It's All on the Line

Nelson Blows into Town with 2-0 Series Lead

It's deja-vu all over again. For the 3rd year in a row, the Kamloops Storm returned home from being on the road for the first 2 games of the league final sporting an o for 2 record. If you like trends, perhaps the Storm can pull this one out in the long run.

In 2007 the Storm lost in 4 straight to the Fernie Ghostriders.
In 2008 the Storm we much more resilient, losing on home ice in Game 6 to the same Fernie Ghostriders.
Perhaps in 2009 we can hope for a series win in 6 or 7 games... but that's a tall order considering the league dominance that the Nelson Leafs have enjoyed all year. With only 10 losses so far this season (regular and playoffs) and no losses to Storm in 4 games, the Leafs confidence level should be sky high.

By all accounts, the Storm have played well so far in the series. Anthony Manfredi has been spectacular and all for one bad period in game 1, the Storm have stayed with the Leafs. It will be an interesting exercise to see how well the Storm can capitalize on their home ice. Nelson will get a skating test on the large surface. It didn't seem to bother them earlier in the season.

For the veterans that have been around for awhile, this will be their last kick at the cat. David Gore, Jose Reyes, Mick Ludvig, Jamie Galbraith and Justin Palazzo are done with junior hockey when the team bows out at the final curtain call, whenever that occurs. Guys like Scott Kirkham, Devin Gannon and Anthony Manfredi and quite possibly a number of others will be looking for spots on the junior A circuit.

It's been a great year and it could last 2 more nights or another week and a half. Let's hope that the Storm can dig down deep for a couple of wins here. Talent wise the teams match up well but as in most sports, it's the mental frame of mind that can put a team over the top. Right now the Storm are facing adversity and an uphill climb, something they responded to in the Sicamous series. All eyes and expectations will be for them to do it again.

See you at the games tonight and tomorrow.
If you can't make it, watch and listen to the game from the KIJHL.com website, starting at 7pm, where we will be calling the game.