2007-02-28

Kamloops Storm Poised to take Series at Home

Split in Sicamous Leaves Storm up 3-1 on Eagles

After a lack lustre performance on Sunday night in Sicamous, losing 6-3 to the Eagles, the Kamloops Storm upped their standards and got back to their winning ways with a convincing 8-2 thrashing of their opponents on Monday night in KIJHL playoff action.

The Storm, obviously embarrassed by the shelacking they took at the hands of the Eagles took matters into its own hands and showed why they were first in the division during the regular season. Joel Leonard, who has been Kamloops most prolific scorer in the playoffs scored his 6th and 7th goals to lead the charge. As the big line of Leonard, Jassi Sangha and Ryan Bullock accounted for 4 of the 8 goals, it was the 3rd and 4th liners that accounted for 3 of the 8 goals.

Jamie Galbraith, Todd Kennedy and Scott Kirkham supplemented their hard hat style of play with a goal scoring touch that solidified the depth of the team. Coach Bryant Perrier now knows that he's got more scoring depth than just the first two lines.

Speaking of top two lines, the combination of Anthony Collins, Lundy Trenaman and Austin Goode were very quiet on the scoring sheet Monday as they accounted for only one Lundy Trenaman tally. Collins and Trenaman have been pretty steady in this playoff so far but Austin Goode is nowhere to be found. With no goals and no assists, the Storm's Rookie of the Year has been a bit of a disappointment thus far. Perhaps he can find his touch back at home tonight. If not, look for the Kamloops coaching staff to insert someone more deserving of 2nd line status as the playoffs progress. Austin has ridden this roller coaster all season and usually pulls out just when they need him most so look for a strong performance from him tonight.

In other action, Fernie Ghostriders won it's series handily against Columbia Valley 4 games to nil.

Nelson Maple Leafs, leading team in the KIJHL regular season, also turned in a strong performance in eliminating Spokane Braves in 4 straight.

Kimberley has a 3-2 lead on Creston in a high scoring affair.

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks and the Castlegar Rebels are locked in winning 2 games apiece in a series that is expected to go all the way to 7 games.

In Okanagan Shuswap action the Revelstoke Grizzlies and the Summerland Sting are locked in a 2-2 series tie. This could also be a long series as both teams were evenly matched throughout the season series. The winner of this round will take on the winner of Kamloops-Sicamous in the next playoff series.

See you tonight at the game.

2007-02-25

Anthony Collins Grounds the Eagles

Sicamous Now Behind the Eight-Ball


It started to look much the like the night before when the Kamloops Storm had to go into double-overtime to nix the Sicamous Eagles 4-3.

The first period was a quiet, tight checking affair with both teams displaying discipline and tenacity. Aggressive forechecking by both teams, forcing the defensemen to rush their passing created a lot of scrambled play in the neutral zone. Both goaltenders were tested but not to their capacity, with Sicamous starter, Derrick Westlund possibly being tested more than counterpart Anthony Manfredi. It was until the last minute of the period that Joel Leonard broke the ice with the game's first goal. It was the fourth straight goal for Leonard and the Storm.

It was the 2nd period where the game started to take on a familiar flavour and the goals started coming. Sicamous tied it at 1-1 with a goal from Mike Iorio, who again had a strong performance.
Play kind of lulled again, tight checking but near the middle of the period Sicamous started getting into penalty trouble when Kamloops notched 2 power play goals to make the game 3-1.

First it was Jake Young on a nice feed from Anthony Colins and solid work by Lundy Trenaman making it 2-1. Then, less than 3 minutes later, Trenaman put a bulge in the old onion bag for his first playoff marker to make it 3 to 1. Again Collins made the play with the extra helper coming from Jassi Sangha.

In a strange move, I thought, Sicamous made a goaltender change. I don't think that it was the play of Westlund as much as the coach may have felt that the team need a lift so in went Riley Wall. And the coach must have been pleased with what he saw. The team rallied effectively for the rest of the period, scoring 2 goals in a 25 second span to knot the contest once more at 3-3 going into the 3rd. Mike Iorio scored his second of the evening on a power play with 3:21 remaining in the period to close the gap to 3-2. Shortly after, on a CSM (Confused Storm Moment) it was Aaron Buat blasting one in from the high slot, beating Manfredi and tieing the score. Things were still looking awful familiar going into the 3rd period, tied at 3.

