(Image Credit: Facebook/Kamloops Storm)

By Aaron Schulze

Storm v. Mustangs

Storm trail playoff series 2-0 heading to Williams Lake

Mar 23, 2026 | 6:18 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Storm aren’t in must-win territory in their second round Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) playoff series, but there is little margin for error going forward. 

Home ice was not an advantage, as the Storm dropped the first two games of the Doug Birks Division Finals to the Williams Lake Mustangs at McArthur Island. 

In both games, the Storm found themselves trailing to the Mustangs halfway through the first period before rallying to tie. However, the Mustangs would put themselves up for good in the third period, with the Storm unable to find the equalizer. 

The best-of-seven series shifts to Williams Lake with the Storm trailing 2-0. 

Game three takes place Monday (March 23) at 7:00 p.m. from the Cariboo Memorial Rec Complex, a building in which the Storm were unable to win in during the 2025-26 regular season. The Storm fell to the Mustangs 7-6 in overtime in Williams Lake on Oct. 3 and were shut out 6-0 on Jan. 31. 

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Game One – Scoring Summary 

First Period 

1-0, Mustangs, Kaelen Swanson (5) from JP Desabrais (power play), 9:32 

Second Period 

1-1, Storm, Kuy Schmirler (3) from Luca D’Amore and Hayden Selin, 2:35 

Third Period 

2-1, Mustangs, JP Desabrais (5) from Chaz Lucas, 10:11 

Goaltending 

Jaxson Dikur (W), Mustangs, 29 saves on 30 shots in 60 minutes played. 

Brenner Fyfe (L), Storm, 23 saves on 25 shots in 59 minutes played. 

Game Two – Scoring Summary 

First Period 

1-0, Mustangs, Chaz Lucas (5) from Dawson Rowse and Logan Hauk (power play), 9:11 

2-0, Mustangs, Rory Mumford (1) from Asher Lucas and Dawson Knackstedt, 15:51 

Second Period 

3-0, Mustangs, Kaelen Swanson (6) from JP Desabrais and Alberto Kellgren, 4:52 

3-1, Storm, Nicklas Wytrychowski (2) from Teghan Mullin, 11:34 

3-2, Storm, Quinn Ramsay (2) from Hayden Selin and Luca D’Amore (power play), 11:49 

3-3, Storm, Ryan Pedersen (1) from Nicklas Wytrychowski and Noah Paulsen, 17:48 

Third Period 

4-3, Mustangs, Chaz Lucas 2 (6) from Matthew Hufty and Rory Mumford, 6:00 

Goaltending 

Jaxson Dikur (W), Mustangs, 26 saves on 29 shots in 60 minutes played. 

Brenner Fyfe (L), Storm, 22 saves on 26 shots in 59 minutes played.