New captain shows some old-fashioned leadership

If you had told me 3/4 of the way through the first period that the Storm would need a big save from Ryan Fairgray to preserve their first win of the year, I might have looked over your shoulder to check for a brick wall and two drink minimum. You see, with 7 minutes remaining in the first, the Storm were leading the Westshore Stingers 4-0 in front of a good sized crowd at the Brindy. It turns out that what had started as a laugher morphed into a nail-biter in the third.

There was a lot going on, even before the opening face-off. The Storm arrived on the ice with strobe lights pulsing through the dark arena and a smoke show greeting them as they skated through the gate, all while the crowd cheered and the cowbells clanked. After the first shift where it was Westshore that had the early pressure, thanks to an unrelenting forecheck, things began to settle and the big line started firing for Campbell River.
Wade Bartlett got things going by causing a turnover in the Stingers end, then feathered a beautiful pass to Jesse Bachmeier, who put it past past Stinger's goalie Jon Webb and the Storm led 1-0 with 5 and a half minutes gone.

Jordan Suzuki photo by Emily Bryant

Five minutes later with the teams playing with 4 a side, Jordan Suzuki's shot from the blueline after a faceoff win beat Webb, although it appeared Steven Schmidt tipped it on the way in. Schmidt got credit for the helper, 2-0 Storm.

Then a pair of quick goals had the Storm rolling. Less than 2 minutes later, on the power play, Jesse Bachmeier scored his second, a one-time shot from just outside the right face off circle. A power play goal set up by Jordan Suzuki and Steven Schmidt. 3-0 Campbell River.

As the goal was being announced by Ian Roberts, Brendan Enns picked up a loose puck at center ice, skated through the opposition like he was Bobby Orr, went back-hand top shelf over Webb's glove and the Storm were rolling 4-0. Here's the audio of those back to back goals.



The Stingers didn't roll over, like Stinger teams in the past might of. Still in the first with 5 minutes remaining and the Storm on a power play, Westshore's Rhys Williams scored a short-handed goal, tipped off of a Storm stick past Ryan Fairgray and it was 4-1 Storm. Then Travis Oickle on the powerplay cut the lead in half going into the first intermission.

The Stingers would inch closer 11 minutes into the second, again on the power play. This time it was David Hansen, now 4-3 Storm. With the crowd getting restless, Jesse Bachmeier would score the hat-trick goal, set up by Jordan Suzuki and Jordan Eliason. 5-3 Storm in the second. With time winding down in the middle frame and Westshore on another powerplay, they would lose defenseman Spencer Carlson with a broken leg. It happened behind the play, so no-one, including myself saw what happened. Due to the severity of the injury, referee Stephane Rainville sent both teams to their dressing rooms and tacked on the 1:37 remaining to the start of the third.

Only one goal in the third, despite Westshore having 6 powerplay chances to the Storm's one.That goal was scored at even strength by the Stinger's Marcus Westby.

The Stingers could have tied the game with 3 minutes remaining. Again it was Westby, this time playing playmaker as he sent Clay McClimmon in alone on Ryan Fairgray. The entire arena held it's breath as his well placed shot found Fairgray's glove, preserving the lead and the game ended 5-4.
Fairgray with 19 saves got his first win in Junior hockey. Webb 32 saves in the loss for Westshore.

Despite getting the hat-trick, Jesse Bachmeier was quick to deflect the praise to his team mates, including Jordan Suzuki.



Next up for the Storm is friday's match-up with Peninsula at the Panorama Recreation arena. The Panthers are 2-0 after friday's 5-2 win over Kerry Park. They play the Westshore Stingers in Juan de Fuca monday.

I thought the center position was one of strength in the win. Outside of Steven Schmidt's usual brilliance, I noticed Danny Hall a lot more in this game, with some nice hits on the Stingers. Also, Alex Benjestorf stepped up his game and was much better on the forecheck. On defence, Kiefer Rivington has had some solid shifts in both games and I look forward to watching his progression.