Congratulations to the Campbell River Storm for capturing the Cyclone Taylor Cup and emphatically declaring themselves Junior B champions of British Columbia.
Kevin and Linda Spooner have built a formidable organization guided by the sure and steady hands of Coach and General Manager Lee Stone and his coaching staff. But, of course, it comes down to the young men who slap on the pads, lace up the skates and pull on that jersey who put it all on the line. The Campbell River Storm players have earned themselves accolades for the way they’ve played all year, resulting in not only the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League title but now the provincial title and the storied Cyclone Taylor Cup for the second time in club history.
Now a hockey team is just a diversion but Campbell River likes its hockey and so the Storm occupy a prestigious place in the life of the community. The attendance at Rod Brind’Amour Arena has been near capacity or sold out for most of the season. The chat on social media is always strong and the support from the business community reflects the value of the team. It is a credit to the team that a lot of that connection is fostered by the club through its willingness to help with various causes and have its players support numerous charities and events. This is a small town-team with a big league attitude and it is appreciated in the community.
In the end, it is a program that is responsible for the development of young men and the Storm has put in place the structure to encourage youths to excel and develop a sense of responsibility. Teams serve as symbols of a community and the Storm do a good job of pointing out to young people that citizenship, responsibility and charity are virtues to be admired and pursued.
