The Kamloops Storm blew into Quesnel Friday like a hurricane, bringing the fans out in droves for their games against the 100 Mile Wranglers and the North Okanagan Knights at West Fraser Centre.
Game 1 against the Wranglers opened with a speech from Mayor Bob Simpson, as the Quesnel players from each team were called up for a photo with him and Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy. Yewta Plamondon, Chris Thon and Brett Mero of the Storm, as well as the team’s affiliated Quesnel players DJ Sauve and Justin Salmons, and Jacque Gilkerson, Nolan Parr and Travis Gook from the Wranglers gave the mayor a hearty handshake before the ceremonial puck drop.
The game began at a fast pace, with the Wranglers getting in more shots on the Storm’s goal, but neither team sending the puck into the net.
The second period was slow to get going, with penalties stopping the play every few minutes. The Wranglers’ Cameron Lockard eventually got things started with a goal, and the Storm’s Seiji Brown then put one in the net with assists from Hayden Hirsch and Hayden Dick. Garrett Hilton of 100 Mile House got the Wranglers’ second goal of the period, with assists from Kolten Carpenter and Julien Dewey.
In period three, Brown scored again with the help of teammates Reid Perepeluk and Erik Evans, but 100 Mile’s Darian Long and Joel Patsey snuck two more past the Storm’s goalie, to win the game 4-2.
Quesnel’s Plamondon sat in the penalty box twice during the game, but 100 Mile House ended up in the box almost twice as many times as the Storm.
The mood in the arena was light, with contests taking place between periods and 1,110 Quesnel citizens in attendance at the game.
Speaking before the game, a couple of veteran Storm players told the Observer they were excited to see so many people at the arena.
“We play all the time in Kamloops and we get 50 people or so coming to watch us. This is amazing, we are so happy with how many people have come to watch,” said one player.
Watch our short video clip below from Friday night’s game, Storm vs. Wranglers:
On Saturday night, the Storm faced off against the North Okanagan Knights to a crowd of around 970, and the game was equally tense.
The Knights’ Carl Main scored once in the first and once in the second period, putting fans on the edge of their seats hoping the Storm would come back in the third.
The Storm gave it their all and Quesnel player Plamondon scored at 14 minutes 21 seconds, assisted by Perepeluk and Nathen Weninger, but the buzzer went with the score reading 2-1 for North Okanagan.
Plamondon made his town proud after being awarded the game star accolade.
Kamloops Storm assistant general manager Matt Kolle, who helped to bring the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) games to Quesnel, said he was extremely happy with the Storms’ first weekend in town.
“I am deeming this first weekend a success at all levels. The fan support was great and everyone had a good time, the game day staff functioned like a well oiled machine, and the teams battled hard and displayed a great brand of hockey.”
Watch our video of the teams warming up on Saturday night:
