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. 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. 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

Season <abbr title="Games Played">GP</abbr title> <abbr title="Wins">W</abbr title> <abbr title="Losses">L</abbr title> <abbr title="Ties/Overtime Losses">T/OTL</abbr title> <abbr title="Shootout Losses">SOL</abbr title> <abbr title="Points">Pts</abbr title> <abbr title="Goals For">GF</abbr title> <abbr title="Goals Against">GA</abbr title> Finish Playoffs1975–76 39 28 11 0 —56 217 159 1st, PC Jr. B Lost Finals, 1–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings1976–77 40 17 23 0 —34 179 216 4th, PC Jr. B 1977–78 40 21 19 0 —42 203 164 3rd, PC Jr. B 1978–79 35 13 21 1 —27 231 254 5th, PC Jr. B 1979–80 48 27 21 0 —54 296 239 5th, PC Jr. BLost Semifinals vs. Fort St. John Golden Hawks1980–81 40 17 23 0 —34 180 207 5th, PCJHL Did not qualify1981–82 56 37 19 0 —78 367 234 2nd, PCJHL Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Dawson Creek KodiaksLost Finals, 1–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings1982–83 Did not participate1983–84 50 22 27 1 —45 278 273 3rd, PCJHLLost Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Williams Lake Mustangs1984–85 48 20 27 1 —41 248 274 4th, PCJHLLost Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Fort St. John Huskies1985–86 50 26 24 0 —52 281 288 4th, PCJHLLost Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings1986–87 48 28 20 0 —56 284 247 3rd, PCJHL Won Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Fort St. John HuskiesLost Finals, 2–4 vs. Quesnel Millionaires1987–88 50 38 12 0 —76 346 189 1st, PCJHL Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Williams Lake MustangsWon League Finals, 4–3 vs. Prince George Spruce KingsPCJHL ChampionshipLost Mowat Cup, 0–2 vs. Vernon Lakers (BCJHL)1988–89 52 40 12 0 —80 333 180 1st, PCJHLWon Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Prince George Spruce KingsLost Finals, 1–4 vs. Williams Lake Mustangs1989–1991 Did not participate1991–92 52 13 37 2 —28 211 355 5th, Peace-Cariboo Did not qualify1992–93 52 22 30 0 —44 260 339 3rd, Peace-Cariboo Lost Conf. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Prince George Spruce Kings1993–94 52 34 17 1 —69 270 223 3rd, Peace-Cariboo Lost Conf. Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Fort St. John Huskies 1994–95 52 24 25 3 —51 253 272 2nd, Peace-Cariboo Lost Conf. Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Williams Lake Mustangs 1995–96 58 40 18 0 —80 317 228 1st, Peace-Cariboo Lost Conf. Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Quesnel Millionaires 1996–97 60 28 27 — 5 88 236 227 5th, AJHL Won Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Bow Valley EaglesLost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Calgary Canucks 1997–98 60 42 15 — 3 87 277 205 2nd, AJHL Won Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Bow Valley EaglesLost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders 1998–99 62 33 22 — 7 73 238 203 4th, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsLost Quarterfinals, 1–4 vs. St. Albert Saints 1999–00 64 36 26 — 2 74 218 203 4th, North Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs 2000–01 64 39 22 3 — 81 279 244 2nd, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. Fort Saskatchewan TradersWon Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. St. Albert SaintsLost Div. Finals, 1–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks 2001–02 64 34 21 9 — 77 233 214 5th, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Fort McMurray Oil BaronsWon Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. St. Albert SaintsWon Div. Finals, 4–3 vs. Canmore EaglesLost Championship, 0–4 vs. Drayton Valley Thunder 2002–03 64 40 23 1 — 81 267 193 4th, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Drayton Valley ThunderLost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. St. Albert Saints 2003–04 60 40 14 6 — 86 241 139 1st, North Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Lloydminster BlazersWon Div. Finals, 4–2 vs. Olds GrizzlysWon League Finals, 4–1 vs. Fort McMurray Oil BaronsAJHL ChampionshipLost Doyle Cup, 1–4 vs. Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) 2004–05 64 38 21 5 — 81 216 160 5th, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Bonnyville PontiacsLost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons 2005–06 60 38 18 4 — 80 211 148 4th, North Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs 2006–07 60 41 15 4 — 86 247 176 2nd, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Sherwood Park CrusadersWon Div. Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Spruce Grove SaintsLost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks 2007–08 62 38 18 6 — 82 207 161 2nd, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. St. Albert SteelLost Div. Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints 2008–09 62 42 15 5 — 89 228 134 2nd, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Lloydminster BobcatsWon Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park CrusadersWon Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Brooks BanditsWon League Finals, 4–0 vs. Spruce Grove SaintsAJHL ChampionshipLost Doyle Cup, 0–4 vs. Vernon Vipers (BCHL) 2009–10 60 40 17 4 — 83 233 174 2nd, North Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Lloydminster BobcatsLost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons 2010–11 60 34 22 4 —72 188 157 4th North Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Lloydminster Bobcats 2011–12 60 21 35 4 —46 169 221 7th North Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons 2012–13 60 35 21 4 —74 185 156 2nd North Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders 2013–14 60 21 36 3 —45 155 220 8th North Did not qualify 2014–15 60 15 41 4 —34 119 245 8th North Did not qualify 2015–16 60 11 45 4 —26 138 302 8th North Did not qualify 2016–17 60 15 38 7 1 37 146 153 7th of 8, North14th of 16, AJHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Whitecourt Wolverines 2017–18 60 28 29 — 3 59 212 225 4th of 8, North8th of 16, AJHL Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. Sherwood Park CrusadersLost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints 2018–19 60 30 26 4 — 64 208 215 5th of 8, North11th of 16, AJHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons 2019–20 58 18 33 7 — 43 139 198 7th of 8, North12th of 15, AJHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Spruce Grove Saints 2020–21 18 9 8 1 — 19 52 57 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021–22 60 22 30 8 — 52 183 237 8th of 8, North12th of 16, AJHL Did Not Qualify for Post Season 2022–23 60 19 33 5 3 46 153 224 7th of 8, North14th of 16, AJHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–4 Wolverines 2023–24 57 24 26 4 3 55 173 191 6th of 11, AJHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 2–4 Canucks 2024–25 54 30 17 1 6 67 209 157 2nd of 6 Nor Div6th of 12, AJHL Won Div. Semifinals, 4-0 BobcatsWon Div. Finals, 4-0 WolverinesLost League finals 0-4 CanucksCanucks National Host-Storm advance

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 2004Host 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—

Revised format 2022 Canadian Jr. A National ChampionshipsMaritime Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Host. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative.Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion. Year Round-robin Record Standing Quarterfinal Semifinal Championship 2025 L, Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL), 2–6W, Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL), 3–1L, Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL), 2–6W, Northern Manitoba Blizzard (ManJHL), 6-3 2-0-2-0 4th of 5 Group A did not qualified did not qualified did not qualified

League awards

Player awards 2018 AJHL Rookie of the Year — Zachary Okabe

Team awards 2004 AJHL Champions 2009 AJHL Champions

Notable alumni

Logan Thompson Tanner Fritz Carter Rowney Grant Stevenson Nick Weiss

See also List of ice hockey teams in Alberta

References

External links Grande Prairie Storm website Alberta Junior Hockey League website