The Grande Prairie Storm are off to a lightning-fast start to the 2024/25 AJHL season, sitting comfortably in second place in the North Division.
Storm Executive Director Nicole Menzies took a moment to reflect on the season so far, highlighting some key differences in their style and roster compared to last season.
“We have some really good momentum to build on,” she says. “We have a really talented team, and I think the more the players get to know each other, the better outcome will be.”
Menzies refers to the squad’s “fast, gritty” game as one of the key attitude changes among the skaters so far; combined with a couple of new faces on the roster, and the leadership of some of the veterans, the Executive Director says she is looking forward to a successful second half of the season.
“Lots of our new additions are really fun to watch on the ice, they play a fast, gritty game, and they’re fitting in really well with the team,” she says. “I think it’ll be really fun to see what these guys do in the second half, especially with our group of 20-year-olds as it’s their last year of junior hockey, and I know they’re looking to finish strong.”
“I think that the team in general is just really looking forward to putting their heads down and keep working hard.”
The Storm will be coming off a several-game road trip before the new year, facing off against Lloydminster during their first game back. Still, Menzies says she doesn’t expect the road or the holidays to slow any of the guys down.
“[We’re] hoping they’re coming back energized and ready to dig in and keep doing what they’ve been doing,” she says. “I think they’ll be fresh from the holidays at home with their families and really ready to stare down the barrel into that playoff run.”
Menzies remains hesitant to mention the playoffs too early in the season; however, she says given her team’s momentum at the end of the year, there is no expectation they’ll slow down.
“I think we’re always obviously hopeful every season for a very long playoff run,” she says. “What the first half of the season has shown us and where we’re sitting in the standings, I think if we can maintain that pace we’ll definitely be looking towards the playoffs.”
The Storm will make their 2025 debut against the North Division’s third-place Lloydminster Bobcats on January 3rd at the Centennial Civic Centre Arena in Lloydminster.
