The VIJHL playoffs are here and the Campbell River Storm is ready to compete.
The Storm will be taking on the Nanaimo Buccaneers in the first round of VIJHL North Division action.
The two teams finished in the second and third spots in their division.
Head coach of the Storm, Lee Stone says the team is eager to face someone they know quite well.
“Our group is pretty excited, we’ve had success against Nanaimo this year but obviously when playoffs start its a whole new season so we’re excited to get rolling.”
“Nanaimo is a really strong defensive team, they have good goaltending, they do a good job of keeping us to the outside and limiting high danger opportunities. So for us, it’s about finding a way to score ugly, greasy playoff goals and trying to find a way to breakthrough.
Stone says the team is full of talent, and they have what it takes to keep the playoff push rolling into the next round.
“We’ve got one of the best goalies in the league and I think both upfront and on the back end we’re really deep, we’re young, we’re fast, we move well and obviously we want to try and take advantage of that speed and skill that we have.”
He added that a big part of how the team plays at home is the fans.
“There’s no question that during playoff time fans come out get loud and get crazy, it’s a game-changer and an X-factor for us and kind of a seventh man for us in terms of providing energy and getting the boys excited to play.”
The team is on the ice tonight at Rod Brind’Amour Arena against the Buccaneers. The start time is 7:30pm.
The storm are asking fans to wear red sweaters or jackets to help “paint the brindy red”.
