By LOGAN CLOW
Daily Herald-Tribune
Playing at Revolution Place has been where the Grande Prairie Storm have had success this season.
Of their six wins (second fewest in the AJHL), five have come playing at home.
This weekend, the Storm, who are riding a six-game losing streak, host the Brooks Bandits and Okotoks Oilers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The Storm are coming off a 6-0 road loss in Whitecourt on Tuesday.
“We've got to play better,” said Kevin Higo, head coach and GM of the Storm.
“We're not losing the game(s) on talent or work ethic. We're losing the game on execution where we need a pass to get through and we don't get that pass through, or we need a puck get dumped in and we don't and turn it over. Those are the little details that come down to the individual player.”
In their last six games, the Storm have been outscored 32-10.
A positive for the Storm has been their special teams play at Revolution Place this season.
The Storm not only have the league's best home powerplay and penalty kill, but they've also managed to get at least a point in seven of their 10 home games.
“The guys just feel really comfortable here at home…,” said Higo.
Friday, the Bandits, who are 15-3-3 and ranked No. 14 in Canada, come to town ranked top five in special teams. The Bandits won their earlier season meeting against the Storm 4-2.
“You don't shut them down. They're a team that no matter what you do, no matter how you defend, they're going to create chances and they're going to score goals. It's a matter of limiting their options. We're going to need saves. We're going to need blocked shots,” said Higo, of facing the Bandits.
The Oilers (12-6-3) and Storm face off in their first meeting of the season. With the Storm dealing with several injuries, notably to Logan Mazerolle, Landon Vollman, Eric Jackson and Alex Lindstorm — all expected to be out long-term — Higo said he expected there to be some affiliates in the line-up this weekend.