WOLFPACK HOCKEY TO PLAY PAIR OF EXHIBITIONS VS KAMLOOPS STORM

Both Teams Filling Time to Stay Sharp Before Next Series

For Release: March 4, 2010

Kamloops, BC--- The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team is gearing up for their first BC Intercollegiate Hockey League Playoffs. The Kamloops Storm are preparing to host the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Junior “B” Championship.

With some time on their hands, both teams have solved a problem of keeping in’game shape’.

The two squads will hold a pair of exhibition games against each other. The first will be Saturday March 13 th at Memorial Arena. The second will be Monday March 15 th at the McArthur Island Sports Center.

“ As the end of our regular season approached I was worried about the 2 and a half week break between our last regular season game and our first playoff game Mar 18 against UFV,” said WolfPack Head Coach Chris Hans. “ Our travel budget has been considerable this year and wanted to avoid travel for exhibition. When the Storm were eliminated from playoffs I posed the exhibition games to Barry Dewar (Storm owner/GM) whose team is facing a longer layoff than ours. "

The result was the arranging of the two games.

This is just the latest chapter in what is proving to be a growing and positive relationship between the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League team and the WolfPack.

“We support the WolfPack hockey team in many ways not the least is by attending their events whenever possible,” says Dewar.” David Gore, Jassi Sangha, Jose Reyes, Mick Ludvig, Joel Leonard and Cody Lockwood are a big part of the Wolfpack just like they were with the Storm . We are so proud of them, almost like they were my own kids. I see two or three of this years team playing for the Wolfpack next year, and perhaps another 6 or 7 when they are ready to attend college and their junior careers are over.”

“Barry has been supportive and helpful with the TRU Hockey program since its inception and I hope that these games help the Storm as much as they will help us.” Says Hans. “I also hope to get some recruiting in as we show the graduating Storm players the level of competition in the BCIHL. “

Dewar says he is a bit concerned with the age difference (the Storm have some 15 year old players). But Hans believes it won’t be a problem. “ We are using these games a tune up to playoffs and I will move a few players in and out of the lineup to get an idea who is ready for our playoffs. “

By all indications, both games will be exciting. Says Dewar: “I think the game will add some excitement for both teams in preparation for a championship run. The Wolfpack are highly skilled and motivated and the Storm will rise to the challenge. “

Hans adds: “Thanks should go out to the Storm because these games are coming at a very important time for us and hopefully will help us be as prepared as possible for BCIHL playoffs. “

Game times are 9:15 pm on March 13 th at Memorial and 7 pm Monday March 15 th at Mac Isle.

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The Doyle Group is a Proud Sponsor of the Kamloops Storm

Liebel Steps in as Bench Boss

Hawgood Stays on as Co-Coach

After days of speculation, the coaching situation with the Kamloops Storm has ironed itself out for the moment. A string of poor efforts and points lost forced the hand of Barry Dewar to do what he didn't really want to do... bring on a new coach.

Coming on board to share duties with Greg Hawgood and Don Schultz is 27 year old Tyler Liebel from Osoyoos, BC. Tyler has played in the BCHL, NCAA as an amateur and professionally in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and the Central Hockey League (CHL). He has spent the last bunch of summers running the training camps for the rep teams in Osoyoos.

Although he sports a limited coaching resume, Tyler will bring a level of enthusiasm that this team badly needs. If he coaches like he played he will demand a heart-and-soul type of play from the players. No nights off, no favorites, no excuses.

It was good to see Hawgy stay on board. He has a wealth of playing experience and possesses some of the best skating and shooting skills in the business to share with the players that are smart enough to learn from him.

Assistant coach, Brent Fritz will be leaving the team to fulfill a firefighting school obligation in Texas. Good Luck Brent... hope you get a chance to listen in on the rest of the games this season.

Storm Lose 2 on the Weekend

Rumours of Coaching Change Circulate

It was a tough weekend for the Kamloops Storm. On Friday night they visited the last place North Okanagan Knights in Enderby and took it on the chin, losing 5-4 in regulation. With Saturday being a resting day you would think that the team would be re-charged for their Sunday matinee game at the Mac Park Centre against the dreaded Princeton Posse but such was not the case.

