Grande Prairie Storm

{{infobox hockey team

| team = Grande Prairie Storm

| logo = Grande Prairie Storm Logo.svg

| colour = #11204C; border-top:#F5DC06 5px solid; border-bottom:#C0C1D4 5px solid

| colour text = #FFFFFF

| league = AJHL

| division = North

| founded = 1966{{cite web |url=http://www.grandeprairiestorm.ca/tradition/team-history.html |title=Team History |website=Grande Prairie Storm |access-date=July 2, 2019}}

| arena = Bonnetts Energy Centre

| GM = Mark Bomersback

| coach = Chris Schmidt

| colours = Yellow, Navy blue, and White
{{colour box|#F5DC06}} {{colour box|#11204C}} {{colour box|white}} {{colour box|#C0C1D4}}

| website = {{url|grandeprairiestorm.ca}}

| name1 = Grande Prairie Jr. Athletics

| dates1 = 1966–1972

| name2 = Grande Prairie North Stars

| dates2 = 1972–1989

| name3 = Grande Prairie Chiefs

| dates3 = 1991–1995

| name4 = Grande Prairie Storm

| dates4 = 1995–present

}}

The Grande Prairie Storm is a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, with home games at Bonnetts Energy Centre.

History

The organization was founded in 1966 as the Junior Athletics as a member of the Peace Junior B Hockey League (PJHL). The team rebranded around 1972 as the Grande Prairie North Stars.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/grande-prairie-north-stars-11175.html |title=Grande Prairie North Stars Statistics and History [PJHL] |website=HockeyDB |access-date=July 2, 2019}} When the Quesnel Millionaires and Prince George Spruce Kings joined the league in 1975, the league became the Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League (PCJHL). In 1980, the league and teams were promoted to Junior A. The North Stars were financially struggling and sat out two seasons from 1989 to 1991. They came back as the Grande Prairie Chiefs in 1991, but the league had brought in teams from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and reformed as the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL).

In 1995, with the Chiefs continuing to have financial difficulties, a community-led group bought the team with the goal of paying off its $150,000 in debts and restoring junior A hockey to prominence in the Peace Country. The team rebranded as the Grande Prairie Storm and moved to a brand new arena, the Canada Games Arena, built for the 1995 Canada Winter Games.

In 1996, the Storm moved from the RMJHL to the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). The Storm qualified for the AJHL post season in each of its first 18 consecutive seasons before missing in 2014. In 2004, the Storm won their first AJHL championship. They also hosted the 2004 Royal Bank Cup national junior A championship tournament that season, where they lost in the semifinals.

The Storm have been a major success off the ice as well as the franchise perennially leads the AJHL in attendance, and often leads the entire Canadian Junior A Hockey League in attendance.{{Cite web |title=AJHL 2017-18 team attendance at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph_season.php?lid=AJHL1999&sid=2018 |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=www.hockeydb.com}}{{Cite web |title=AJHL 2023-24 team attendance at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph_season.php?lid=AJHL1999&sid=2024 |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=www.hockeydb.com}} The Storm broke the previous attendance record for the Royal Bank Cup by over 9000 fans in 2004.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

