Alumni game 6-3. Storm game pizza night 5-1 over Chase heat

Storm win 7 of 8 regular season games and top it off with a great show.  A game within a game helped raise $1500 for heart and stroke foundation. 

The Kamloops Storm would like to thank all the former players and coaches and their friends for a great night of fun and entertainment. The plans are already underway for next year. Former coaches of the Storm including Greg Hawgood, Steve Passmore, Brent Fritz, Tyler Liebel, Brad Priestlay, Blair Rota, and Geoff Smith who all played pro hockey and their friends including Scott Ferguson, Steve Gainey, Mike Brown, Bob Westerby and Chris Murray came out to help raise money for the heart and stroke foundation. A special thanks to the Chase Heat especially Presient Scott Koch, the referees including Jason rende, rob fryer, rob Schweitzer and willie saari.  The game was the brainchild of Kirstie Hawgood and $1500 was raised.  The amount will be bigger next year with more time to plan.  It was made possible by current coach Ed Patterson who called on some of his friends to put on a show.  Everyone had a great time and stayed around to sign autographs. Pro team included former Storm coach Keith Sedgwick and current Storm trainer zach Tjader who both played for the Storm

Friend of the Storm Steve Gainey putting on a show. Current trainer Zach Tjader looks on

Former Storm coach Blair Rota chases down former Storm player Shae Naka
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January 26

Former Kamloops Storm coach Tyler Liebel tries to score on former Storm goalie Anthony Manfredi. This time Manfredi stopped the shot but Lienel did score two as the pros and former coaches beat the Storm alumni 6-3. Liebel and his friends including Geoff Smith and current Storm coach Ed Patterson put on the gear to raise money for Heart and Stroke Foundation. Plans to make this an annual event are already in the works. Special thanks to Kirstie Hawgood and the Chase Heat who helped raise 1500$ for the foundation with a bigger goal for next year.  This was a game within a game as the pros and alumni were featured as additional entertainment during the Storm and Heat regular season game. The regular game saw the Storm beat the Heat 5-2 and all the fans got a free Dominos Pizza.  It was the Storms last regular season game against the Heat and won 7 of 8 contests this season.  Heat and Storm could meet in the playoffs as both teams have clinched a playoff spot.  The Storm currently are the top team in the KIJHL and their next home game will beFriday at 7 pm at MacArthur island arena when they take on the Sicamous Eagles.  
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4 points out of 6 not bad

Been a few years since we were disappointed with only winning two out of three games on a weekend.  Friday was a game that was not meant to be.  It started on the bus and no one could get untracked on the ice.  Blake Culbert played a strong game against his old team and helped the knights to a good win.  The Storm just kept having bounces go the wrong way.  Lets just forget about that one a 6-3 loss.

Saturday started slow but finished with a strong effort and while a chippy event the fans got their money's worth including some young dancers providing between period entertainment courtesy of the Dance Academy.  It was also a dominos pizza night when Marc Dumont scored the fifth goal of the game but first for Marc  it showed a lot of character by the team and coaches as they worked hard to set Marc up.  It also marked the debut of Adam McCormack and John Golubic in the Storm lineup.  Golubic from Chilliwack had a couple of scoring chances.  McCormack was solid on defence. McCormack is from Merritt. Both are affiliate players for the Storm.

Sunday the Fernie Ghostriders were in town.  It was a strong game by both teams.  Fernie despite being back in the standings are a very strong team. Should be an interesting playoff as expect the Riders to get stronger.  Coach Dale Hldune hopes to pick up another player in a few days and hopes to make a run.  It was also some great. Entertainment off the ice as the Testostertones performed. Great choir from Westside Secondary school.  

Next up the Osoyoos Coyotes on Saturday. Osoyoos has a good team and it should be a fun game.  Then Sunday we have some former nhl players against some ex-Storm players. A chance to see some great players and raise some money for the heart and stroke foundation.  It is a game within a game as the Storm game against Chase will also be part of the fun.  Chase is one of only five teams to beat the Storm this year.  Always a great rivalry.  Puck will drop at 5 pm so don't be late. It's going to be a fun night. AND it supports a great cause. See you at the game.