For the first couple of minutes of the game the Storm controlled the play but on 12 seconds into a Mitch Lutz penalty for holding, the Princeton Posse scored their first goal from Danny Hillman and the rout was on. Six minutes later, the Storm got their first power play and promptly coughed the puck up at the offensive blueline (which has been a bad habit lately) when Chase Salisbury poked the puck around Jordan Wilkins and made a nice feed to Dayton Shaw who buried his first goal of the game, a nice short-handed goal over the glove of Storm goaltender Anthony Manfredi.

Just 1:28 later, Storm forward Gary Rai got caught stickhandling as the last man back in his own zone. Ben Morgan picked his pocket and promptly put the puck over the same glove hand as the previous goal. Manfredi was livid (justifiably so) and was pulled in favour of newly signed goaltender, Alex Christiansen, who didn't fare much better. With 4:13 left in the period the Posse capitalized on another power play on a goal by Evan Stack and the score was now 4-0.

It was at this time that the Storm finally showed an ounce of pride and started to fight back. At 17:16 Gary Rai made up for his earlier blunder by finishing off a spectacular effort by Duncan Schultz to put the Storm's first goal on the board. Then, 47 seconds later on the same shift, Schultz potted one on a some good work by Bevin Ollek... the team had life and went into the intermission trailing only by 2 and on the power play to start the 2nd period.

Riding on the momentum from their flurry at the end of the 1st period, the Storm came out buzzing and managed to score their 3rd goal in a row. Brett DeFrias let a low slapper go after Tyler Jackson slid a smooth pass back to the point. The crowd was now back into the game but the euphoria wouldn't last long.

The Posse, refusing to break under the onslaught turned the period around by scoring 2 goals of their own before the end of the period and went into the 2nd intermission with a 6-3 lead.

It was Anthony Manfredi returning to the net for the 3rd period. I guess the coaching staff figured that it wasn't the goaltending costing them the game and if they were to going to make a run of it, Manfredi would be their guy.

Didn't work.

The Posse came out "storming" in the 3rd period and scored 2 goals in the first 5:o8 of the period and virtually cruised to an 8-3 shellacking of the Kamloops squad. There were a few scuffles in frustration before the game ended but the scoreboard spoke for itself. This was a humiliation and the boys knew it.

SCOREBOARD

The next and last regular season home game is next Saturday, Feb 13, against the Division leading Revelstoke Grizzlies.

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Coaching Rumours...

There were rumours flying around after the game that coach Greg Hawgood had been dismissed by team owner and GM Barry Dewar. I managed to contact Barry today (Monday) and he had a slightly different story.
Assistant coach Brent Fritz has to leave for a firefighter training course in Texas and Barry had managed to find someone competent enough to fill in and work with Hawgood. The new guy was going to be designated as a co-coach and apparently this didn't sit well with Hawgood and he felt that he was being fired. Dewar has denied that he had fired Hawgood but at the time we talked, he said that he did not know what the status of his coach would be by the end of the day.

We will keep you posted.

With the playoffs on the horizon and the Keystone Cup later in April, it's scary to think that this team, the way that they are playing now, will be anything more than pylons for the provincial champions of the 5 most western provinces who will be here to make their claim on the championship. We all hope that someone or something can change things for the better.

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Trade Deadline Looms

Dewar Looking Hard for Reinforcements for Keystone Cup Bound Storm

With only hours left until the junior hockey trade deadline, Kamloops Storm owner and GM, Barry Dewar has a half a dozen cards left to wheel and deal with. According to Barry last night at the Mac Island Sport Centre, he has 2 players on the line to sign today. He said during our 1st period intermission interview that he was looking for guys to fill spots in at forward, defense and a 3rd quality goaltender for the playoff run.

The deadline is for acquiring players that are carded elsewhere. There is an additional month available to sign players that are not carded (free agents) in any league that are sitting around waiting for a phone call.

Barry was pretty tight lipped about any potential signings so we will have to wait until Monday to find out any moves he makes.