style=width:4em \|Season ! style=width:2.2em \| GP ! style=width:2.2em \|W ! style=width:2.2em \| L ! style=width:2.2em \| T/OTL ! style=width:2.2em \| SOL ! style=width:2.2em \| Pts ! style=width:2.2em \| GF ! style=width:2.2em \| GA ! style=width:10em \|Finish ! style=width:18em \|Playoffs
class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="text-align:center"
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1975–76	39	28	11	0	—	56	217	159	1st, PC Jr. B	align=left\|Lost Finals, 1–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1976–77	40	17	23	0	—	34	179	216	4th, PC Jr. B
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1977–78	40	21	19	0	—	42	203	164	3rd, PC Jr. B
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1978–79	35	13	21	1	—	27	231	254	5th, PC Jr. B
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1979–80	48	27	21	0	—	54	296	239	5th, PC Jr. B	align=left\|Lost Semifinals vs. Fort St. John Golden Hawks
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1980–81	40	17	23	0	—	34	180	207	5th, PCJHL	align=left\|Did not qualify
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1981–82	56	37	19	0	—	78	367	234	2nd, PCJHL	align=left\|Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Dawson Creek Kodiaks Lost Finals, 1–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1982–83	colspan="11"\|Did not participate
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1983–84	50	22	27	1	—	45	278	273	3rd, PCJHL	align=left\|Lost Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Williams Lake Mustangs
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1984–85	48	20	27	1	—	41	248	274	4th, PCJHL	align=left\|Lost Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Fort St. John Huskies
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1985–86	50	26	24	0	—	52	281	288	4th, PCJHL	align=left\|Lost Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1986–87	48	28	20	0	—	56	284	247	3rd, PCJHL	align=left\|Won Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Fort St. John Huskies Lost Finals, 2–4 vs. Quesnel Millionaires
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1987–88	50	38	12	0	—	76	346	189	1st, PCJHL	align=left\|Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Williams Lake Mustangs Won League Finals, 4–3 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings PCJHL Championship Lost Mowat Cup, 0–2 vs. Vernon Lakers (BCJHL)
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1988–89	52	40	12	0	—	80	333	180	1st, PCJHL	align=left\|Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings Lost Finals, 1–4 vs. Williams Lake Mustangs
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1989–1991	colspan="11"\|Did not participate
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1991–92	52	13	37	2	—	28	211	355	5th, Peace-Cariboo	align=left\|Did not qualify
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1992–93	52	22	30	0	—	44	260	339	3rd, Peace-Cariboo	align=left\|Lost Conf. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \|1993–94	52	34	17	1	—	69	270	223	3rd, Peace-Cariboo	align=left\|Lost Conf. Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Fort St. John Huskies
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \| 1994–95	52	24	25	3	—	51	253	272	2nd, Peace-Cariboo	align=left\|Lost Conf. Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Williams Lake Mustangs
bgcolor="#ffeeee" \| 1995–96	58	40	18	0	—	80	317	228	1st, Peace-Cariboo	align=left\|Lost Conf. Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Quesnel Millionaires
1996–97	60	28	27	—	5	88	236	227	5th, AJHL	align=left\|Won Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Bow Valley Eagles Lost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Calgary Canucks
1997–98	60	42	15	—	3	87	277	205	2nd, AJHL	align=left\|Won Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Bow Valley Eagles Lost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1998–99	62	33	22	—	7	73	238	203	4th, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost Quarterfinals, 1–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1999–00	64	36	26	—	2	74	218	203	4th, North	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
2000–01	64	39	22	3	—	81	279	244	2nd, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert Saints Lost Div. Finals, 1–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2001–02	64	34	21	9	—	77	233	214	5th, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. St. Albert Saints Won Div. Finals, 4–3 vs. Canmore Eagles Lost Championship, 0–4 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder
2002–03	64	40	23	1	—	81	267	193	4th, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
2003–04	60	40	14	6	—	86	241	139	1st, North	align=left\|Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Lloydminster Blazers Won Div. Finals, 4–2 vs. Olds Grizzlys Won League Finals, 4–1 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons AJHL Championship Lost Doyle Cup, 1–4 vs. Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)
2004–05	64	38	21	5	—	81	216	160	5th, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2005–06	60	38	18	4	—	80	211	148	4th, North	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
2006–07	60	41	15	4	—	86	247	176	2nd, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Spruce Grove Saints Lost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2007–08	62	38	18	6	—	82	207	161	2nd, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. St. Albert Steel Lost Div. Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2008–09	62	42	15	5	—	89	228	134	2nd, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Brooks Bandits Won League Finals, 4–0 vs. Spruce Grove Saints AJHL Championship Lost Doyle Cup, 0–4 vs. Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
2009–10	60	40	17	4	—	83	233	174	2nd, North	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2010–11	60	34	22	4	—	72	188	157	4th North	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
2011–12	60	21	35	4	—	46	169	221	7th North	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2012–13	60	35	21	4	—	74	185	156	2nd North	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
2013–14	60	21	36	3	—	45	155	220	8th North	align=left\|Did not qualify
2014–15	60	15	41	4	—	34	119	245	8th North	align=left\|Did not qualify
2015–16	60	11	45	4	—	26	138	302	8th North	align=left\|Did not qualify
2016–17	60	15	38	7	1	37	146	153	7th of 8, North 14th of 16, AJHL	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2017–18	60	28	29	—	3	59	212	225	4th of 8, North 8th of 16, AJHL	align=left\|Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2018–19	60	30	26	4	—	64	208	215	5th of 8, North 11th of 16, AJHL	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2019–20	58	18	33	7	—	43	139	198	7th of 8, North 12th of 15, AJHL	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints
2020–21	18	9	8	1	—	19	52	57	align=center colspan=2\|Season cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic
2021–22	60	22	30	8	—	52	183	237	8th of 8, North 12th of 16, AJHL	align=left\|Did Not Qualify for Post Season
2022–23	60	19	33	5	3	46	153	224	7th of 8, North 14th of 16, AJHL	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
2023–24	57	24	26	4	3	55	173	191	6th of 11, AJHL	align=left\|Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Calgary Canucks

=Junior A National Championship=

The National Junior A Championship, known as the Centennial Cup and formerly as the Royal Bank Cup or RBC Cup, is the postseason tournament for the Canadian national championship for Junior A hockey teams that are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The tournament consists of the regional Junior A champions and a previously selected host team. Since 1990, the national championship has used a five-team tournament format when the regional qualifiers were designated as the ANAVET Cup (Western), Doyle Cup (Pacific), Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), and Fred Page Cup (Eastern). From 2013 to 2017, the qualifiers were the Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), Fred Page Cup (Eastern), and the Western Canada Cup champions and runners-up.

The tournament begins with round-robin play between the five teams followed by the top four teams playing a semifinal game, with the top seed facing the fourth seed and the second facing the third. The winners of the semifinals then face each other in final game for the national championship. In some years, the losers of the semifinal games face each other for a third place game.

Year \|\| Round-robin \|\| Record \|\| Standing \|\| Semifinal \|\| Third place game \|\| Championship game
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
2004 Host	align=left\|W, 5–3 vs. Kindersley Klippers (Western) W, 4–2 vs. Aurora Tigers (Central) W, 7–2 vs. Nepean Raiders (Eastern) L, 2–7 vs. Nanaimo Clippers (Pacific)	3–1	1st of 5	L, 3–4 vs. Kindersley Klippers	Not played	—