The teams played cautiously for the first 7 minutes when Anthony Collins took matters into his own hands. Collins picked up the puck in his own end, did a tight circle, surveyed his options and bolted up the ice. He hit his own blueline in the middle of the ice with speed. Following blocks like a running back in football, he bobbed left, weaved right, eluded a couple of checkers, slid wide around another defender and attacked the net from the left side. With a seemingly effortless flick he flew the puck high over the shoulder of goaltender Wall into the roof of the net, where his momma keeps the cookies. Brilliant. The crowd went nuts. Play of the game.

Five minutes later Collins and Trenaman were at it again setting up David Osborne for a big blast from the blueline that just blew by everyone making the score 5-3. Just over a minute later, Joel Leonard put the game out of reach with his 5th goal in 2 nights to put the Storm up 6-3.

Sicamous was down but not out as they scored their 4th goal immediatly after the centre ice faceoff. Shane Lightfoot, who was kept under closer checking this evening took advantage of another CSM, broke in after getting the puck from Eric Holzschuh and quickly blasted it by a surprised Anthony Manfredi.

In the end, Kamloops showed its superiority on home ice (even though game 2 was played on the NHL rink instead of the Olympic rink). Sicamous mustered up a pretty serious challenge in both games and one wonders if that was the best that they had to offer.

Collins ended up as first star with a 4 point night, 1-3 while Lundy Trenaman was second star with a goal and 2 helpers. Sicamous star Mike Iorio captured 3rd star with a 2 goal performance. Special mention to Joel Leonard who also had 2 goals to complete his 5 goal weekend outburst and Jose Reyes who was relentless in his checking and tenacity for the Eagles.

I guess we will see part of the answer tonight as the series moves to Sicamous for a game 3 and 4 showdown. Kamloops shutout Sicamous 4-0 in the final game of the season last weekend and they hope to continue that habit tonight. The game will be broadcast on the KIJHL website by the Sicamous contingent.

May the Storm be with You!!!

2007-02-23

Eagles Succumb to Storm

Goaltenders Duel takes it to Double OT

It was the first game of the 2007 KIJHL playoffs and the teams did not disappoint.

In a real goaltenders duel between Kamloops Storm's, Anthony Manfredi and Sicamous Eagle's Derrick Westlund and Manfredi took round 1 of the best of 7 series in a 3-2 double overtime win at the Mac Island Sports Complex.

The big gun on the evening was Joel Leonard of the Kamloops Storm who scored all three goals including the OT winner with a deflection on a hard blast by David Osborne.

The game was a see-saw battle, perhaps even a little conservative in the 1st period which ended up scoreless. Both teams were pinning the other in their own zone with an aggressive 2 man forecheck that pressured the defensemen into rushing their play.

Sicamous got on the board first with a hard-working goal late in the 2nd period.

After having to kill a Ryan Bullock penalty that carried over to the 3rd period, Leonard scored his first goal on a nice passing play between him, Jassi Sangha and Bullock. Only 1:26 later the same trio combined again, this time Leonard made a particularly pretty tip in front of the net that total fooled Westund.

The Eagles, not to be out done, scored short handed, a 2 man breakaway no less, on sloppy Kamloops turnover at center ice when Trevor Torbolm came out of the penalty box, putting the Storm in a man-advantage situation. Jay Stuart got the goal from Brock Backus and Cody Lockwood.

The first OT period went scoreless with Kamloops almost putting it away with 1.6 seconds left on the clock on scramble at the side of the Sicamous net.

Sicamous got into penalty trouble early in the 2nd OT with an elbowing call at 2:49. On the ensuing power play, David Osborne got two wacks at it from the blue line, with the second blast deflecting off of a well positioned Leonard and past a helpless Westlund.

The Storm outshot the Eagles 56-35.

Other than Westlund, Sicamous got very good efforts particularly from Shane Lightfoot who seemed to be dangerous all night and 16 year old Curtis Summerfelt who created a number of scoring chances.

