Image Credit: File / CFJC Today

By Adel Ahmed

STORMIN' ON UP

‘We’re gonna embrace the opportunity’; Kamloops Storm GM reacts to KIJHL moving to Junior A hockey

Jul 26, 2023 | 4:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Storm and Kootenay International Junior Hockey League are moving on up.

“We’re very happy that BC Hockey supports us in this,” General Manager Matt Kolle told CFJC Today.

This comes after BC Hockey voted unanimously to reassign the KIJHL and two other Junior B leagues in the province to Junior A Tier 2 status ahead of the 2023-2024 season.

“We’re gonna embrace the opportunity to fill that void as the Junior A program for British Columbia,” said Kolle.

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There will be a chance for the Storm to move up to Tier 1 in Junior A hockey for the 2024-2025 season. However the exact requirements to get there is unknown at this time.

“We would hope that those are determined by Christmas this year,” said Kolle. “I think that’s the feeling is the hope is that’s in place by Christmas and teams then can start to apply or position themselves to meet that new set of standards. Teams that are able to do that will make that move and jump to the junior a Tier 1 level.”

As for the Storm, Kolle says jumping to Tier 1 Junior A hockey is in their sights.

“We want to be there. We seek to be the best. We want our players to wanna be the best. We want our fans to want to be the best so we’re looking nowhere but to be a junior a Tier 1 program.”

Training camp for the Kamloops Storm begins August 28.