed the Sleeman Centre). The Storm were selected to host the2002 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 the2004 Memorial Cup hosted inKelowna,British Columbia.
In the2008 NHL entry draft, defencemanDrew Doughty was selected 2nd overall by theLos Angeles Kings, the highest ever selection of a Guelph Storm player.
In 2014, the Storm captured their third OHL Championship, and subsequently advanced to the2014 Memorial Cup final, hosted inLondon,Ontario. The Edmonton Oil Kings won Cup championship on 25 May 2014 with a 6-3 win over the Storm.[3]
In late April 2019, the team captured the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as 2019 OHL Western Conference Champions again winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup.[4] 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.[5] Nick Suzuki (aMontreal Canadiens prospect) earned theWayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoff MVP. He was the third Storm player in the team's history to win this award.[6]
In 2021,the team agreed to stop using the songCotton Eye Joe by the groupRednex during games after consultation with local groups alleging the song has racist origins.[7]
The Guelph Storm have appeared in theMemorial Cup tournament six times, won theJ. Ross Robertson Cup four times, won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy four times, and have won five division titles.
Division Trophies
Guelph Storm head coaches have been awarded theMatt Leyden Trophy as the OHL coach-of-the-year twice in team history.Craig Hartsburg was awarded theMatt Leyden Trophy for the 1994–95 season, and was also voted theCanadian Hockey League coach-of-the-year the same year.Dave Barr won theMatt Leyden Trophy in 2005–06.
List of coaches with multiple seasons in parentheses.
A Guelph Storm executive has won theOHL Executive of the Year on two occasions while the honour was awarded from 1990 to 2013. General manager Mike Kelly won the award in 1994–95 and team governor Rick Gaetz won the award in 2009–10.[citation needed]
List of General Managers with multiple seasons in parentheses.
List of numbers retired/honoured by the Guelph Storm.
No former Guelph Storm members are currently in theHockey Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SL = Shoot-out losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Memorial Cup champions | OHL champions | OHL runners-up |
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | SL | Pts | Win % | GF | GA | Standing | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | 66 | 4 | 51 | 11 | — | — | 19 | 0.144 | 235 | 425 | 8th Emms | Did not qualify |
| 1992–93 | 66 | 27 | 33 | 6 | — | — | 60 | 0.455 | 298 | 360 | 7th Emms | Lost divisional quarterfinal (Detroit Jr. Red Wings) 4–1 |
| 1993–94 | 66 | 32 | 28 | 6 | — | — | 70 | 0.530 | 323 | 290 | 3rd Emms | Won divisional quarterfinal (London Knights) 4–1 Lost divisional semifinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–0 |
| 1994–95 | 66 | 47 | 14 | 5 | — | — | 99 | 0.750 | 330 | 200 | 1st Central | Bye in first round Won quarterfinal (Owen Sound Platers) 4–0 Won semifinal (Belleville Bulls) 4–0 LostOHL championship (Detroit Jr. Red Wings) 4–2 |
| 1995–96 | 66 | 45 | 16 | 5 | — | — | 95 | 0.720 | 297 | 186 | 1st Central | Bye in first round Won quarterfinal (Niagara Falls Thunder) 4–0 Won semifinal (Belleville Bulls) 4–1 LostOHL championship (Peterborough Petes) 4–3 4th place inMemorial Cup round-robin |
| 1996–97 | 66 | 35 | 25 | 6 | — | — | 76 | 0.576 | 300 | 251 | 2nd Central | Won in first round (Erie Otters) 4–1 Won quarterfinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–2 Lost semifinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–3 |
| 1997–98 | 66 | 42 | 18 | 6 | — | — | 90 | 0.682 | 263 | 189 | 1st Central | Bye in first round Won quarterfinal (Sudbury Wolves) 4–0 Won semifinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–0 WonOHL championship (Ottawa 67's) 4–1 2nd place inMemorial Cup round-robin Won Memorial Cup semifinal (Spokane Chiefs) 2–1 (OT) Lost Memorial Cup final (Portland Winterhawks) 4–3 (OT) |
| 1998–99 | 68 | 44 | 22 | 2 | — | — | 90 | 0.662 | 300 | 218 | 1st Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Erie Otters) 4–1 Lost conference semifinal (Owen Sound Platers) 4–2 |
| 1999–2000 | 68 | 29 | 34 | 4 | 1 | — | 63 | 0.456 | 250 | 256 | 4th Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–2 |
| 2000–01 | 68 | 34 | 23 | 9 | 2 | — | 79 | 0.566 | 227 | 205 | 2nd Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Brampton Battalion) 4–0 |
