Storm Loses Ground with Weekend Split

The Kamloops Storm and the Chase Chiefs split their home-home series this past weekend but they both ended up losing ground in the standings to the Sicamous Eagles.

After walking into the Chiefs barn and stealing a game Friday night (6-3), the Chiefs returned the favour on Saturday night at the Mac Island Sports and Events Centre with 5-3 triumph over the Kamloops Storm.

In Saturday's game, the Chiefs came out flying in the first period and put Storm goaltender Anthony Manfredi and the whole Storm defense on their heels. The Chiefs took advantage of 2 power play opportunities (Jordie Cool & David Harrison) early on and then the Storm replied with one of their own by Bevan Ollek. Then the Storm, with less than 2 minutes remaining in the period, had a tremendous... brain fart. In a matter of 36 seconds (somehow we gotta check to see if this is a league record) in the 2nd last minute of the period, the Storm imploded and gave up 3 goals to go from a 2-1 deficit in a close game, to a 5-1 laugher. It was incredible. Their defensive game literally fell apart with everyone scrambling on the ice, flopping around like seals and giving away the puck like it was a Christmas gift exchange. You could feel their embarrassment up in the stands as that ugly period came to an end. Chase ended up out shooting the Storm 23-12, just in the first period.

In the 2nd period the Storm replaced a shaken Anthony Manfredi with steady back-up tender, Will Frolek and unleashed a barrage of shots on Jordan Byteelar, out shooting the Chiefs, 25-6. All the Storm ended up with was a single short handed effort by Rylee Orr (who has definitely picked up his game of late).

The 3rd period was much the same with the Storm dominating the play but in-effective from the shooting gallery. Again the highlight for Kamloops was one short handed goal, this time by Chase Edwards.

This was a game that Kamloops should have won but that 2 minute collapse put them on a course that they couldn't come back from. The Chiefs stole their confidence early and rode it on the shoulders of their goaltender for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, coach Greg Hawgood was not on the bench (serving a one game suspension) to motivate his crew. Instead, he was up in the stands pulling his hair out, particularly during that 3 goal explosion by Chase in the first period and the 2-man-advantage the Storm had in the 2nd period where they mustered very little up in the way of offense.

This coming week sees the Storm stepping from the frying pan into the fire. On Friday night they visit the league and division leader, Revelstoke Grizzlies (who are also in a bit of a slump right now losing 4 in a row) and then they host last year's league and provincial champions, the Nelson Leafs. With the standings tightening up and Chase, Sicamous and Princeton all playing to their potential, the Storm could find themselves in 5th place after the weekend if they don't muster up any points against 2 of the toughest teams in the league.

note: it appears that Kamloops has signed former Storm player, Mike Hanes. Hanes played for the Storm 2 and 3 years ago and was a physical and agitating force on the ice. His controversial hit on the Revelstoke goaltender in the playoffs was a YouTube sensation. I can't seem to find it any more on the internet or else I would post the link. If anyone still has access to it please let us know.

Eagles Master the Storm

Sicamous Takes 2 From Kamloops in Home-Home Weekend Match Up


The Sicamous Eagles have taken a 3-1 season series lead on archrival Kamloops Storm posting victories in both locations this weekend.

On Friday night the Eagles out shot the Storm 43-27 and came away with a 5-2 win in Sicamous. I wasn't at the game but by all accounts, Storm goaltender Anthony Manfredi did all he could to keep the team respectively in the game. It was a solid night on the score sheet for The Eagles top line of Aaron Buat, Scott Feldermeyer and Jarryd Tenvaanholt as they accounted for 3 of the 5 goals. Other goals came from perennial Storm buster, Derek Huisman and a short-handed effort from Cain Franson.

Newcomer Rylee Orr and and Jason Alessio tallied for the Storm... Alessio's being a PP marker in the last 2 minutes of the game.

Saturday night at the McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre in Kamloops produced a much tighter affair with the Eagles again, swooping in to take a 4 point night away from the Storm. Again the Eagles dominated the Storm 39-29 in shots on goal and again, Manfredi was sharp all night although he would have liked to have the first period goal back as Aaron Buat froze Manfredi and fired a low shot to the far, bottom corner of the net.

