2025 - 2026 Guelph Storm Season Thread, Part I

[JerkNazi]

2025 - 2026 Guelph Storm Season Thread, Part I.

Abide by all forum rules in the discussion. Failure to do so may result in removal not just from this thread, but future versions of this thread for the remainder of the season, at moderator discretion.

 

[StormWatcher]

Re: the question about Imports, both new forwards are on the team, but as for what line/how many minutes they'll have to battle it out like anyone else... it's too early to tell. There is a lot of competition right now with the new rules/options for young players.

 

[Babula]

imports are not like anyone else. They need to be better than NA players...

 

[StormSurge9]

Another thing to consider with imports is the fact that Belohorsky was injured at the Hilinka, and hasn't participated much in camp, and yet to play a pre-season game. He's at a stage where the coaches still aren't even sure where he would fit, and that'll take some time.

Haponenko missed the start of camp as he was later arriving to Canada, but now seems to be fitting in nicely with some guys based on the one pre-season game in Ayr.

It's really up to these two how much they play. We finished 15th in goals for last year and lost Katzin and now presumably Luchanko, so anyone that can produce will be seeing ice time.

 

[Babula]

Thank you man for asnwer. I did like believe to this imports help your team to better scoring season and brighter season.

 

[StormWatcher]

Another thing to consider with imports is the fact that Belohorsky was injured at the Hilinka, and hasn't participated much in camp, and yet to play a pre-season game. He's at a stage where the coaches still aren't even sure where he would fit, and that'll take some time.

Haponenko missed the start of camp as he was later arriving to Canada, but now seems to be fitting in nicely with some guys based on the one pre-season game in Ayr.

It's really up to these two how much they play. We finished 15th in goals for last year and lost Katzin and now presumably Luchanko, so anyone that can produce will be seeing ice time.

I'm expecting big years from Paquette, Stevens, and Wycisk (yes, right off the bat) for offense.
I'd like to see more scoring from McLean, so hopefully he breaks out.
It'll still be a retool year, with next year as the all-in. If Owen Griffin or Jack Nesbitt are available I could see Guelph jumping at them. Wassilyn if there are heavy conditions on him reporting next season. They're in a good spot with picks and Luchanko as a trade to set themselves up quite nicely. Our defense is young and talented/will carry over to next season, our goalies (plural) are in the same boat. Offense is an easy upgrade when you have the assets. If you can get a Griffin or Nesbitt this year, then next years deadline you're in on the best forward available, suddenly you've got a contender.

 

[MidwestStorm]

I'm expecting big years from Paquette, Stevens, and Wycisk (yes, right off the bat) for offense.
I'd like to see more scoring from McLean, so hopefully he breaks out.
It'll still be a retool year, with next year as the all-in. If Owen Griffin or Jack Nesbitt are available I could see Guelph jumping at them. Wassilyn if there are heavy conditions on him reporting next season. They're in a good spot with picks and Luchanko as a trade to set themselves up quite nicely. Our defense is young and talented/will carry over to next season, our goalies (plural) are in the same boat. Offense is an easy upgrade when you have the assets. If you can get a Griffin or Nesbitt this year, then next years deadline you're in on the best forward available, suddenly you've got a contender.

I would be surprised if Nesbitt is available but i expect Lemieux if Windsor is buying.
Other names I am watching if available are Hopkins, Rogowski, Malholtra and Van Gorp.
Von Richter if they are looking for more experience on D.
Storm are in a position to outbid most if not all teams for any players returning next year even without a Luchanko trade.

 

[frontsfan67]

Another thing to consider with imports is the fact that Belohorsky was injured at the Hilinka, and hasn't participated much in camp, and yet to play a pre-season game. He's at a stage where the coaches still aren't even sure where he would fit, and that'll take some time.

Haponenko missed the start of camp as he was later arriving to Canada, but now seems to be fitting in nicely with some guys based on the one pre-season game in Ayr.

It's really up to these two how much they play. We finished 15th in goals for last year and lost Katzin and now presumably Luchanko, so anyone that can produce will be seeing ice time.

Wycisk top line??

 

[thenumbersguy]

They better not stumble out of the gate and show marked improvement over last year or they can kiss their MC hopes goodbye.

 

[MidwestStorm]

They better not stumble out of the gate and show marked improvement over last year or they can kiss their MC hopes goodbye.

Agreed
Coaching staff needs to be better and develop these young players this year.

 

[thenumbersguy]

Agreed
Coaching staff needs to be better and develop these young players this year.

Coaching staff needs to develop systems and give the team identity this year. Last year it didn’t even look like organized chaos.

 

[MidwestStorm]

Looking forward to seeing both new imports tonight.

 

[nelli27]

Flyers' Jett Luchanko No Longer Guelph Storm Captain; OHL Trade Coming?

In an interesting new twist, top <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> center prospect Jett Luchanko is no longer the captain of his junior team, the OHL Guelph Storm.

thehockeynews.com

 

[Elbeardo1014]

Flyers' Jett Luchanko No Longer Guelph Storm Captain; OHL Trade Coming?