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I'll be taking a break from broadcasting and blogging the Storm games. Mike Potestio and Barry Dewar are expected to pick up the slack for the next 3 home games as I will be touring Eastern Europe watching my son play in the Austrian Professional League... stay tuned to this blog as I will submit some updates while we tour Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary (providing that I have decent internet access).

I expect that team asst trainer Jeremy Salamandyk will provide updates on Storm games while I'm away.

We will be back for the home game against the North Okanagan Knights on Jan 30.

the KamloopsStormWriter

2010 Keystone Cup

Tournament Packages on Sale Now for the 2010 Keystone Cup


The Kamloops Storm, the host committee for the 2010 Keystone Cup announced today that tournament packages are now available for the 2010 Keystone Cup which is being held in Kamloops, BC from April 15-18, 2010.

The host committee is offering early-bird packages priced at $75 plus taxes and applicable fees until December 31, 2009. Tournament packages can be purchased by contacting the Storm office at 250-376-0990 or dewar@vip.net.

Tournament packages will be regularly prices at $100 beginning Jan. 1, 2010.

"It's a great opportunity for Kamloops to be hosting this prestigious event," said Kamloops Storm owner Barry Dewar. "Having competed in the event in 2005 I had an opportunity to watch this event. Our goal is to make this the best Keystone Cup in history. And we're hoping many people will find tickets under their trees this Christmas."

The Keystone Cup is a six (6) team tournament to crown the Western Canadian Junior B Champion. League champions from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Ontario and the host team will compete for the 2010 Championship.

For more information about the Kamloops Storm and the upcoming event visit kamloopsstormhockey.com or kijhl.ca.

For more information about BC Hockey, please visit the BC Hockey website at www.bchockey.net or email info@bchockey.net.

Losing Skid Prompts Roster Changes

5 Players Released Immediately

The Kamloops Storm have released five players with the Dec. 1, carding deadline.

Keaton Miller, Spencer Donaldson, Jordan Suzuki and Sheldon McDonald.
Dominic Alec was also released due to health issues (upper body injury).

The Dec. 1 carding deadline gives KIJHL teams 25 new cards to use for the rest of the season.
With the team hosting the Keystone Cup the Storm are looking to improve their line up to be competitive during the tournament. Storm owner and general manager Barry Dewar wishes the players all the best for the future.
"It's always hard to make changes, but sometimes it needs to be done. We have a wonderful opportunity with the Keystone Cup being held in Kamloops and we need to put our best foot forward. We want to be competitive during the tournament and bring a championship to the River City," Dewar said.

The new-look Storm line up will be in action Friday night in Invermere against the Columbia Valley Rockies and Saturday in Fernie. Next home game will be Dec. 12 when the Storm host the Princeton Posse. Game time is 7 p.m. at McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre.

For more information on the released players contact Dewar at 250-574-7811 or 250-376-0990.

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Kamloops Storm Names 2009-10 Coach

Greg Hawgood Takes the Reigns
in Landmark 2009-10 KIJHLSeason

Former Kamloops Blazer/Blazer coach and NHL star, Greg Hawgood has signed on to coach the Kamloops Storm JrB Hockey Team for this all important season. The pressure was on before the signing as Kamloops has been awarded the Keystone Cup, the Western Canadian Jr B Championships where the Storm get an automatic bye into the tournament.

Hawgood comes with a list of amateur and professional credentials to guide the Storm with his puck possesion, flowing style of play... the style that made him the Hall of Fame player for Blazers during the 1980's.

Hawgood says... "It's such an honour to be awarded this job. The Storm are clearly the best team in the league nad for Barry to show confidence in me is an honour" "it's a special opportunity with Kamloops hosting the Keystone Cup".

Also present at the press conference were club owner, Barry Dewar and newly appointed Asst GM, Gary Donaldson. Look for Donaldson to be a front line guy, helping the organization where ever required. You can also expect Donaldson to be a regular colour commentator on this years internet broadcasts. Gary has done colour for the Kamloops Blazers in the past.

