Storm goalie Kaeden Lane didn't have his best showing this past weekend, allowing 14 goals on 60 shots in the three games (Photo: Shaun Penner)

By Shaun Penner

Road Reflections

Compacted road trip caught up to Storm: Keillor

Oct 8, 2019 | 1:14 PM

Matt Keillor is glad to be back in friendly confines.

The Storm Head Coach and his team are coming off a rather tough weekend, in which they dropped all three games they played in Okotoks, Drumheller, and Banff (against Canmore). Though road trips in themselves have their challenges, this one was a bit more difficult as the three games were spread over a short 44-hour period.

Top that off with injuries, trying to get time for associated players to get in the lineup before the Midget AAA season begins and an already road-heavy schedule, Keillor can understand how that can all culminate in a tough weekend.

“A little bit of a victim of circumstance,” said Keillor. “We’ve kind of lived life on the road here since the start of the season.”

Including their exhibition schedule, the team has played 13 games away from Revolution Place, while they have played just four at home.

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But Keillor isn’t giving his team a total free pass for what resulted in being outscored a combined 21-6 in those three games.

“Anytime there is that many goals against, your goaltending wasn’t up to par on the weekend. We need to get better and we need to improve,” said Keillor. “But I think the spirits are still high and guys are ready to go this morning.”

Time management in terms of sleep schedules and game preparation were certainly tested on this most recent trip as well. Playing in Okotoks on Friday night, the team then travelled the near two hours north to Drumheller. The turnaround then became even more challenging for Sunday, as they had to not only travel three hours west to Banff but get there in time for a 2:30 p.m. puck drop.

Getting proper rest and staying properly hydrated and nourished becomes an ever-increasing challenge in that situation.

“Guys (were) sleeping right on the bus, basically laying on the floors in between the seats,” said Keillor. “Even for the coaching staff, we probably got about five hours of sleep on the weekend. Basically, when the game is over, we are already watching video for the team that we’re moving forward on.”

But that is something the Storm will have to get used to, as they will have six more three game, three-day road swings this season. That is the tough part of being the team in a more isolated location.

In the meantime, Keillor and his team are excited to be back home as they prepare for a four-game homestand, which begins Wednesday when the Storm host the Drayton Valley Thunder. Puck drop is at 7:30 from Revolution Place.

Even better news for Keillor and the Storm?

They won’t have to see the inside of a bus for two and a half weeks.