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COUNTDOWN TO HOME OPENER
Fri, Sep 10 2010

STORM DONUT AT TIM HORTONS
Wed, Sep 08 2010

STORM COACH/GM MIKE VANDEKAMP, STORM MASCOT SLAPSHOT AND GILLIAN MACDONALD OF TIM HORTONS DISPLAY THE STORM DONUTS

Peace Country hockey fans have shown their support for the Alberta Junior Hockey League club by making the Grande Prairie Storm the most watched Junior A hockey team in Canada for the past 15 years.

Thanks to Tim Hortons, Peace Country fans can now show their support for the team in a unique way.

To help the Storm celebrate its 15th anniversary in the AJHL, the five Grande Prairie Tim Hortons stores are offering up a special Storm donut in the Storm colors – a vanilla dipped treat smothered with dark blue icing and topped with gold and white speckles.

The donuts will be on sale each day the Storm has a home game – starting with the team’s home opener on Friday when they host the Sherwood Park Crusaders at 7:30 p.m. in the Canada Games Arena.

“We are really happy to be able to strengthen our partnership with the Grande Prairie Storm,” said Tim Hortons Grande Prairie Vice President of Operations Gillian MacDonald. “We are a proud member of the community and are glad to be able to support the Storm and get more people to know about the Storm.”

At the Tim Hortons locations in Grande Prairie the Storm home game, and the special donut, will be promoted on the screens in the restaurants.

“It’s an amazing gesture on the part of Tim Hortons,” says Storm business manager Don Moon. “Tim Hortons, as you can tell by the lineups every morning, are the most popular restaurants in Grande Prairie. It’s a great way to promote the team as well as enhance the partnership we have had with Tim Hortons for many years.”

Tim Hortons has sponsored the Tim Hortons Bullseye Shootout at Storm games for over 10 years with the proceeds from that event going to a local non-profit group.

The donut promotion will continue for all regular season games and may extend into the playoffs.

Tim Hortons and the Storm have also teamed up to offer a special deal on a dozen Storm donuts. Anyone who purchases a dozen donuts will receive a free Storm child ticket. The pre-order forms are available at all five Grande Prairie Tim Hortons and on the Storm website starting Thursday by going to the Tim Hortons button on the Storm homepage.

The donut promotion is also being done by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Edmonton Oilers, but MacDonald said she isn’t aware of any other teams that are involved in a similar venture.

 

BATTLE IN GOAL STILL RAGING IN STORM CAMP
Tue, Sep 07 2010

By TERRY FARRELL

Daily Herald-Tribune

It's not the 25 players still in camp that cause a numbers problem for Grande Prairie Storm coach and general manager Mike Vandekamp, but rather, where those numbers fall.

Thirteen forwards is fine. Eight defencemen gives some security on the blue line. But four goalies? That's two too many. Problem is, they've all played too well to be released.

Lino Chemienti, Chase Komistek, Colin Dzijacky and Curtis Skip are all still in the running to be wearing the pads for the Alberta Junior Hockey League club on opening night (Friday at home against the Sherwood Park Crusaders).

"The goaltender situation aside, we're pretty much at manageable numbers," said Vandekamp. "When it comes to goalies, they all have their own separate story, but they've all done well."

The most intriguing name among the four is Skip. As a 1994 player, he still has minor hockey eligibility. As such, it would be easy for Vandekamp to send him back to the midget AAA Storm. That Vandekamp has not yet done so speaks volumes for Skip's play at camp.

"It should be an easy decision because at 16, he's got a midget team waiting for him, but to be honest with you, he's done well enough to deserve to still be here," said Vandekamp.

"It's pretty hard to justify letting a guy go when he's been so solid throughout camp. The one exhibition game he played in, he didn't allow a goal. Now, I know he wasn't really tested, but that's out of his control. He did well with what was presented to him. So at this point, I think he still deserves to be here fighting for a spot.

"He's young still, and does have some challenges to overcome, but so far he's getting the job done."

While there's nothing saying Vandekamp has to make a decision regarding goaltending prior to Friday, he would like to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

There was some movement in that regard over the weekend. Goaltenders Simon Thieleman and Kenny Cameron were released at the conclusion of the exhibition season.

The Storm also released a pair of forwards – Brett Grant and Warren Lothian – and a new forward is being brought in.

Eighteen-year-old Dustin Beairsto, who played for the St. Albert Raiders in the Alberta Midget Hockey league last year, is expected to be at practice today.

"He's got strength, good size and speed," said Vandekamp of his newest recruit.

On defence, the number is expected to increase by one sometime this week. Local product Kenton Helgeson was released from the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen's camp Sunday.

"We expect him to be coming back to our team, so our numbers are going to get a little goofy again," said Vandekamp. "We certainly presented him that opportunity when he left. I haven't spoken to him personally, but he left a message on my phone (that he was returning) so I expect to see him at practice (Tuesday)."

Keeping on the local front, Zack Mungall, Jon Aylward and Daniel Dale (photo) have all made the team.

"Zack had a tremendously good spring camp, to begin with, and we kind of had him pencilled in to make our club all summer," said Vandekamp. "He had a very good main camp, up and down in the exhibition, but the main thing he has do now is just relax and play.

"Daniel Dale is a big, strong guy – your typical power forward. A good forechecker and a great guy in the dressing room. He's just been a real treat to be around.

"Jon Aylward was a captain of the (midget) AAA team last year and he's a real hard working kid. He put in a lot of work this summer and brought himself to camp in very good shape. He seems to have rekindled his desire for the game.... He'll give us some energy, strong on the forecheck and will be able to kill penalties. He'll be a nice addition to the team not only this year but in the future, too."

So there's still some work for Vandekamp to do, but he is not overly concerned.

"We'd like to get the numbers down to 23, but you know, we're close to that right now," he said. "We're getting there."

On another note, Darren Kramer has been named the Storm team captain for the 2010-2011 season. Tanner Fritz and Caylen Walls have been named assistants.