It really was much a one sided game. Storm goaltender Anthony Manfredi, carrying the team on his back, so to speak, made 45 saves of a 50 shot barrage handed out by the Posse. Defensive turnovers and inability to get the puck to the net in the offensive end continue to haunt a team that is desperately searching for answers.
Newcomer, Jordan Wilkens, made an impact both evenings, scoring a PP goal Friday night and then another on Saturday night against the Posse. Unfortunately, he was also a goat a couple of times, including coughing up the puck near his own blue line allowing Ben Morgan to open the scoring. Wilkens is a big kid with some good junior experience (WHL, BCHL) and hopefully he can bring his defensive leadership to the rink sooner than later as this is where the Storm is hurting most.
It's not all the D in the defensive end. There seems to be a lack of support from the forwards who seem to have a challenge transitioning the puck out of the zone. Only handful of guys want to do the spade work and help out the D. We see too many stretch passes that go astray instead of the easy short pass combo to get the offense moving. Guys are not on the half-boards where they are expected to be in order to start an effective breakout. I can't tell you how many times that the pass to the guy who is supposed to be on the boards has the puck go behind them, off the boards and on to the stick of an awaiting point man just because they can't get it through their helmets that they need to close that gap. When your butt is against the boards, the puck can't go behind you... and if you miss it, at least your nose is facing forward and the puck can be pursued. It's almost comical how often some of our forwards are spinning like tops trying to track down the puck. It looks like a figure skating session with canes.
Last but not least is the lack of discipline. Stupid penalties at crucial times are killing any momentum the team may be gathering. I don't like to single individuals out but in this case I am. Bevin Ollek, a talented and large forward just can't seem to help himself from taking stupid penalties game after game. Bevin has been the target of a few referees, being penalized inappropriately at times but when you know that this situation exists, recognize it and adjust accordingly. If he took his body and plunked it in front of the net more often, he would end up drawing more penalties than taking them. From the start of the season Bevin has played a big role in the offense but he also leads the team in penalty minutes, heavily laced with cheap shots or misconducts for not keeping his lips sealed. It appears to this viewer that the Storm offense goes as Bevin goes and it doesn't go well if he's sitting in the penalty box.
There are 2 home games left before the Xmas break, both division rivals (Sicamous and Chase) that the Storm are now chasing in the standings. Let's hope that this weeks practice sessions and coaching instruction can straighten out some of these issues that are plaguing the progress of a team who can't afford to embarrass themselves into the Keystone Cup.
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how can you pick at Bevin Ollek when he leads the team in goals and is tied for the team lead in points? I think that there are others that you can point a finger to for the woes of the team.
ReplyDeletei don't think dave is pointing fingers he is just addressing one of the shortcomings of the team. let's face it your team is not a top contender at this point. i don't know bevin's plus/minus but if he gives up goals in trade for goals or points scored then there is work to be done in the defensive end. he might be a very talented player but hockey is a two way street you must be able to play both ends of the rink with work i think bevin and the team can accomplish this. i wish them the best they have an exciting opportunity coming up for themselves hosting the keystone cup but there is a ton of work to be done yet to be a real contender. like it or not that is the fact
ReplyDeleteChange a couple of the names and hand this to a couple of teams...
ReplyDeleteIt may be unfair to Bevin to isolate his lack of discipline however we were the first to show support against all the cheesy calls he was getting against him earlier in the season.
ReplyDeleteBevin is a talent that (I think) should be playing at a higher level however, like a lot of young players he confuses intensity and toughness with questionable tactics that result in costly, untimely penalties. It turns the player from an asset into a liability... when you really need him most. I can't give you an accurate count but there have been a number of times that the Storm have been within striking distance near the end of a game and someone on the team has taken that undisciplined penalty.
Bevin has over 120 minutes in penalty minutes... that's 2 games missed because of penalty minutes. Think how much more affective he would be if he was able to cut that in half.
It would serve Bevin and a number of other team members who tend to self destruct near the end of the game to consider this as advice rather than as criticism. If you keep robbing yourself of chances, then you have none.
Maybe the players should be lead by example for their stupid penalities, when we have the head coach always going off on the referees... I think that the problem with this team is the lack of discipline. The success or the lack of success begins at the helm of the ship. Maybe they should do what the Kamloops Blazers are famous for and make some changes at the top. I hope the Storm ask Santa for some help....they need it.
ReplyDeletepatience, it will happen
ReplyDeletesince in kamloops the storm have always been on top and in the finals. contenders every year.
people in the loops only support winners and when the team always wins it becomes expected.
they are not in the bottom, they are in the middle of it all.
previous teams previous years and different coaches, the storm always end up near the top.
two years ago they were near the bottom at christmas and then whent on a rip to the top becoming ok/shuswap playoff champs again.
definately time to look at things but no need to hit the panic button.
this team has talent.
with a few more of the right players, we will rock.
stormfan
you are only as good as your last shift remember who said that
ReplyDeleteprevious teams previous years different coaches all mean nothing today is today and if the storm don't get going on the ice and off with some players that want to win they aren't going anywhere
sorry i'm wrong they're going to the keystone but it won't be pretty
come on guys players and coaches THE KEYSTONE what an opportunity don't go there because your a host team go there because you deserve to be there you'll feel better for it
If this team rolls past the jan 10th deadline without several new faces that can contribute. Barry Dewar has failed kamloops. He hasn't gone out and found one player this whole year. The team is full of local kids and players that asked to be in kamloops because of school. come on barry if you wanna be an owner/gm pull ur socks up on the gm half.
ReplyDeleteand i spose this guy knows everything?
ReplyDeletepretty easy to be armchair. how can he critisize barry? he is on top of everything and one of the best and most respected gm's /owner in the ki. just look at his record. year after year
year after year local kids come and tryout...many of the small town teams have to recruit a full roster, while the storm are given one every year by local talent... every year they should have an unreal record.
ReplyDelete