The Grande Prairie Storm have been competitive against the top teams in the league this year.
Wins over the Spruce Grove Saints (16-5-2) and Camrose Kodiaks (12-9-1) and an overtime defeat at the hands of the top team in the North Division of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the 18-4-1 Fort McMurray Oil Barons, is evidence the Storm have the potential to put up a good fight every time they step out onto the ice.
Tonight they will need that good fight when they visit the team tied with the Oil Barons for first – the Whitecourt Wolverines (17-5-3) at 7:30 p.m. in the Scott Safety Centre.
The Storm are in a solid sixth place with a 6-12-4 record and 16 points – six up on the Drayton Valley Thunder and nine ahead of the Lloydminster Bobcats, who are eighth.
The Storm head into the game looking for their second road win of the season and to get out of a bit of a skid that has seen them go 1-6-3 in their last 10. Tonight’s game wraps up a three-game road swing.
Michael Clarke, one of only two players who has appeared in all 22 Storm games this season, continues to lead the team in scoring with 22 points. Logan Mazerolle, who is injured and not expected to play tonight, is second to Clarke along with Tristan Paquette with 14 points each. Jake Elmer,
Zac McNeill and Dallas Comeau all have 12 points each.
Like the Storm, Whitecourt’s points come via committee rather than one or two individuals ripping the league up.
Justin Young has 26 points, Mitch Lipon 23 and Cody Laskosky, a rookie, 19.
The Storm, boasting a 5-4-2 record at home, will return to Revolution Place after tonight for a pair of games – Friday against the Brooks Bandits and Saturday against the Okotoks Oilers. Game time for both games is 7:30 p.m.