Pre-season games are, for the most part, to evaluate new players.
With only six returning bodies in the lineup Tuesday night for the Grande Prairie Storm the team coaching staff had a lot to look at.
A 3-1 loss to the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League didn't count for points, but did for those newcomers hoping to grab a spot in the lineup when the Alberta Junior Hockey League regular season stars at home against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Sept. 16 at Revolution Arena.
While the GP coaching staff might have hoped for a little more offense, they likely weren't disappointed with the effort as the hometown troops fell behind 3-0 after two periods, but kept plugging away in the third outplaying the B.C. club over the final 20.
Ryan Stack had given the Kings a 1-0 lead in the first and goals by Patrick Cozzi and Jacob Slipec upped the count to 3-0 heading into the final frame.
Rookie Noah Walters netted the lone GP counter. The Calgary Flames Midget AAA product scored on the powerplay at 4:30 of the third period.
Zachary Wickson and C.J. Wedeneg shared the Storm netminding duties facing 22 shots between them. Evan DeBrower and Brad Coope handled 25 between them at the other end.
The Storm return the favor with a game in Prince George on Saturday and then take on the AJHL Whitecourt Wolverines Sept. 8-9 with the Saturday game being in Grande Prairie.