Storm touting importance of discipline as temperature rises in series with Wranglers

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Storm head coach Andrew Fisher had a grin on his face while speaking about the physicality and aggression featuring in his club’s Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) post-season series against the 100 Mile House Wranglers.

“Oh, it’s a lot of fun,” Fisher said. “If you’re a hockey player or you love hockey, this is the time of year and the kind of games you like to be a part of.”

The Storm blanked the visiting Wranglers 3-0 on Tuesday (March 18) in a contest that featured fights, game misconducts and the ejection of 100 Mile House Wranglers’ assistant coach Russell Sanderson.

“Two division rivals. It’s going to get a little heated.,” Storm forward Luca D’Amore said. “The best way to take that is to not let it get to you mentally because that’s all you’re thinking about.

“We had a coach call it a controlled rage. Go out there, play hard, but once the whistle blows, nothing stupid. You don’t need to be in the box, especially in a tight series like this.”

D’Amore is enjoying a breakout post-season, with 12 points, including a KIJHL-leading nine goals, in eight games.

“When you first get into the league and you’re playing against older guys, maybe you’re checking your shoulder one too many times or something like that,” said D’Amore, who tallied twice on Tuesday. “The comfortability is starting to set in and that is leading to making better plays.”

The emergence of 17-year-old D’Amore dovetails with the ascension of 18-year-old Brenner Fyfe, who posted a 24-save shutout on Tuesday to improve his save percentage to .941 in the post-season.

“It meant a lot,” Fyfe said of the Game 4 goose egg. “Just a huge momentum booster for us, especially going into Game 5, just the timing of it, tied 2-2. Yeah, it was nice.”

The Storm have not reached Round 3 of the post-season since 2015.

With a victory on Friday, they would earn the opportunity to end the drought on home ice on Saturday at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre.

“It’s huge,” D’Amore said. “It’s way different coming home up 3-2. You have a chance to win. Rather than coming home and you have to win and then you’re in 100 Mile for Game 7, which is a lot harder than playing at home. It’s about getting that one win and letting the series go from there.”