| 2001–02 | 68 | 41 | 22 | 4 | 1 | — | 87 | 0.596 | 246 | 218 | 2nd Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–0 Lost conference semifinal (Windsor Spitfires) 4–1 3rd place inMemorial Cup round-robin Lost Memorial Cup tie-breaker game (Victoriaville Tigres) 4–3 |
| 2002–03 | 68 | 29 | 28 | 9 | 2 | — | 69 | 0.507 | 217 | 208 | 3rd Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Sarnia Sting) 4–2 Lost conference semifinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–1 |
| 2003–04 | 68 | 49 | 14 | 5 | 0 | — | 103 | 0.757 | 276 | 182 | 2nd Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Owen Sound Attack) 4–3 Won conference semifinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–0 Won conference final (London Knights) 4–3 WonOHL championship (Mississauga IceDogs) 4–0 4th place inMemorial Cup round-robin |
| 2004–05 | 68 | 23 | 34 | 10 | 1 | — | 57 | 0.412 | 167 | 189 | 5th Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (London Knights) 4–0 |
| 2005–06 | 68 | 40 | 24 | — | 1 | 3 | 84 | 0.618 | 232 | 206 | 3rd Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Saginaw Spirit) 4–0 Won conference semifinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–2 Lost conference final (London Knights) 4–1 |
| 2006–07 | 68 | 33 | 23 | — | 3 | 9 | 78 | 0.574 | 215 | 200 | 3rd Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–0 |
| 2007–08 | 68 | 34 | 25 | — | 5 | 4 | 77 | 0.566 | 213 | 187 | 3rd Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (London Knights) 4–1 Lost conference semifinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–1 |
| 2008–09 | 68 | 35 | 26 | — | 4 | 3 | 77 | 0.566 | 226 | 209 | 2nd Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Saginaw Spirit) 4–0 |
| 2009–10 | 68 | 35 | 29 | — | 3 | 1 | 74 | 0.544 | 242 | 255 | 3rd Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (London Knights) 4–1 |
| 2010–11 | 68 | 34 | 27 | — | 4 | 3 | 75 | 0.551 | 249 | 258 | 4th Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Saginaw Spirit) 4–2 |
| 2011–12 | 68 | 31 | 31 | — | 2 | 4 | 68 | 0.500 | 234 | 238 | 4th Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–2 |
| 2012–13 | 68 | 39 | 23 | — | 2 | 4 | 84 | 0.618 | 253 | 210 | 4th Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–1 |
| 2013–14 | 68 | 52 | 12 | — | 2 | 2 | 108 | 0.794 | 340 | 191 | 1st Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–1 Won conference semifinal (London Knights) 4–1 Won conference final (Erie Otters) 4–1 WonOHL championship (North Bay Battalion) 4–1 1st place inMemorial Cup round-robin Lost Memorial Cup final (Edmonton Oil Kings) 6–3 |
| 2014–15 | 68 | 38 | 26 | — | 2 | 2 | 80 | 0.588 | 237 | 237 | 3rd Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Owen Sound Attack) 4–1 Lost conference semifinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–0 |
| 2015–16 | 68 | 13 | 49 | — | 4 | 2 | 32 | 0.235 | 156 | 297 | 5th Midwest | Did not qualify |
| 2016–17 | 68 | 21 | 40 | — | 5 | 2 | 49 | 0.360 | 202 | 297 | 5th Midwest | Did not qualify |
| 2017–18 | 68 | 30 | 29 | — | 5 | 4 | 69 | 0.507 | 228 | 263 | 4th Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–2 |
| 2018–19 | 68 | 40 | 18 | — | 6 | 4 | 90 | 0.662 | 308 | 230 | 2nd Midwest | Won conference quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–0 Won conference semifinal (London Knights) 4–3 Won conference final (Saginaw Spirit) 4–3 WonOHL championship (Ottawa 67's) 4–2 2nd place inMemorial Cup round-robin Lost Memorial Cup semifinal (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) 6–4 |
| 2019–20 | 63 | 32 | 23 | — | 3 | 5 | 72 | 0.571 | 218 | 209 | 3rd Midwest | Playoffs cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | Season cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||||
| 2021–22 | 68 | 36 | 24 | — | 5 | 3 | 80 | 0.588 | 251 | 228 | 2nd Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–1 |
| 2022–23 | 68 | 35 | 28 | — | 4 | 1 | 75 | 0.551 | 253 | 280 | 2nd Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Sarnia Sting) 4–2 |
| 2023–24 | 68 | 33 | 28 | — | 6 | 1 | 73 | 0.537 | 210 | 225 | 4th Midwest | Lost conference quarterfinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–0 |
| 2024–25 | 68 | 21 | 38 | — | 5 | 4 | 51 | 0.375 | 226 | 301 | 5th Midwest | Did not qualify |
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 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.[8]
The Guelph Storm played at theGuelph Memorial Gardens from 1991 until the year 2000 when moving to the newGuelph Sports and Entertainment Centre, since renamed theSleeman Centre.[9] The GSEC was built into what was a formerEaton's department store in a downtown shopping mall. The GSEC hosted the 2001Hershey Cup and the 2002Memorial Cup.[10]
