Storm - 5 Dawson Creek - 4

First off, sorry for no earlier blogging on last night's game. Didn't get home from Dawson Creek until after midnight. That coupled with the 4am alarm call for work meant little time for sleep, and even less time for blogging.




Last night's game certainly had it's share of ebbs and flows. After a power play filled opening 10 minutes, the Storm starting taking the play to the Rage, being rewarded by John Girman's third marker of the pre-season around 11 and a half minutes in. Jordan Forfar picked up the lone assist. Then about 4 minutes later, Tanner Fritz beat Jack Surgenor to make it 2-0. And on a power play just over a minute later, Darren Kramer banged home a loose puck in front of the net to make it 3-0, and had some in attendance thinking that the Storm might run away with this one.
However, nobody told the hometown Rage that!
They proceeded to rip off four straight to take the lead. Tyson McCallum and Jason Wark both beat Kenny Cameron late in the first to make it 3-2 going into the dressing room. And then Wark and Jon Johanesson slid the puck by Simon Thieleman after the goalie change halfway through the second. Suddenly, a 3-0 lead had turned into a 4-3 deficit for the Storm. To their credit though, the players wearing the Blue and Gold last night did not roll over, choosing instead to battle back. Mathew Chrystian did a great job to keep a clearing attempt in at the point. He then proceeded to fire a low shot that was tipped in by Girman for his second of the night late in the second.
The third started a little tentatively for both sides, with the Storm eventually picking up the play and getting the go-ahead and eventual game winning goal from Forfar nine and a half minutes in. Forfar did a great job of out waiting Rage netminder Andrew Walsh before lifting the puck into the net. He almost got a second goal a few minutes later on a Storm power play, only to ring the puck off the goal post.
Two scraps ended the noteworthy points of the night, as Kramer drops the mitts for the second straight night, this time going with Tyler Wakefield. Then after the final buzzer, Carter Page, who had been trying to goat Forfar into a fight throughout the final minute of the game, decided to jump the Storm forward just to the side of the penalty box.
Random observations......
Storm were not as physical last night as they were in their 4-1 win over the Rage on Tuesday night. Coach Mike Vandekamp attributed that to fatigue on the part of their forwards, many of whom were playing their third game in four days (if you count Sunday's intrasquad affair). With only 14 forwards in camp, and injuries developing among some of those players, many of the forwards have had to play in all pre season action so far. Today's day off from game action could not have come at a better time.

Quite the battle for fourth line duty on the Storm this year. Three spots appear to be up for grabs among five players..... Daniel Dale, Zack Mungall, Brett Grant, Warren Lothian and Jon Aylward. Jon is the only one who has yet to see action in the pre season, while the other four have certainly not done anything yet to play themselves off the team. That will be something to keep an eye on during the games in Dawson Creek this weekend against Prince George and Quesnel.

Storm are now 12 for 12 on penalty kill in the pre-season, after going a perfect 8 for 8 last night. And their powerplay is now 2/10 after last night's 1/8 performance.

What a pre-season so far for the Girman/Forfar/Kramer line. They combined for 7 goals and 18 points in the two games against Dawson Creek (Girman 4G 3A, Forfar 2G 4A, Kramer 1G 4A). And they do it without being overly flashy.... just solid hard work down low.... the epitome of how coach Vandekamp wants his club to look this season.

The hockey world truly is a small one.  While at the game last night, I bumped into an old friend of mine from my broadcasting days in Manitoba.  Jeff Wiest was coach and GM of the Swan Valley Stampeders of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League from 1999 to 2001.  I was the Stampeders first play by play broadcaster at that time.  My fondest memories are of the Stamps going into the Opaskwayak Cree Nation near The Pas to play the Blizzard.  The fans there would ride him, chanting "Psycho Wiest" the entire night.  Jeff just loved it!  He also coached in Winkler, where he won an MJHL championship, and in Dauphin.  He's now working for Louisiana Pacific in Dawson Creek, and is out of the coaching business.  But a great guy and super character! 


SCORING SUMMARY
STORM - 5 @ RAGE - 4
First Period:
1. GP John Girman(3) (Jordan Forfar) 11:39
2. GP Tanner Fritz(2) (Spencer Mault) 15:28
3. GP Darren Kramer(1) (John Girman, Jordan Forfar) 16:36 PP
4. DC Tyson McCallum(1) (Dakota Mason) 17:55
5. DC Jason Wark(1) (Scott Fellnermayr, Blaine Bokenfohr) 18:39
Penalties:
Storm - 3 minors Rage - 2 minors

Second Period:
6. DC Jason Wark(2) (Blaine Bokenfohr) 12:57
7. DC Jon Johanneson(1) (Blaine Bokenfohr) 15:12
8. GP John Girman(4) (Mathew Chrystian) 18:35
Penalties:
Storm - 2 minors Rage - 1 minor

Third Period:
9. GP Jordan Forfar(2) (John Girman, Darren Kramer) 9:36
Penalties:
Storm - 2 minors, 2 majors, 2 game misconducts Rage - 3 minors, 2 majors, 2 game misconducts

Shots on goal - Unavailable
Power plays: Storm - 1/8 Rage - 0/8
Shootout results:
Rage: McCallum (SAVE), Fellnermayr (SAVE), Johnston (SAVE), Wark (SAVE), Johanneson (SAVE)
Storm: Mault (GOAL), Fritz (MISS), Correale (SAVE), Girman (MISS)

Goalie Stats:
Storm: Kenny Cameron (30:47 MP, 2GA) Simon Thieleman (W, 29:13 MP, 2 GA)
Rage: Jack Surgenor (30:47 MP, 3GA), Andrew Walsh (L, 29:13 MP, 2 GA)