Talk around the town is that the Grande Prairie Storm are going to be a much improved hockey club this year.
And two of the players expected to be front and centre are former major juniors Edouard Michaud and Justin Bernier.
Both have played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and both got on the scoreboard as the Storm visited the Whitecourt Wolverines for an Alberta Junior Hockey League pre-season tilt Friday.
Michaud's scoreboard impact was very impressive. He scored three times as the Storm fell 5-4 to the Wolverines, who scored in the final minute to nip the Storm. Bernier netted the other GP goal.
Whitecourt, who had seven powerplay scoring twice while the Storm were given two PP chances and netted one goal, outshot the Storm 46-34.
The game was tied 3-3 after one period and 4-4 after 40 minutes.
The Storm wrap up the pre-season with a return tilt against the Wolverines on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Revolution Arena.
Grande Prairie opens the regular season at home with games against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons next Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.).