Image Credit: Kamloops Storm / Chad Hellingman

By Marty Hastings

Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

The hits keep on coming: Storm amp up physicality ahead of pivotal Game 5 against Sicamous

Mar 1, 2024 | 7:30 AM

KAMLOOPS — General Manager Matt Kolle said his bruising Kamloops Storm appear to be ruffling feathers, wearing down the Sicamous Eagles in their Round 1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff series.

“Over time, with the fact that we’re a bit of a grittier, hard-nosed team, I’m starting to feel like the series is starting to turn a little bit,” Kolle said. “We’re wearing them down. Getting hit every time you touch the puck, eventually you’re going to start to feel that a bit more. From what I’ve observed, it looks like maybe we’re making some ground.”

Kamloops dispatched hometown Sicamous 4-1 on Tuesday in the Junior ‘A’ Tier 2 matchup to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2. Game 5 is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Friday at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre.

“I know there’s a Blazer game (on Friday night at Sandman Centre), but at the same time, when you get a chance to watch teams in playoffs and you know those teams are putting everything on the line, leaving everything on the ice, a lot of people like to see that stuff,” Kolle said. “So I’m hoping that, yeah, on Friday night, we do have a big crowd.”

A sellout crowd of about 1,000 gathered last February on Mac Isle to watch Sicamous vanquish Kamloops 2-1 in Game 7 of their Round 1 series, a victory that skewered the Storm’s season.

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“It’s a new season, but we have short memories,” Kolle said, noting the Doug Birks Division foes have a great rivalry.

“It’s toe to toe. That’s probably the best way to describe it. It’s punch for punch. They win a game, we win a game. They’re a skilled, fast type team. We’re a 200-foot, gritty team.”

Ryan Larsen of Kamloops has four points, including two goals, in four games to lead the Storm in post-season scoring. Colton Phillips-Watts boasts impressive numbers between the pipes for the Storm, with a .921 save percentage and 2.41 goals-against average in four post-season games.

The Storm are awaiting the return of two overage defencemen, with Samuel Lewis and Devin Benson recovering from injuries. Kolle said both rearguards are expected to return to the lineup soon.

Sicamous will play host to Game 6 on Saturday. Game 7, if necessary, is slated for Monday on McArthur Island.

“It’s two different teams playing two different styles and the different styles have worked on different nights,” said Kolle, noting neither team has won consecutive games in the series.

“We like to battle it out in the trenches and make them earn every inch.”