Youth movement: Storm rebuild as chase for another VIJHL title begins
GAME DAY: OCEANSIDE AT CAMPBELL RIVER, 7:30 P.M.
Warning: Storm season is approaching, but there’s no need to take caution, just sit back and enjoy.
That, essentially, could be the motto for the Campbell River Storm’s upcoming Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season, which begins tonight at 7:30 at home to Oceanside at Rod Brind’Amour Arena.
General manager and head coach Lee Stone’s troops will attempt to win their third VIJHL crown in four seasons when the 2017-18 campaign launches at The Bindy, where fans have enjoyed solid play the last several campaigns.
“We haven’t repeated [as champion] in my four years here, obviously we’ve won two of the four and two of three in particular,” said Stone, whose club then travels to Comox on Saturday for the Glacier Kings’ home- and seasonopener at 7:30 p.m. The remainder of the league doesn’t get going until next week.
“Repeating as champions, like the [Pittsburgh] Penguins just did, is a hard thing to do. Obviously, that’s something we’re talking about and we’re well aware that as the team that won it all last year, we have to be prepared to bring our A-game every night we play. I think if we do that our talent should put us in the picture at the end of the year.”
Stone said the Storm is a talented and deep team both up front and at the back end, but extremely young this year.
“We only have two 20-year-olds. Most of our better players are 17and 18-year-olds, which I think is a good thing. I think that’s going to become a theme in our league.”
Having said that, he believes Nanaimo will make a big push in the North Division.
“I think for the first time in a few years we’re going to have some real competition coming out of our division. It sounds like Comox is also going to have a few guys back as well and even down Island, Kerry Park has a good team coming back,” added Stone.
“I think we’re going to see some real parity at the top of the standings this year. I don’t think we’ll see one or two teams head and shoulders above the rest like we’ve seen the last few years. I think it will be a lot closer.”
Last season, Campbell River bounced back from a 3-1 deficit in the VIJHL final to defeat the Victoria Cougars in seven games, the last being a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory. The Cougars won the title the year previous, downing the Storm in six games.
This year, Stone will likely have a handful of returning players back; among them could be Victoria Royals draft pick Dawson Frank, who is currently in Langley trying to catch on at the Junior A level in the B.C. Hockey League.
Logan Cursley, Dylan McCann, Aiden Sutherland, Darren Hards and Frank are all veterans who will lead the young group.