GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB
January 15, 2020
The Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League are proud to solidify their leadership group for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season.
Captain – Jackson Wozniak (2000), Cypress, CA, USA
A native of Cypress, California, Jackson joined the Storm last year after a stint in the NAHL and his previous year in the BCHL. Having won a championship with Wenatchee of the BCHL, Jackson understands what it takes to build a winning program and lead the youngest team in the AJHL.
?Jackson Wozniak was named the Captain of the Storm on the first day of training camp and has been amazing all season,” says Interim Head Coach Ryan Aasman. “He is the pulse of our dressing room and he gives everything he has every single day. No one feels the hard times more than Jackson. His focus is team success and winning. With that attitude, individual success is growing, and he very much deserves that. He been outstanding in the community and he makes sure he is at all our events with a smile and he genuinely cares about this community. Everything Jackson does is for the team and never about himself.?
Assistant Captain – Lukas Konashuk (2001), Bonanza, AB
Having played his Bantam AAA hockey with GPAC, Lukas is considered a local in Grande Prairie hockey circles. Lukas exemplifies the heartbeat of the Storm, and is our RBC Amabassador for this season, donating $1,000 to Reading University.
?Lukas Konashuk has been an Assistant Captain for the entire season, having earned that honour during training camp,” states Aasman. “On the ice, Lukas does everything the right way and brings a consistent work ethic to the rink every day. He is a top pair penalty killer and embraces that role with pride; we depend on him to be effective on the penalty kill to win games. Lukas is a team first guy, very coachable and has a presence in the dressing room that players gravitate to.?
Assistant Captain – Brenden Kwiatkowski, (2000), Grande Prairie, AB
Brenden played his Midget and Bantam hockey with GPAC, and he is a great example of effective grassroots hockey development in Grande Prairie. Having spent 2 seasons in the WHL including earlier this year, Brenden knows what it takes to win at the elite level and is a great example for our yound defensive core.
?Brenden Kwiatkowski has recently earned his Assistant Captain role,” says Aasman. “Brenden has been a joy to work with for me since he arrived from the Western Hockey League, he has a huge heart and is very unselfish. He went through a tough string of games in November, but he chose to come back to the rink with a great work ethic and attitude and his game got stronger every single day. He is the leader of our young core and all the 6 other defensemen lean on him.?
Assistant Captain – Brody Dale (1999), Quesnel, BC
Brody Dale broke into the AJHL this year after overpowering the KIJHL last year with 123 points in 45 games. A native of British Columbia, Brody played his entire junior hockey career in Kelowna before joining Grande Prairie this year.
?Brody Dale has recently earned his Assistant Captain role along with Brenden,” says Aasman. “Brody is a highly intelligent hockey player and person: I love our conversations about hockey and he sees the game in a unique way. As a team, our offense relies on him to be productive. If he is playing a solid 200ft game and chipping in offensively, our team has a great chance at winning games. He is an incredibly versatile player: as a natural centremen he currently averages 60% in the dot, but he can also play on the wing and we rely on him to kill penalties.?
Catch the Storm and their new leadership as they take on the Camrose Kodiaks this Friday in their annual Alzheimer’s Awareness game!
Pictures by Tammenthia Diesel and Tim Louttit