Other solid performances from Kamloops were Darren Mann, Lundy Trenaman and Tod Kennedy who's forecheck kept Sicamous off balance all night. Austin Goode and Anthony Collins both could have stolen the show if any of their efforts paid off but when it came to shooting it was like someone melted the bottom of their stick blades as everything they shot appeared to be a bit of a whiff.

Former assistant coach turned defenseman, Justin Giroux was particularly aggressive in the neutral zone trying to pick off passes and made some great plays but one wonders if a on another evening the opposition may be able to take advantage of that and create a number of odd man rushes.

It all goes again 7:30 tonight at the Mac Island Sport Centre only this time it will be on the regulation ice sheet. It could be a very different game. Games 3 and 4 will be in Sicamous Sunday and Monday.

Check out the boxscores on the KIJHL site here.

In other action, the Kimberley Dynamiters edge out the Creston Valley Thunder 5-4, also in overtime.

See you at the rink or catch us on the air.
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Divisional Awards handed to Key Kamloops Storm Players

A few Okanagan - Shuswap Division awards were handed out prior to the game as Anthony Manfredi garnered both the Division MVP and top Goaltender Award. Jassi Sangha won as Top Scorer and Lundy Trenaman took the Most Sportsmanlike Player.

Congratulations Gentleman, your mammas are proud of you.

2007-02-21

KIJHL - Playoff Preview

Playoffs Start this Week

The start of the second season starts and within less than 2 weeks, 6 teams will be moving on and 6 teams will be packing their bags. It's been a competitive year with the strength of the league emerging from the Neil Murdock division with the likes of Nelson, Beaver Valley, Spokane and Castlegar beating up on the rest of the league. Now they have to play amongst themselves and look to the winner here to take it all if they don't bang the heck out of each other trying to emerge from their division.

Fernie was a clear-cut winner in the Eddie Mountain Division and is not likely to receive a big challenge there unless they self-destruct.

The Kamloops Storm emerged as the strength in the Okanagan - Shuswap division but this was the closest division from top to bottom and very few games were blowouts. Princeton was eliminated in the last week of play.

So, lets take a look at the first round match-ups and see what our predictions are.


Eddy Mountain Division:

A. Fernie vs. Columbia Valley

Columbia Valley has some big kids but they won't be able to handle the speed of Martin Croteau and the rest of the Ghostriders. Fernie's defensive game is superior with almost a full goal against/game better than Columbia Valley. Fernie won the season series convincingly, 6-2.
Look for Fernie to be one of the contenders for the KIJHL title.

Fernie in 4.

B. Kimberley vs. Creston

This one is too close to call. The teams split the season series 4-4. I'm going to go with the team that has the big guns. The scoring power of Kimberley's Jeremy Moccasin-Weasel and Mike Whitequills will be the difference.

Kimberley in 7.

Neil Murdock Division

The rest of the league has got to hope that these guys beat the living ka-ka out of each other over the course of the first couple rounds so that they can be had later on. Keep wishing.

A. Nelson vs. Spokane

Despite Spokane's ability to play sound, technical hockey, Nelson has too much speed and power to let them get in their way. Spokane will be better in the playoff series than they were in the regular season against Nelson but they will probably will be golfing early.

Nelson in 6.

B. Castlegar vs Beaver Valley

Another close one if you look at the standings but Castlegar had their way with Beaver Valley this year winning the season 6-2. Beaver Valley looked like a finely tuned machine when they visited Kamloops in Dec. and look like they could put up a better fight than their record against Castlegar shows.

Beaver Valley in an upset - 7 games

Okanagan-Shuswap Division:

This was the tightest division in the league so upsets are possible, especially in series B.

A. Kamloops vs Sicamous

The teams split their season series where Sicamous dominated in the first half of the season and Kamloops was stronger in the second half. I don't think Sicamous has the guns that Kamloops has with 2 strong scoring lines and the strong goaltending of Manfredi and Brennan.
Look for Kamloops to be a contender for the big prize.

Kamloops in 5.

B. Summerland vs Revelstoke

This could be the best match-up in the entire 1st round of the playoffs. The teams split their regular season meetings. Both teams have tough guys, strong leaders and good goaltending. My feeling is that Revelstoke has the better top-end and with all else being equal, they should be able to steal a game from Summerland and emerge victorious.

