Storm on Cruise Control in Playoffs

One Win and Two Ties Keeps Kamloops in Hunt

The Kamloops Storm seem content to cruise through the first round of the first round of this year's playoffs. With one win and 2 ties they are comfortably in the mix to move on to the next round but face a tough test tonight against their nemesis, the Chase Chiefs.

It matters not where the Storm find themselves in the round robin as long as it is not in last place. With their dominating, runaway first place showing in the regular season, the Storm are guaranteed home ice advantage in the next 2 rounds... as long as they win.

Somehow, I'm still waiting for them to turn it up a notch. 2 ties in Revelstoke and Princeton show that the Storm have not exactly exhibited the "fire in the belly" attitude that it takes to go all the way. However, I also know that the playoffs in this league are a marathon. We hope that coach Ed Patterson knows how to press that magic button at the appropriate time to kick the team into high gear.

Meanwhile, as Kamloops saunters through this round, the other teams that are playing them close are gaining a level of confidence that seems to peak when they play the Storm. Good thing they are beating the crap out of each other for the opportunity to take the Storm out.

Look for Kamloops to be strong at home over the next 3 games and then cruise through the final 2 road games to set up a semi-final showdown with the gritty and always tough, Princeton Posse.

Nothing like counting your chickens before they hatch. I can... they can't.

In the Neil Murdoch division, Nelson, as expected are 2-0 against the Spokane Braves while Castlegar is leading Beaver Valley 2-1 in the series.

The Eddie Mountain division as a potential upset in the making as first place Creston finds itself behind 1-2 in their series against the Kimberley Dynamiters. The Fernie Ghostriders are in tough but lead the Golden Rockets 2 games to one. There is only one goal separating the two teams after 3 games.

That's it for now... check back mid-week when we wrap up the Storm's 3 game home stand and take a look at the progress of the rest of the playoff runs.