CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – The Cyclone Taylor Cup blew through Campbell River over the weekend, and left a lot of great memories in its wake.
This is according to the coach of the newly minted B.C. junior B hockey champion Revelstoke Grizzlies, as well as the head coach of the host Campbell River Storm.
Rod Brind’Amour Arena was filled or nearly filled throughout the four-day tourney, and while his team won once in four games, Storm coach Mike Wilson said it was a great experience for players and fans alike.
“The teams were absolutely evenly matched for this time of the year, and you obviously get to play against the champions of the leagues that they come from,” Wilson said. “You’re obviously playing against really good hockey teams and teams that know how to play that structured playoff style of hockey. The teams gave us some real good competition. I think every single game was (a) really, really good hockey game.”
After losing 5-2 to the North Van Wolf Pack in Thursday’s opener, the Storm played what Wilson described as “probably the best Friday game at the ‘Brindy’ all year against Victoria.”
Reid Wheeldon scored 26 seconds into the first overtime period to give the Storm a 3-2 win against a Cougars team that defeated the local boys in five games, in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League final series.
Photo by Troy Landreville/Vista Radio
The next two games were tightly contested 3-2 losses, to the eventual B.C. champion Revelstoke Grizzlies on Saturday night, and in overtime to the Wolf Pack on Sunday morning.
“At the end of the day, we didn’t quite get the result we would’ve liked, but the guys came out and worked hard and really competed,” Wilson said.
Off the ice, it was a huge success at the gate, and the Storm games had an electric atmosphere in what has for years been a huge hockey town.
Wilson wasn’t surprised at the huge turnout, even when the Storm weren’t playing.
“All year, and ever since I’ve really been here, the fans have been great,” Wilson said. “A big event like the Cyclone Taylor Cup, I definitely didn’t expect it to be any different. My parents came up to watch, there and they were thrilled at the atmosphere by the fans at ‘Brindy’ and obviously, the amount of people there. They were really excited about that and you know what, all the players really loved it. It really gets the players going when the fans are loud and starting those ‘Go Storm Go’ chants.”
According to Wilson, one of the best things about playing junior hockey in Campbell River is that the fans will be there cheering you on, “and that’s awesome.”
In Sunday’s Cup final at ‘The Brindy,’ the Revelstoke Grizzlies skated to a 5-1 win over the Victoria Cougars.
This marked the first Cyclone Taylor title since 2010.
Grizzlies head coach Ryan Parent said his team is “elated to win back-to-back championships.”
The Grizzlies had to win the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League title in order to qualify for the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
“Being able to top it off in Campbell River, it was the icing on the cake,” he said.
“We wanted to make sure we represented our league properly, and with a lot class,” Parent added. “I think the whole city of Revelstoke is elated and it’s just been a lot of fun.”
Parent said his players are used to playing in front of 1,000 people, so the experience at Rod Brind’Mour didn’t overwhelm them.
He credited the fans of Campbell River for making the experience memorable.
“Even for games where Campbell River didn’t play, I thought the rink was full,” he said. “I thought the community of Campbell River came out, and really supports hockey.”
The competition was tough, Parent said. “I thought all of the teams there were quality hockey teams and there was no easy game in that tournament.”