Barry Dewar, a hands on owner, is committed to the community approach of hockey development, including staying tight with the Blazers. "the wealth of experience that Greg brings to our organization is invaluable" Dewar said. "We're very happy to have someone of Greg's stature involved with our organization. We're excited to continue to have a member of the Kamloops Blazers alumni (both past co-coaches Ed Patterson and Steve Passmore are Blazer alumni) involved with our franchiseas we continue to strengthen our relations with the Blazers."

The Storm camp opens Aug 29 and there are approximately 50 players invited to attend so far. It is expected that the opportunity to play in the Keystone Cup will attract some quality players from around Western Canada. The training camp will be help at the Mac Island Sport Centre.


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2009 - 2010 Kamloops Storm Spring Camp

May 16 - 17 Spring Camp

The Kamloops Storm will be holding a spring camp May 16 and 17 for players born between 1994 and 1989. Goal tender spots are full.

Cost $150

To register email to dewar@vip.net

Include:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Full Name:

Date of Birth: Position:

Coach and team last season:

Address:

Phone Number:

Email:

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If wishing to pay by credit card please indicate and we will call for information.

If paying by cheque mail to:

Storm Spring Camp
#3 2361 Tranquille Rd., Kamloops, B.C. V2B 0B3

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Barry Dewar, General Manager
Kamloops Storm Hockey

250-376-0990 office

250-574-7811 cell

Nelson Sweeps KIJHL Final

In Game 4 Thriller



The Nelson Leafs showed resilience in Game 4 of the KIJHL Final on Thursday night when, after taking a 3-0 lead, losing the lead, taking it back, losing it again and then finally putting it away with 2:01 left in the 3rd period to defeat the Kamloops Storm.

It was a see-saw battle that saw the Kamloops crowd playing "taps" after a disastrous first period when Anthony Manfredi was pummeled with 3 goals by the Leafs and pulled himself after only 16:37 gone. It wasn't Manfredi's fault and the team, well, they were awful. The Leafs needed only 14min 12 seconds to build that lead, including the first 2 in less than 4 minutes. It was a quiet building during the first intermission.



I don't know what was said between periods (I can just imagine!) but the Storm came out in the 2nd period and scored 4 straight goals to take the lead. Goals were scored by Ryan Hanes and Devin Gannon with some tough close in work around the net.



Then Goode, on a pretty set-up by Brock Backus tied the game at 3 and seconds later it was David Gore batting the puck out of mid-air to take the lead. The building was frantic.




This time, the Leafs were shell-shocked and with a well timed time-out, the Leafs regrouped to answer with one goal (a beautiful effort by talented Kai Bauman) to tie the score before the final period.

In the 3rd period it was the Leafs that came out flying again when the skillful Dylan Walchuk scored only 17 seconds gone to make it 5-4 Leafs.



The Storm, still feeling the momentum from the 2nd period didn't cower and Devin Gannon scored his 2nd goal of the game to tie it at 5.





The game was pretty even up until late in the period when the Leafs started exerting more pressure and Michael Spring found an opening while Christiansen was screened and buried the final goal with 2:01 to go in the game. The Storm had some pressure on at the end of the game as they pulled Christainsen for 6 attackers but Nelson goaltender Garrett Beckwith stood tall and barred the Storm from the comeback.

In everyone's eyes, if it had to be a loss, it was a great effort to end the season. The Kamloops boys played hard after the 1st period, probably as intense as they have been all year. Nelson was just the better team and congratulations to them. We hope that they represent the league well in the Cyclone Taylor Cup, coming up this coming week.

I would personally like to wish all the graduating players well and hope that their futures are proud and prosperous. Also, there will be a number of players moving on with try-outs in the BCHL or WHL. Good luck to them at the next level. Many of the players will be returning for another year and they will be the core of the future for the team. We will look forward to seeing them in September.

I would like to acknowledge all the sponsors and their commitment to help the Storm become a mainstay in the Kamloops Hockey scene. The team couldn't do it without them.



And finally, to the coaches, staff and volunteers that give their time enthusiastically to make the Storm a real community team.



