New Storm governor Matt Kolle says turning the culture around starts with making the franchise feel like a big family in Kamloops (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

JUNIOR B HOCKEY

New owners hoping to turn Kamloops Storm back into winner

Jul 9, 2019 | 7:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a struggle the last two seasons both on and off the ice for the Kamloops Storm.

They’ve endured back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Birks Division. They’ve also endured low attendance, playing in front of empty seats at Memorial Arena.

The new ownership group, the Parallel Storm Hockey Group, hopes to change the fortunes of the franchise.

“We’re going to make it more of a family feel,” said new governor and general manager Matt Kolle. “More like our team includes the billets, our team includes the volunteers. We want to make sure we’re all having regular interaction with the players and ourselves. I think that just builds positive energy.

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Kolle has his work cut out for him, but he says the team, mainly full of rookies last year, is more experienced.

“We’re returning the majority of our line-up. Last year, we played with a line-up that was 90 per cent rookies,” noted Kolle. “This year, we’re looking at 90 per cent veterans. So if you go up and down our roster and you have a bunch of guys coming into the season that are familiar, that are bigger, faster, stronger, you’re only going to move up.”

The team’s long-time owner Barry Dewar moved the Storm to Kamloops from Osoyoos in 2006. He says the team needed a fresh perspective to move forward.

“I think it’s one of those things where people don’t listen after a while, and a new voice and a new direction is probably a good thing,” Dewar told CFJC Today.

Despite playing a handful of games in Quesnel, where new owner Tracy Mero resides, Kolle confirms the team will remain in Kamloops.

The Storm will play in the coming season again at Memorial Arena. But Kolle says there has been talks about moving the Storm back to its original home McArthur Island.

“You have an immediate fan base within a block away, so access to the facility, parking, comfort in the building is at a different level,” said Kolle. “There are things that do have to happen, but for now, let’s just hit the ground running and get more people involved. Make more people feel like they’re apart of it all.”