Revelstoke in 7.

We are looking forward to the playoffs and hope to update you on the Kamloops-Sicamous series as it unfolds. Let's see how we do in our predictions and we will revisit them at the end of all the first-round series.

Go Storm.

2007-02-20

Kamloops Storm Celebrates Performances

Anthony Manfredi Wins Team MVP

With the regular season over and the KIJHL playoffs looming, the Kamloops Storm took a break on Sunday and had their season ending banquet honouring their best in a number of categories. The banquet was held on MacArthur Island at the Press Box Restaurant and was really a packed house. It was great to see all the parents, friends, girlfriends, volunteers, relatives and even the media to share in the festivities with the team.

Anthony Manfredi and his golden glove was the winner of the MVP award. He ended the season with a 23-13 record (3rd among active goaltenders), a .919 Save% ( 1st among active goaltenders) and his 23 wins were 2nd in the league next to Jason Greenwell of the Spokane Braves.

(L-to-R: Ass't Coach - Keith Sedgewick, Rick Wile - NL Radio, Anthony Manfredi-MVP, Head Coach - Bryant Perrier, Ass't Coach/Trainer - Chad Ferris)

Other worthy winners of Awards were:

Ryan Bullock - Coaches Award (goal scoring and power play star)

Austin Goode - Rookie of the Year (pretty consistent all year)

Jassi Sangha - Top Scorer (man, did he come on at the end of the year!)

Brennan Jones - Academic Achievement - Nor Kam ( I think his save % and his school marks were about the same... high 80's)

Three Star Award - Anthony Collins (came up big when the team needed him most)

Top Defensman - Cody Kightley ( huge improvement in the 2nd half of the season)

Hard Hat Award - Tod Kennedy ( always there to mix it up)

Unsung Hero - Lundy Trenaman ( heart and soul of the team in the 2nd half of the season)

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Congratulations to all the winners and the team. Good luck in your playoff run.

Congratulations to Coach Perrier and his staff for assembling a bunch of boys to being a team of young men.

Congratulations to owners Barry and Sandy Dewer for their efforts in making this work.

Thanks to Holly Ferris who did a great job orchestrating the show. (no offense to Austin but maybe Holly should have gotten "rookie of the year")

And thanks to all the volunteers who played a big part in making the season a success.

Thanks to the fans who came out in droves and the sponsors, whose support is much appreciated.

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Unsung Hero Lundy Trenamen with Ass't Coach Chad Ferris, Mrs Owner - Sandy Dewar, Coach Bryant Perrier and Ass't Coach - Keith Sedgewick.


In front - Defenseman Paul Riddle, Hard Hat Award Winner - Tod Kennedy, and an unrecognizable team member - someone please identify!!



Acquiring Good Carma for next season.
Forward Jamie Galbraith rubbing shoulders with hardware winners Lundy Trenaman, Anthony Manfredi and Tod Kennedy outside the Press Box Restaurant after the banquet.
The sit down roast beef dinner was excellent. Visitors to Mac Island will do themselves proud by visiting this quaint restaurant whenever they are in town.

photo credits: Wendy Galbraith

feel free to leave your comments on how you thought the whole team did in their inaugural year in Kamloops.

Kamloops Storm Wins Divisional Title

Playoffs just around the Corner

It's been a great inaugural season for the Kamloops Storm who clinched the Okanagan-Shuswap division title in the KIJHL. It took until the 2nd last game of the season and they did it against the team that was pushing them, the Summerland Sting, with an OT shootout to win 4-3 and solidify 1st place.The next evening the Storm closed out it's season avenging last week's 3-1 loss to Sicamous with a 4-0 shutout over the Eagles in their barn. Paul Riddell was the big scorer with 1 goal and one assist. Paul scored Friday evening too bringing his year total to 3. Brennan Jones gave Anthony Manfredi a rest and was solid between the pipes recording his first shutout of the season.The Storm will now play Sicamous in a 4 out of 7 first round match-up. The series opens Thursday and Friday evening in Kamloops at the Mac Park Centre, start time 7:30pm.The Storm went 13-2 since the Xmas break and look like favorites to emerge from their division.

Check back later this week for a KIJHL playoff preview.