Yeti freeze out the Storm at the Brindy

The Storm wrapped up a tough 4 game set against the 3 best teams in the VIJHL Friday with a 3-2 loss to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings. The Storm were missing Jordan Suzuki, who was nursing an injury, so it would fall on some of the young defenseman to shoulder the load and log some extra ice time.

Before the game started, the Storm honoured last year's captain Gavin Bergey with a surprise ceremony, presenting him with a jersey and a framed picture of him and his team mates. I spoke with him during the intermission and he said he had a suspicion that something was up when he saw all of his family at the game, along with some of his former team mates from last year's squad. Gavin was slated to rejoin the Storm this year before he got a call from the RCMP, letting him know he was accepted and would head to Regina for training late September. I thought last night was a nice gesture to a classy captain that represented the Storm well both on and off the ice.

From the opening faceoff on it was a tentative start for the Storm, who seemed to be struggling with their passes in the first period, which was magnified by an aggressive Kings forecheck.

There was no score until midway through the opening frame, when at 11:55 CMX’s Kelin Hrycuik scored on a terrific solo rush, driving around the defense wide left, then cutting to the net and beating Storm goalie Ryan Fairgray on a back-hand glove side to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Fast forward less than 2 minutes, with the Kings on the power-play, rookie Max Mois tipped a Brian Rideout point shot and Comox Valley would hold a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission, also out-shooting the Storm 6-5.

In the second, the Storm got on the board early in the period. Steven Schmidt on the power play at 4:55 wristed a shot from the right boards just inside the Kings blueline, fooling Cam Waddington short-side and pulling the Storm to with-in 1. Corey MacLachlan the lone assist.
The jubilation inside Rod Brind’Amour arena would be short-lived. At 6:50, Kelin Hrycuik on the power-play scored his second of the game, restoring the Kings two goal lead after 40 minutes. Comox out-shot the Storm 17-10 in the middle frame.

Only one goal in the third. Corey MacLachlan with 5 minutes remaining tipped a puck past Waddington on the power play to score his second goal this year. Brandon Tidy and Steven Schmidt with the helpers, 3-2 Comox Valley.
Jim Revenberg would pull Ryan Fairgray, and the Storm would press, but couldn’t find the equalizer. The Storm with the 11-5 edge in shots in the third.

Despite the loss, there were once again some positives. Andrew Gaiga and Mat Tilton did a nice job forechecking for the Storm, while on the blueline, Jordie Eliason and Kiefer Rivington rewarded Coach Revvy's decision to give them more minutes by playing solid games. Post game I caught up with both of them, along with Steven Schmidt. He credits King's keeper Cam Waddington, who made some terrific saves in the 3rd and 26 overall, in helping the visitors win, along with the Kings ability to stick to their game plan.



It's been a tough 4 game stretch, where the Storm have faced the team with maybe the most talent in the league in the Peninsula Panthers, the team with the best defensive corps in the Victoria Cougars, and perhaps the team who play their system better than any other in the league in the Comox Valley Glacier Kings. Each game, we've seen growth from this young Storm team, as they learn what it takes to compete at this level and should benefit them later in the season, when it's most critical.

The Storm now off until Wednesday, when they face the Saanich Braves for the first time this year. The Braves blanked Westshore 2-0, Connor Stephens with a goal and an assist, Eric Brabander 26 saves in recording the shutout. Both Braves wins this year have come over the Stingers.
The other game last night a bit of an upset, as the Peninsula Panthers lost their second straight, 3-1 at home to Oceanside.

Nice to see former Tyee Josh Caron ink a 3 year deal with the Minnesota Wild. A 6'2'', 200 lb heavyweight with the WHL Kamloops Blazers, from all accounts more than held his own at the Wild's prospects camp.
Here he is taking on Cameron Abney of the Edmonton Oil Kings last year.


Bob McKenzie of TSN tweeted: “Kamloops D Josh Caron is heavyweight, trying out for MIN. Curious to see if Wild sign. Toughness is duly noted. Takes punches, throws bombs.”
Caron did play a handful of games for the Storm in 2008.