Storm Blows Away Weekend Competion

Posse Slumps in the Saddle while Grizzlies go into Hibernation

Kamloops at Revelstoke - Jan 9, 2007

It was a great week for the Kamloops Storm. After being soundly shut out by the Spokane Braves (3-0) on their last home outing, Kamloops faced the task of a home and home with the Revelstoke Grizzlies who were tinkering with 1st place in the Okanagan-Shuswap division.

First up was a trip to Revelstoke on Jan 9 which saw Kamloops come from behind in the 3rd period on late goals by Austin Goode and Jassi Sangha to squeek out at 4-3 win. Revelstoke had defeated Kamloops twice before Xmas so revenge in the Revelstoke Forum was sweet. Sangha also had a goal in the 2nd period, as did Anthony Collins.

It appears that Kamloops dominated the game with a 60-44 shot differential which left both goaltenders busier than a one armed paper hanger. Kamloops ran into big penalty trouble in the 2nd period taking 6 penalties but held the Grizzlies to one power-play goal and scored a short handed marker (Sangha) to close the gap.

Chance Fenner was in the box late in the game when Collins tied the scored 3-3 and with 1:30 left in the period Sangha popped his second from Lundy Treneman and Joel Leonard to capture the win and earn 1st star status. (see boxscore here)

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Kamloops vs Princeton - Jan 12, 2007

On Friday night the much improved Princeton Posse were in town taking on the Storm. After a quiet 1st period for both teams Sean Carr of Princeton took advantage of a Sangha hooking call carried over from the 1st period and beat goaltender Anthony Manfredi for the opening goal of the game. Just over a minute later Austin Goode rapped in the tieing goal from Collins and David Osborne.

Later in the 2nd period Ryan Bullock scored his team leading 25th goal on the power play from Paul Riddell and Joel Leonard to put Kamloops ahead to stay. Paul Riddell finished off the scoring in the 3rd period with a tally from Jacob Young and Trevor Torbolm.

David Osborne had a particularly strong game showing both skill and leadership at both ends of the ice, good enough to earn 1st Star honours. Jacob Young also had a strong performance and ended up as 2nd star while Eric Galbraith was Princeton's best player and earned the 3rd star.
Kamloops outshot Princeton 39-30. Goaltenders Anthony Manfredi (Kam) and Tanner Sheridan (Princeton) had strong games with Sheridan coming up with some particularly difficult saves.
(see boxscore here)

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The Rematch - Kamloops vs Revelstoke - Jan 14, 2007

The Grizzlies wandered into the Mac Park Sports Centre looking for revenge but in the end it was their lack of discipline that sent them home into hibernation as the Storm slapped them with 6 power play markers and rolled to a 7-2 win.

Revelstoke opened up the scoring just past half way through the 1st period when Vincien Scott took a slick feed from Chance Fenner and wisked the puck past Anthony Manfredi. Then Revelstoke got into penalty trouble and the Storm were all over them.
First, on Cody Inkster's 2nd hooking call of the game, Jassi Sangha popped his first of two goals to tie the game at 1. Then, just 15 seconds later, Brendon Madlung took a holding call and the Storm were back on the PP. It took Austin Goode all of 19 seconds to pop Kamloops second pp tally of the period (from Lundy Treneman and Justin Giroux) to put Kamloops ahead to stay.

Jake Young got Kamloops it's only even strength goal early in the 2nd period on some hard work by Giroux and Todd Kennedy to take a 3-1 lead. Revelstoke battled back with an even strength goal of their own by Madlung. After that Kamloops took advantage of another two power-play opportunities and cashed in on goals by Jassi Sangha and Anthony Collins.

Revelstoke continued its wayward ways and the Storm capitalized on another 2 opportunities in the 3rd period (Austin Goode and Joel Leonard) to round out the scoring.

The game wasn't without it's animosity as there were 4 separate tussles during the game.
Darren Mann showed well against a larger Derek Yuskiw in the 2nd period. Justin Giroux had a great bout with Morgan Bell early in the 3rd. John Spence took on Scott Karwandy in a spirited match where Karwandy ended up on top. Jassi Sangha, who had just about enough after a hit from behind by Tyson Baulkham, lost his cool and pummeled Baulkham on the ice and then fought Brent Meissinger to end his night in the dressing room.

Kamloops was great on the penalty kill and kept Revelstoke frustrated all evening. Anthony Manfredi made all the saves he needed to to post the win.

3 Stars - Joel Leonard (1G-2A), Anthony Collins (1G-2A) and Austin Goode (2G-1A).

Coach Bryant Perrier may be forced to sit out the upcoming game against the Princeton Posse after having his team involved in 4 fights during the game. Coach Brad Fox of Revelstoke will probably be subject to the same fate.

(see boxscores here)

next game: Wed Jan 17 at Princeton (oh no, another rematch!)

written by Dave Ouellette, Kamloops Storm Writer