Image credit: CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

STORM CHANGE

Fisher lands head coaching gig with Storm after Ludvig steps aside for personal reasons

Nov 15, 2024 | 7:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Andrew Fisher has taken over as head coach of the Kamloops Storm.

The junior ‘A’ tier 2 hockey club issued a media release on Thursday (Nov. 14) to note that on Nov. 4, Head Coach Jan Ludvig resigned from the position for personal reasons and has since flown to Czechia to be with family.

“The guys seem to have handled it pretty well,” Fisher said. “It was probably a bit of a shock to the system to everybody at first, but we’ve gotten a few good practices under our belts this week and guys seem to be in good spirits.”

Ludvig was hired in August of 2022, taking the job on short notice after the surprise departure of Geoff Grimwood.

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The Storm finished second in the Doug Birks Division in each of the past two seasons and won one playoff series during Ludvig’s tenure.

Kamloops was 7-8-1-0 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League play this season prior to Ludvig’s resignation.

“We’ve underperformed,” said Fisher, who was an assistant coach for the Storm. “I think we had some pretty lofty expectations to start with and I don’t think we’re where we need to be yet, but I’ve said it over the last few weeks – I think we are trending in the right direction.”

The Storm — 2-0 since Fisher took over — are scheduled to play Sicamous (7-5-4-0) on Friday (Nov. 15) and Princeton (15-2-0-1) on Saturday (Nov. 16), with game time slated for 7:00 p.m. both nights at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre.

Asked which changes he plans to implement, Fisher said he expects to tweak his club’s defensive awareness, discipline and commitment to playing without the puck.

“I’m excited. I really am,” Fisher said, noting he has aspirations to continue in the role beyond this season. “It’s a good opportunity for me. The team is in a good spot for me to step in and help out. Jan let me take the reins on a lot of things over the last few years, which has helped me prepare for this, as well. It’s been a fairly easy transition.”