The second goal for the Eagles was a power play marker half way through the 3rd period when Huisman picked up a rebound on a shot by Garrett Earley.

The Storm made it exciting with a late goal by Chase Edwards. Edwards was quick on the get after a faceoff to the left of Sicamous net and beat goaltender Joel Widen with a sharp angled wrister. Kamloops pulled Manfredi with just over a minute left to play but the Eagles did a good job in bottling up the Storm and keeping them on the conservative side of centre ice.

This was a big weekend for the Eagles who are now tied with the Storm for 2nd place in the Division with 2 games in hand.

Storm scoring leader, Taylor Stuart, is out with pneumonia, which obviously took away from the mediocre scoring punch that the Storm has displayed lately. They really have struggled in the scoring department. Stuart and Jason Alessio lead the team in points with 19, tied for 34th in league scoring. Balanced team scoring can be a good thing but the team seems to be lacking an offense that can really take charge. Bevin Ollek has been a goal producer when he is in close but lately that hasn't been happening enough either. Bevin had one great shift in the 2nd period last night in Kamloops and then all but disappeared for the rest of the night. In his defense, he took a shot on the ankle in the first period that chopped him down temporarily.

The Storm have another big challenge today as they face the Creston ThunderCats at the Mac Park Center. Creston sits 4th in their tough division but has squeaked out 2 wins already this weekend, defeating North Okanagan 5-3 on Friday night and Chase, 4-3 last night in Chase.

Cody Jules and Dominic Alec are also injured right now with concussions (that's what I heard).

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It was good to see Spencer Donaldson back in the line-up after a 3 week sabbatical and also having ass't GM, Gary Donaldson back in the booth where he does a great job on colour commentary.

Thanks to Mike Potestio and Barry Dewar who filled in for Dave Ouellette on the play-by-play last weekend and Jeremy Salamandyk who contributes to the blog whenever he can.

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storm over eagles

Kamloops Youngsters Shine as Key Veterans Come Up Ill.

Last night in Sicamous, the Kamloops Storm skated to a 6-3 win.

With Anthony Manfredi and Mike McCance home sick, Will Frolek(G) and the boys played extremely well for 45 minutes of hockey and than sat back and watched Sicamous score 2 quick goals in the third period before Will Frolek had to make a couple huge saves to keep the 3 goal margin.

Scoring in the 1st period for the Storm were AP Josh Rasmussen assisted by Chase Edwards with 9:10 to go in the period. That goal was followed by a Jason Alessio marker, assisted by Ryan Skinner and Duncan Schultz with 1:51 left in the period. Then, with 42 seconds left in the period, Ryan Skinner scored his first ever KIJHL goal, assisted by Justin Fulton. After 1 period the score was Kamloops 3 and Sicamous 0.

Kamloops would score with 15:15 to play in the 2nd period on a goal by Bevin Ollek assisted by Duncan Schultz. With 13:00 minutes left in the period Jason Alessio would score his second of the game assisted by Bevin Ollek and Chase Edwards. At 7:28 remaining in the 2nd period Taylor Stuart would score for the Storm assisted by Cody Jules to go up 6-0. With 3:00 remaining in the period, Sicamous would get on the score board on a goal by Scott Fellnermayr assisted by Jean-Luc Fournier and Derek Huisman.
After 2 periods the score was Kamloops 6 and Sicamous 1.

In the 3rd period Sicamous would score with 15:55 remaining in regulation time on a goal by Jarryd Tenvaanholt assisted by Aaron Buat and rounding out the scoring was Jarryd Tenvaanholt with his second of the game assisted by Andy Milne and Jordan Hynes with 8:36 remaining.

Final score was Kamloops 6 and Sicamous 3.

The 3 stars

1. Jason Alessio

2. Jarryd Tenvaanholt

3. Ryan Skinner


Next action for the Storm is Friday Oct.30th when the North Okanoagan Knights visit the Mac Island Sports Center. Game time is 7:00pm.