In an interesting new twist, top <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> center prospect Jett Luchanko is no longer the captain of his junior team, the OHL Guelph Storm.

thehockeynews.com

If they were gonna wait until the deadline to move him, you’d think they’d let him keep the Captaincy until then. Just my assumption but it seems like they’re gonna move him once/if he returns from Philly.

 

[frontsfan67]

If they were gonna wait until the deadline to move him, you’d think they’d let him keep the Captaincy until then. Just my assumption but it seems like they’re gonna move him once/if he returns from Philly.

For sure. If they’re going for the mem cup he’s moved in November/December at the latest probably as soon as he’s back(if back) they won’t be getting any 16 year olds for him. They’ll look for impact 17 year olds to help this year and next

 

[StormWatcher]

Roster is still at 19 F, 11D, 3 G. 7 gone to NHL camps (5 D, 2 F). One would expect some cuts at forward to come this week... the D can stick around because of camps.

 

[GagneHanson12]

Shybinskyi has signed, which makes sense based on the sound of how his camp went. Excited to watch him and Haponenko this year!

 

[thenumbersguy]

Looking at the lineup for the last preseason game against Brantford, I don’t see McFadden in the lineup. This is the third game in a row he hasn’t played after he played two early ones.

Anyone know if he was waived, injured etc?

 

[StormWatcher]

Looking at the lineup for the last preseason game against Brantford, I don’t see McFadden in the lineup. This is the third game in a row he hasn’t played after he played two early ones.

Anyone know if he was waived, injured etc?

I doubt he was waived as he'd likely be tradeable. Likely just rotated out.

 

[MidwestStorm]

Storm have now signed 9 from this year's draft.
1G Reznik
5F Wycisk, Pape, Lewandowski,
07 Shybinskyi, Matson
3D Sullivan, Martin, Naish

Next 12 months are going to be very interesting especially if trades bring in additional players this year for next year.

Currently have 9 top 5 round picks next year compared to only 7 this year.

Also Imports should be set with 2 07's and an 08.

 

[MidwestStorm]

Did not see the need to add an OA D but now with the signing of 3 09 D's i am beginning to agree.
We have 5 07's and we will need to move a couple bodies to make room next year.
The question is timing but with Sandhu probably available relatively cheap, now may be the time and bring him back.

A welcome surprise to read the so called Flyers experts dont expect Jett to make the team and will be returned.

Anyone else get the feeling something may be brewing since they have not made final cuts and updated the roster.

 

[OHL4Life]

Did not see the need to add an OA D but now with the signing of 3 09 D's i am beginning to agree.
We have 5 07's and we will need to move a couple bodies to make room next year.
The question is timing but with Sandhu probably available relatively cheap, now may be the time and bring him back.

A welcome surprise to read the so called Flyers experts dont expect Jett to make the team and will be returned.

Anyone else get the feeling something may be brewing since they have not made final cuts and updated the roster.

it wont be cheap for sandhu. 4/5 picks look at the roberts trade as a start, itll be more then that

 

[StormWatcher]

Did not see the need to add an OA D but now with the signing of 3 09 D's i am beginning to agree.
We have 5 07's and we will need to move a couple bodies to make room next year.
The question is timing but with Sandhu probably available relatively cheap, now may be the time and bring him back.

A welcome surprise to read the so called Flyers experts dont expect Jett to make the team and will be returned.

Anyone else get the feeling something may be brewing since they have not made final cuts and updated the roster.

Did I miss something? We're bringing in an OA D? The only way I can see this making sense is if there is more to it/more players going both ways... in particular someone returning for the run next season.

 

[MidwestStorm]

I am saying we will need to move D next year with 3 09's signed. Tony Saxon has suggested we may acquire an OA D. If so Sandhu is a good option and should help us this year when we are trying to prove we are MC worthy. It also creates an opening next year. That being said he will not come cheap and it can't be just picks to make sense.

If we move Jett it needs to be his next year bluechip replacement plus picks.

I will admit i overvalue the team (and probably proven wrong) but this should be a solid and very competitive team this year and next with or without Jett. If not we will have wasted the assets we have available.

 

[frontsfan67]

If we move Jett it needs to be his next year bluechip replacement plus picks.

Strictly just thinking of forwards:

A 17 year old such as JC Lemieux, Braidy Wassilyn, Brady T Smith, Carson Andrew or Ryder Carey could be up for grabs.

Or a (potential) impact 16 year old such as Cam Warren, Noah Laus, Ryan Kaczynski, Ryerson Edgar, Brayden Bennett, John McLaughlin could be a move.

A lot of unknowns though such as what teams go all in making a move like that, who starts off slow, who’s on the trade block, and the big one: will luchanko be back?

I think JC Lemieux or Noah Laus is the one I’d want but a lot of other teams have players they’re looking to move and they all want him. Could get traded elsewhere or Windsor could be saving him for sennecke (as an example)