Barry and Sandy Dewar have put together a solid team both on and off the ice, running a quality organization that is appreciated by the fans and supporters in Kamloops and across the league.
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All game photos taken by Judi Dupont,

Controversy Hangs Over Franchise

Rumoured Possible Sale of Kamloops Storm
Catches Media/Public Attention

Earlier this week the local newspapers released an article about the possible purchase of the Kamloops Storm involving a group headed up by the BCHL's Merritt Centennials coach, Al Glendinning. The rumour is that the Glendinning group would own both the Centennials and the Storm with the intention of swapping locations.

I had actually heard the story the previous week from inside the Storm's management group but had shrugged it off as rumour material that wasn't ready for comment. Well, now it is.

My understanding and further speculation of the situation is this:

The Merritt Centennials have been struggling the last few years, financially and talent-wise. Pathetically small gates and a small town that offers little in the way of attractions for potential star players, the franchise has failed to keep pace with the rest of the BCHL. With an average of 450 fans in a league that consistently attracts 1000 fans as a minimum in most rinks, leaves the Centennials at a disadvantage. It puts great pressure on team financially and on the volunteers who have stood by, working their fingers to the bone to support the franchise. Once a proud franchise, Merritt has neither the financing, population base or the fan support to continue losing tens of thousands of dollars a year. In essence, they really do need to move... somewhere.

But is Kamloops the right place?

Before the Kamloops Storm moved to town I had numerous conversations with other hockey fans in town and we speculated whether a Junior B or Junior A franchise would survive in Kamloops. After being intimately involved with the Storm over the past 3 seasons, I would have to say that Kamloops, at this point in their hockey history, does not have room for a viable Junior 'A' franchise.

Here's my reason's why...

The BCHL has become a prominent league in terms of supplying players not only to US college but also to the NHL. With less than 100,000 people in Kamloops, it would be risky to expect the town to support two high level junior teams. They would be feeding off each other for fan and sponsorship support.

A BCHL team has significantly more expenses than a Junior B team, particularly in the cost of billeting. Junior A players are billeted relatively free of charge to the player where the team pays compensation to the billets through fundraising, gates and sponsorships. In Junior B, the parents of the player are generally charged a monthly fee by the team to supply billets. With a prominent recession smothering the economy right now, it would appear that the cow could threaten to go dry.

The Storm average about the same amount of fans per game as the Merritt Centennials. It would be futile in my opinion to expect a major change in attendence or sponsorship in a town that has limited resources. Kamloops is not going to give up on the Blazers.

The Storm have carved out a wonderful niche in the Kamloops hockey scene. Owner Barry Dewar has 2 ex-Blazers (Ed Patterson and Steve Passmore) to handle the on ice duties (as well as some of the off ice duties). Barry has worked hard to establish a community presence, utilizing both the players and volunteers, that has grown and solidified over the last 3 seasons. I believe that this success would be hard to be improved on enough to support a Junior A franchise as long as the Blazers are in town.

Barry Dewar has said that the team is not for sale however if the right price is offered, any businessman would have to weigh his options. And that's the answer that we would expect. After all the hard work and loyalty that the Kamloops Storm has built over the last 3 years, I would be surprised if a replacement franchise would receive the same reception.

In conclusion, the Merritt Centennials need a new home. With most BCHL towns sporting populations of 30,000 or more, the town of Merritt, with a population of around 12,000, struggles to compete. But Kamloops is not the place.

Merritt however would thrive with a Junior B franchise providing it received the same corporate and fan support that the Jr A team receives now. Their location is conveniently located to operate in the Okanagan-Shuswap division. And let's face it folks, it's a lot easier to sell a strong Junior B team to the fan base rather than a perennial loser at the Junior A level.

However, at this time, Kamloops is not the answer to the woes of the Merritt Centennials.

Go to this Link to give up your opinion on the subject or to comment on someone else's opinion.

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We are down to the last month in the KIJHL season and only 5 games left in the regular season before the marathon playoff tournament. Kamloops is comfortably in first place with only 5 home games left. Over the last couple of weeks they have picked up a couple of players to try and complete their roster. They are...

Alex Christiansen - goaltender
Bill Garnett - forward

There was a question about Ryan Aynsley. Apparently he is carded with the Merritt Centennials and there is no word on whether he will be re-assigned here.

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