Mark Berry
Special to the Mirror
Friday night was the final regular season home game for the Storm and it was a night of special moments, including a 7-3 win over the Generals that extended Campbell River’s unbeaten streak to 16 games.
Just ahead of the warm-up, the team announced that Alex Rosolowsky would wear the captain’s ‘C’ on his chest. Injured captain Gage Colpron played a part in the decision and said following the game, “Rosolowsky’s heart speaks for itself and wearing the ‘C’ stepped up his game which was a huge part in the win.”
It was Rosolowsky’s first game back after receiving an awkward hit in January.
According to Head Coach Lee Stone, “He’s such a key cog for us in terms of being an energy player. He just creates, creates, creates and I don’t mean offence, I don’t mean defence, I just mean energy.” Stone says.
“He gets guys excited to play, it’s infectious and we’re excited to get him back.”
His return was most noticeable on the power play.
Campbell River went 4-for-5 on the man advantage and Number 43 was in on three of those goals, setting up two for Kobe Oishi and scoring one himself.
The game’s first star was Oishi.
His third goal of the contest came early in the third period as a result of some hard work from line mate Reece Costain.
The big forward took a hit in the corner from the Generals’ Bobby Jo Love, but made a perfect pass to Oishi in the low slot and Brandon Ward didn’t have time to react.
For Costain, it was also his first game back from injury.
Ryan Grills waited until the last home game of the regular season to get his first goal of the year.
A clean faceoff win by Josh Coblenz, deep in the Oceanside end, led to a quick ‘wrister’ from Grills that fooled Ward.
Following the goal, the Storm bench began chanting, “Grillzy, Grillzy, Grillzy.”
He was named third star.
Colin Blake continued to amaze, picking up four more points on Friday.
On the current 16 game streak, he has amassed 30 points and was named last week’s VIJHL Player of the Week.
The other Storm goal came from Michal Holub.
Goalie Jake Mullen was back in the lineup and faced 22 shots to pick up the win.
At the end of the night, as the players were performing their customary salute to the Storm faithful, the crowd reciprocated. Each fan was supplied a miniature stick that they waved at the players.
It was another full house at the Brindy, one of many this year. Regular season attendance exceeded 22,200, an average of 925 per game. To put that into perspective, it is comparable to BCHL crowd numbers and would be in the middle of the pack, somewhere between the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Prince George Spruce Kings.
On Sunday, the Storm hosted the annual Alumni game with proceeds going to Cameryn’s Cause for Kids. It was entertaining with more than 100 shots and 30 goals. The former players were 21-9 winners and $1,500 was raised for the cause.
Up next for the Storm is the final game of the regular season in Nanaimo on Thursday. The playoffs begin next week but the dates won’t be determined until the winner of the Oceanside Generals/Saanich Braves wildcard game is decided early next week.