Matej Machovsky and Garret Sparks

Matej Machovsky - Guelph Storm
6'2 - 187 lbs

Garret Sparks - Guelph Storm
6'2 - 204 lbs






Teams don't normally carry three goaltenders, but with the experienced Brandon Foote leading the way for the Storm, a difficult decission has to made regarding the two highly toughted goaltenders backing up Foote.

When coach and GM Jason Brooks was asked if carrying three goaltenders was a workable option, he replied " I don't know. I'm Hoping so." Brooks added “They both know they’re battling to be the back up. At the same time, Brandon Foote knows he’s got two good goalies battling for playing time behind him.”

Machovsky has played for the Czech Republic's under 18 team. He also played for his country in a 5 nations under 17 tournament where he showed excellent technical ability and lightning fast reflexes. Just like team mate Andrei Paden was told by the Russians, Machovsky said that he was told by the Czech Republic that if he chose the OHL, he would never play for the Czech National Junior Team.

Sparks was an eighth-round pick of the Storm in the 2009 OHL Priority Draft. Last season he backstopped the Chicago Mission to the the U.S. under-18 national championship. On the season he had a 19-7-0-3 record, the 17 year old put up a 1.98 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.

Sparks is also technically sound. He positions himself well and has good rebound control. Both are big at 6'2" but Sparks is almost 20 pounds heavier.

It should be interesting to see how the Storm handle this situation, but one thing is for certain: Barring a trade, the Storm will be set in goal for the next couple of years.

Andrei Pedan

Andrei Pedan - Guelph Storm
6'4 - 190 LBS

Pedan was a first round pick, 18th overall, in this years KHL Entry Draft. But like some of his other Russian brethren this year, Pedan has no interest in joining Dynamo Moscow for the upcoming season and chose the Guelph Storm of the OHL.

He's not your prototypical Russian defensemen. While he has ability at both ends of the ice, he likes to use his huge frame in a physical game, not something we are use to seeing from Russian defensemen. He is also more than willing to drop the gloves when need be, and he's hard to beat with his long reach.

The 32nd pick in the OHL Import Draft has the ability to be an early 2nd rounder, or maybe even a late 1st rounder in Minnesota in June, but he has yet to show what he can do against better competition, so he could just as easily drop. If he can show early on in the season that he can compete with the best players in his age group, and he sticks to playing to his strengths, he will be a fun player to watch this upcoming season in Guelph.

Unlike some Europeans who come over alone and try to make the adjustment without family in a new country, Pedan is not coming alone. Pedan's father, is sending his own mother to come stay with him. In an interview with the Guelph Tribune, Pedan was asked what he likes best about his grandmother coming to live with him.

“Her potatoes and turkey (dish),” he said with a smile. “It is my favourite.”