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By Jeromy Corrigan

Storm open 2019 post-season in Fort McMurray

Mar 7, 2019 | 6:12 AM

The 1st round of the 2019 AJHL playoffs are set to begin Thursday night with all six 1st round series beginning.

This includes the Grande Prairie Storm who are in Fort McMurray to begin their best of five series with the Oil Barons.

Grande Prairie finished the regular season with a 30-26-4 record on the season which was good for 5th in the North division.

Fort McMurray was 4th in the North and 9 points ahead of the Storm with a 32-19-9 record.

Storm Head Coach Matt Keillor knows his young squad will be in for a battle against a big veteran line-up.

“They are a big physical hockey team. The only way we are going to have success is if our depth is playing. We have the ability of throwing four lines at these guys and if we compete every shift, we have the advantage.”

However, one crucial aspect of the series will be staying out of the penalty box for the Storm as time and time again in the season series between the two teams there has been a parade to the sin bin.

“We have taken I think 30 penalties in 6 games against these guys. With their Top 6 as good as anyone in the league. They have some high scoring offence up their with guys like (Reed) Morrison and (Kole) Gable. If we are in the box 6 or 7 times a game those guys will find a way to burn you. It’s important we stay discipline and keep the game 5 on 5 as long as possible.”

When it comes to the season series between the two clubs, the Oil Barons got the better of the Storm winning 5 out of 6 of the meetings.

However, 5 of the 6 games came before the January 10th trade deadline where plenty of roster moves were made for both clubs.

The last time these two clubs faced off was on February 2nd in Fort McMurray where the Oil Barons came back from a 3-2 deficit late to win 4-3 in overtime.

Puck drop between the Storm and the Oil Barons is this evening at 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 is scheduled for Friday at the Casman Centre in Fort McMurray and then the series will shift to Grande Prairie for Game 3 on Sunday.

A full series schedule is listed below:

Game 1: March 7th – GP @ Fort Mac

Game 2: March 8th – GP @ Fort Mac

Game 3: March 10th – Fort Mac @ GP

*Game 4: March 11th – Fort Mac @ GP

*Game 5: March 13th – GP @ Fort Mac

Other AJHL 1st round series include:

Calgary Canucks vs Okotoks Oilers

Canmore Eagles vs Drumheller Dragons

Calgary Mustangs vs Camrose Kodiaks

Drayton Valley Thunder vs Spruce Grove Saints

Whitecourt Wolverines vs Bonnyville Pontiacs

 

by Jeromy Corrigan