A team on a mission
2004-05 Okanagan-Shuswap Regular Season Champions.
2004-05 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Regular Season Champions.
2005 Okanagan-Shuswap Playoff Champions.
2005 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Playoff Champions.
Last Sunday, the Osoyoos Storm added yet another accomplishment to that list – 2005 Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions, and they did it with yet another dominating performance.
The Storm knocked off arch-rival Beaver Valley Nite Hawks 6-2 in the final of the Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament which was held here in Osoyoos at the Sun Bowl Arena.
The win gave the Storm an impressive 4-0 record in the tournament.
I can't put it into words about how I feel, said team captain Kyle Thompson after the game. This was our goal. We worked hard all year for this. We didn't let ourselves get sidetracked. Right now it is just a feeling of joy.rnHead coach Jimmy Liebel echoed Thompson's words.
This is an unbelievable feeling. This is one of the greatest feelings I've had. This is a great bunch of kids. They did just an incredible job this year.
A lot of guys on this team have talked about being motivated by Brad Hart, who was killed in a car accident. Barry Beck said at his funeral that we were going to win a championship for him and we did.rnCalling the job by the Storm incredible isn't any exaggeration.
The local team not only won the league regular season championship, an impressive feat all by itself, they completely dominated the playoffs, losing only one game out of 13.
Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament MVP Tanner Sirkia said the sting of last year's KIJHL final loss to the Nite Hawks played heavily in the team's motivation.
Coming into the game today, we all remembered last year and we weren't going to let that happen again.rnThe Storm blew a two-goal lead last year, allowing the Nite Hawks to steal away the championship and the berth at the 2004 Cyclone Taylor Cup.
That wasn't the case this year.
The Storm took advantage of some undisciplined play by the Nite Hawks.
Almost the entire first period the Nite Hawks battled penalty trouble and the Storm made them pay.
Game MVP Brock Gunson, who finished with two goals and two assists, tipped in a Lee Clarke shot to open the scoring.
After a Beaver Valley goal, also on the power play, Ryan Kurzac tied it back up just seconds later.
Gunson made it 3-1 before the end of the first as he knocked home a lose puck, again caused by a point shot on the power play by Clarke.
The Storm put the game away early in the second when Kyle Thompson made it 4-1, followed by yet another power play goal, this time by Jeff Taylor.
That simply took all the life out of the Nite Hawks who were only able to muster one more goal in the third, only to be immediately countered by Jordan Inglis' first of the game.
Despite the seemingly lopsided score, coach Liebel pointed to the work of hometown fan favourite Ray Nunes as one of the keys in the game.
I thought the two saves he made on breakaways in the second period were a turning point in the game,rnNunes, who hails from Oliver, said he just felt like he was in a zone, something he has talked about the entire playoffs.
I just kind of felt that if I could see it, I could stop it, he said. The guys cleared the traffic away and I was able to see the puck pretty well today.rnThe win at the Cyclone Taylor Cup doesn't end the season for the Storm, but it does end the team's play in front of its hometown fans.
The entire town has been amazing, said Sirkia. It is a great place to play hockey. This is such a great place.rnThompson agreed.
This is my last junior hockey game in Osoyoos and B.C. and I tell you it has been incredible. It has been so much fun. I just love playing here.rnThe Storm now move on to the final step, which is the Keystone Cup, which is the Western Canadian Championships.
The Keystone Cup is being held in Medicine Hat April 14-17. Anyone interested in a fan bus should contact the Osoyoos Storm office. Also, to help pay for the team's trip, the Storm will be organizing a fundraiser. To help out or for more info call 495-7812.
