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scamperdog
08-16-2006, 06:46 PM
www.kamloopsthisweek.com


An initial cold-shoulder response has melted into a puddle of mutual friendship after a recent meeting between Kamloops' mainstay Blazers personnel and the new-kid-on-the-block junior B Storm.

Strom president Barry Dewar met with Blazers' general manager Dean Clark last week to discuss a potential partnership for nurturing player development in the Tournament Capital.

"He [Clark] said everything I was expecting them to say the first time around about wanting to work together, and I think it's going to be a very positive relationship."

Whisperings of the Storm's potential move to Kamloops, from Osoyoos, in early spring were met with rumblings from the Blazer board, citing competition for ticket sales as a troubling prospect.

Since that time the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association approved the Storm's relocation to the McArthur Island Sports Centre and things have been full-steam-ahead leading into Storm training camp, which is slated to start on Sept. 1.

Although it's too soon to say whether the new club has made a dent in Blazer ticket profits, the focus over the summer seems to have switched to hockey.

"Our success will dovetail with the Blazers' success," Dewar said of a handshake agreement between himself and Clark.

"And the better we do, the better they'll do because we're going to be helping them get there."

Clark agreed.

He said the relationship could benefit his club by keeping potential Blazers in Kamloops and utilizing the Storm franchise as a local feeder system.