The Grande Prairie Storm’s ‘C’ has been handed out.
Wednesday, Kevin Higo, head coach and general of the Storm, announced that 19-year-old forward Blake Bosch will be the team’s captain for the 2014-2015 season.
In addition to naming Bosch, who is a native of St. Albert and second-year player with the Storm, Higo announced forward Jade McMullen, Dylan Thudium and Ian McLellan, as well as defenceman Braeden Jones – all returnees – will be assistant captains.
Higo says with his teams, he allows the players to vote on the captaincies. Once players vote, he says he typically sits down with his coaching staff gather their input and bases a decision from the staff and players.
“With regards to Blake, right from day one, he’s been a leader and so have the other guys that are going to wear A’s,” said Higo, adding Bosch has been one of the teams’ most “steady” players this season.
“Blake stepped up in certain situations, where he’s identified himself to be a leader. He works hard every day, he leads by example, plays the game how he we want it to be played by playing hard and structured and plays it at a high tempo and he’s a good role model not just for the younger guys, but for all the guys.”
Bosch has three assists in six games with the Storm this season, ahead of the team’s game against the Calgary Canucks and Okotoks Oilers on Sept. 26-27 at the at the AJHL Showcase in Spruce Grove.
“It’s obviously a huge honour to be a captain of this organization and this team here and to just be respected by my peers is definitely a great honour,” said Bosch, who was captain twice in St. Albert minor hockey.
“I came in and wanted to be a leader and that’s something I’ve kind of achieved at this point, but I’m really not going to change who I am just because I’m wearing a letter now. I’m just going to keep playing the same game and be the same person.”
Storm travel to AJHL Showcase
The Storm, sporting a 3-3 record, have an 11-3 record at the AJHL Showcase, which will feature scouts from the NHL, NCAA, WHL and various university/college-level teams.
“We addressed (the showcase) about how it’s going to be an important weekend for us as a team, but also everybody as individuals, as there will be a lot of scouts from all different levels,” said Higo.
“Our approach is that it’s not going to be pressure, it’s going to be opportunity.”
The team assigned goaltender Andy Gilker to the County of Grande Prairie JDA Kings Thursday and Higo says the team is “hopeful” that goaltender Adam Beukeboom, who has been with the team since Sept. 9 after being released from the Prince George Cougars, will make his Storm debut.
The Storm are back on home ice Tuesday against the Drayton Valley Thunder.
See Monday’s edition for a full weekend wrap and Tuesday preview.
logan.clow@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @DHTLogan
