Parent Weekend is always a fun time every season.
A chance for moms and dads from across the province, and in some cases the country, to watch their boys perform, take in some social events and, hopefully, share in victory.
The victory part is going to have to wait for another day.
The moms and dads, and the rest of the Storm family, left Revolution Place disappointed Friday after a 5-0 loss at the hands of the Brooks Bandits – the top team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League's South Division.
Saturday they get a chance for that victory when they host the Okotoks Oilers at 7:30 p.m.
As lopsided as the five-goal difference might appear, the game was actually much closer in regards to territorial advantage and, had the Storm been able to scored on a couple of breakaways when the score was close, could have had a different outcome.
But, coulda, shoulda, woulda doesn't win you hockey games . . . scoring more goals does and that is what the Bandits did. They are also pretty good at stopping them leading the league with just 48 allowed in 22 games.
Two goals by Oliver Chau and a powerplay tally by Nick Prkusic staked the Bandits to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. There was no scoring in the second and the Bandits mopped it up with goal from David D'Agostino and Parker Foo, on the powerplay, in the third.
Arik Weersink was named the Home Star after facing 28 shots while Alex Horawski had to turn aside just 14 en route to the shutout. It was his second of the season and trimmed his goals against average to a slender 1.98 – good for second best in the league.
If there was a bright spot for the Storm it was the penalty kill where the Bandits scored had nine chances scoring just twice. The Storm went 0-7 on the PP including a stretch in the first when they had a three-on-five advantage.
The Storm continue to sit in sixth place in the North Division – a spot they have occupied for most of the season. They are four up on the seventh place Drayton Valley Thunder and seven ahead of the eighth place Lloydminster Bobcats.
Adam Wilson made his debut with the Storm Friday after being acquired from the Lloydminster Bobcats and had a solid game.