Storm clinch conference

The Kamloops Storm's win on Friday over the Sicamous Eagles clinched the conference title in the Okanagan Shuswap Division.  The Storm are first overall in the kijhl right now and now have a magic number of four points to ensure the league title. The Storm are in a race with Creston, Beaver Valley and Nelson.  Any combination of 4 points so two wins by the Storm or losses by the other teams will give the Storm the league crown.  In the playoffs the team with the most points gets home ice advantage as they advance through playoffs.  

On Saturday the fans saw what could be a conference battle as the Kelowna Chiefs came to town. It was another Dominos pizza night as the Storm won 5-3 with an empty net goal.  A well played game by both teams, with the Storm controlling the majority of the play.  It was fast aggressive hockey and the fans got their money's worth.  

The Storm have worked hard all season, with a balanced scoring attack and aggressive forechecking which has kept their opponents off balance.  The playoffs will probably start in kamloops February 25 and 27.  At this time the opposition is not known and could be anyone of the Chase Heat, Sicamous Eagles or 100 Mile House Wranglers.  100 Mile will play the Storm twice over the last two weeks with one of those games in Lillooet next Sunday.  100 Mile is 2 points ahead of Chase and 5 points ahead of Sicamous.  Chase has a game in hand and more wins right now so are in good shape to finish either second or third to avoid a first round matchup with the Storm. Sicamous have a good team but seem to lose the wrong games to make any head way for the fight for second.  

This has been a great season and playoff tickets are going on sale shortly.  Season tickets for next year will also be available.