Storm Steal One from the Posse

Newcomers Show Some Dazzle

It was opening night and the Kamloops Storm and the Princeton Posse were meeting for the 4th time in less than 2 weeks.

The game started out a-blazing as the Storm scored an early short-handed goal by Brandon Long, a nice 2-on-1 with 3rd year vet, Scott Kirkham.
Princeton came back 3 minutes later when Nick Ceccone slipped a lost puck past Kamloops goaltender Anthony Manfredi who had just taken the puck in the facemask on a hard wrister from Spencer Brooks.

Princeton tallied the only goal in the 2nd period, on the power play when Brooks Christensen finished off a nice 2 on 1 with a nice feed from Wade Masch.

Both goaltenders stepped it up until late in the 3rd period. The Storm's Manfredi and Craig Stewart for the Posse came up with a number of big saves to keep the game close. However, late in the 3rd period, Travis Cech was awarded a penalty shot when he was hauled down on a breakaway. Cech, who had been showing some nice hands throughout the game, made a nice deke on Stewart and tied the game with 4 minutes left. Neither team seemed to want the 2 points as they traded marginal penalties through the end of the period and into the overtime period.

It was Sean Menton who stole the show with a highlight reel, end-t0-end rush that pulled the fans off their seats and settled the score at 3-2 for an opening game win. Menton and Cech, both newcomers, displayed some nice chemistry as well as individual talents that earned them #1 and #2 stars of the game respectively. Wade Masch, for the Posse, was the 3rd star.

The Storm play again, Sunday, Sept 14 at 2pm

Storm Blasts Dynamiters at 2007 Home Opener

Vets Sangha and Trenaman Light it Up to Start the Season

It's been a long summer for Jassi Sangha and Lundy Trenaman. After falling 4 straight to eventual KIJHL winners, Fernie Ghostbusters last spring, the Kamloops Storm is setting their sites on a championship this season with Sangha and Trenaman expected to lead the way. This opening night they didn't disappoint.

In what seemed like mid-season form, Sangha had 3G - 3A and Treneman had 4 assists in 7-3 shellacking of Kimberly Dynamiters. Newcomer David Gore also had a great night as he was credited a goal and 4 assists.

Special teams played a big part in the win as the Storm scored 6 of the 7 goals on the power play and one spectacular short handed effort intiated by Trenaman and completed by Sangha. 2 of the 4 goals by Kimberly were also on the power play.

With a good mixture of vets, newcomers and rookies, Kamloops looked reasonably organized on the ice compared to Kimberly who couldn't seem to get it together or get a break until the 2nd period when they were already down 4-0. The Storm saw commendable efforts from league veterans Cody Lockwood (D), Jose Reyes(F), Mike Hanes(F), Devon Gannon(F), Scott Kirkam(F) and Brendan Jones(F). Newcomers Payden Wongstedt(D) and Shea Naka (D) showed poised and impressed on the back end, both getting lots of PP and PK time.

For Kimberly, vets Mike Whitequilles and Tommy Latouche-Gauvin were solid up front but couldn't seem to pull the trigger when they needed it most. Kimberly's biggest downfall was their lack of discipline that saw them parade to the penalty box time after time and Kamloops just seem to eat them up on the PP. Goaltender Mike Marino faced a number of quality opportunities and played pretty well despite the 7 goals.

There was one fight in the game. Jose Reyes had a knee taken out on a cheap shot late in the game by Matt Wilkins. Newcomer Derek Henderson would have nothing of that and proceeded to punish Wilkens for his dastardly deed. Both players were ejected from the game with the KIJHL's new one fight rule (more on this on another post).

All in all the 650 fans went home happy with a home team win and a Domino's pizza coupon for a free 10" pizza for the team scoring over 5 goals in a game. Thanks again Domino's!

The Storm's next game is this Sunday, 5pm, when they suit up against the new Chase Chiefs at the Mac Park Sports Centre here in Kamloops. Hope to see you there.