The Kamloops Storm are sharpening their skates and packing their hockey sticks in preparation for their games in Quesnel this weekend against the Osoyoos Coyotes.
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) team will arrive Thursday, and will take part in some community events before their games, including a hockey skills group with some young players, a visit to St. Ann’s School and a floor hockey game against Quesnel’s Special Olympians.
Matt Kolle, Kamloops Storm assistant general manager, says the Kamloops Storm are ready to play and are coming in hot.
”The Storm are currently on a four-game winning streak,” he says.
“The team came back twice this past weekend to steal wins versus the second-place Revelstoke Grizzlies and the third-place Chase Heat.
“The team played with character and displayed a no-quit attitude. They were persistent in their attack, which paid off over 60 minutes.”
Kolle and his team at Parallel Sports Group Ltd, under which he submitted the initial bid for a KIJHL franchise back in January, recently (Dec. 1) reapplied for an expansion franchise in the KIJHL.
”The next step will be a meeting with the expansion committee to discuss the bid,” explains Kolle.
“From there the committee will present their report and recommendations to the rest of the league. At that time the league will be ready for a vote.
“I believe the vote will take place Jan. 14.”
Kolle says the Kamloops Storm need all Quesnel’s support this weekend, to show the town’s support for Junior B hockey.
The games take place Friday Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., both at West Fraser Centre. Tickets are available at the door, and ahead of time on Thursday Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the ticket booth at West Fraser Centre.