Storm in north Okanagan

It has been a heated rivalry with the knights for the last couple of years. The knights played a good game and capitalized every time the Storm had a lapse.  One of the goals the d handed the forechecker the puck another one hit a forward coming into his own zone right to the knight forward who put it past the goalie. It looked like the boys got off the bus and thought this was in the bag and while they had the territorial play it was not a well executed game. The knights will be the only team with a regular season winning record against the Storm. Only Four teams have beaten the Storm with 7 losses. The Storm split with Summerland one ot loss. 100 mile had 2 wins. Golden one, creston one Chase one and north ok with 2. Still have fernie, kelowna and osoyoos but with all3 teams the Storm won the first meeting. The Storm got away from their game plan trying to get the easy goals tonight and the knights made them pay. Full credit to north ok and Blake Culbert who had a good game against his old team.  This will be a wake up call as we come towards playoffs. The Storm had several cross bars and what looked like a sure goal swept away by a dman at the last second  so they had their chances. Hopefully this will be a well learned lesson

The Storm will need to rebound tomorrow against Revelstoke game time 7 pm. Sunday is fernie at 5 pm and we will have a special treat as the westside men's choir the testostertones will perform. See you at the game. The earls trivia contest will have a question about former Storm coach and nhler Geoff smith   Geoff will be playing in the Storm alumni game jan 26 along with several former nhl players against some of your favourite kamloops Storm players

Kijhl

We didn't lose any players at the trade deadline and managed to have a couple of players return who should be a big help as we approach playoffs  the Storm had Ryan Keis and Brett de Frias return. Ryan played here last year before going to Saskatchewan Junior A. Ryan is another big skilled forward who will help down the stretch.  Brett is a solid dman who will help on the blue line. Brett is a fierce competitor. 

Couple of other teams lost some players at the deadline   Kamloops native Tanner Cochrane returned to Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL. Tanner was playing in North Okanagan. We are told he has also been named captain of the BCHL squad.  Nelson lost a dman to Powell River and was named one of the teams stars in his first game. Nelson did pick up a skilled forward so will remain strong. In a strange move they released their goalie who had been the top ranked tender.  They seem to have picked up where they left off as the new guy has had some great numbers. Also Beaver Valley has released one of their net minders and only have one at present but they continue to play strong hockey. It should be a battle in the west Kootenay division between Nelson and beaver valley although don't count out Castlegar. Despite a fair number of points behind the top two teams they have made some moves that could make them a threat in playoffs. 

In the east Kootenay division Creston has been playing very well. Former Storm goalie Kyle Michalovsky has been solid in net and has helped anchor that team. Creston had been scoring a lot but needed goaltending help. 

Fernie is here next weekend and while a strong team on paper have had some trouble being consistent   In the win column. 

Closer to home kelowna had a big blow when league leading scorer Nick Joseph's joined the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. He will be missed. Although a couple of younger guys will get a chance for more ice time. Summerland also lost Riley Hunt and the loss of those players could make it into a dog fight. Osoyoos is a sleeper and could be a playoff factor as could Princeton who seem to have big games when they need them. I was predicting Summerland to emerge from the Okanagan and still think they will be the team to beat as they are very skilled and fast. 

In our division Chase lost goalie Byer who had been playing very well. It will mean a bigger load for Kamloops native Jake Mattes. Jake is more than capable so don't count out the Heat yet. Sicamous had two demen come in one from Saskatchewan, and Stoski both played for the Eagles previously and should help. Revelstoke is in disarray and the hope is new coach will stabilize things  the few bright lights they did have left. Hascarl  to jr b in Alberta and wilkinson to jr a in Alberta. 

Perhaps the biggest loss I the division was in 100 mile as they lost their goalie Nathan Warren to the BCHL. He will be very hard to replace. Keep following us on Facebook and Twitter as we move to the final part of the season