Storm look to clinch playoff spot early while holding top spot in KIJHL

Image Credit - Alex Beckett/Fallsway Marketing & Media

The Kamloops Storm enter the weekend sitting where they have been most of the season. Right at the top of the league.

At 23 wins, 7 losses and 2 overtime losses, the Storm have positioned themselves as one of the league's best and will have a chance to turn that strong regular season into something more tangible tonight. Kamloops is on the road to 100 Mile House to face the Wranglers, with a playoff berth available with a win.

This season has quietly become one of the strongest campaigns the Storm have put together in years. They have shown consistency, depth and an ability to win in different ways, all traits that separate contenders from teams simply having a good regular season. With 12 games remaining on the schedule, including eight on home ice, Kamloops is in a position to control its own path, but there is heavy competition.

KIJHL Standings as of January 16th

The standings are tight near the top. Revelstoke, Kimberley, Beaver Valley and Princeton all sit within two points of the Storm, with some holding games in hand. That margin leaves little room for complacency and sets up a finish where every point matters. The race for first place is far from settled and the pressure will only increase as the calendar flips toward the postseason.

Ahead of the stretch drive, the Storm made a clear statement last week with a massive trade. Kamloops moved Emery Corpe, Sean Milford and Jack Day to Nelson in exchange for Quinn Ramsay and Cale Nachai, Nelson's two leading scorers, bringing both experience and immediate impact into the lineup.

The early returns have been exactly what Kamloops was hoping for. Ramsay and Nachai have each found the scoresheet in their first two games with the club, recording a goal and multiple points. Ramsay has already earned a spot on the top power play unit, adding another layer of threat to a group that has been effective all season.