The last time the South Delta Bantam A1 Storm advanced to the provincial championships was back in 2007. The success of those players continues to this day.
On Monday, former Storm teammates Josh Nicholls and Taylor Peters signed free agent contracts with the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars respectively. That makes it four '07 Storm members who are now property of NHL clubs, with the pair joining Brendan Gallagher (Montreal Canadiens) and Colton Jobke (Minnesota Wild). The list may still continue to grow as Luke Siemens is one of the leading goalies in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders, while Spencer Humphries is a key member of the Calgary Hitmen blueline.
Nicholls is having another productive season with the Eastern Division leading Saskatoon Blades. He paces the team with a career-best 41 goals and will remain with the Blades through to the end of May when they host the 2013 Memorial Cup.
The 20-year-old was originally selected in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs but couldn't agree to terms with the club. His three-year entry level contract with the Rangers reportedly includes a signing bonus of $92,500 for each of the three years.
Peters could very well be joining Nicholls at the Memorial Cup. He is in his final season with the league-leading Portland Winterhawks where he provides leadership as one of the team's top defensive forwards.
"Taylor is one of the hardest-working players we've seen here with the Winterhawks, and he's incredibly deserving of this contract," said Portland acting head coach Travis Green. "He is a versatile player who can play in all situations. He's one of our most valuable players on the ice and an important voice among our leadership group off the ice."
The 6-foot-3, 207pounder cracked the Winterhawks' roster when he was just 16. His 313 games ranks fourth in franchise history.
Peters was named the team's top defensive player a year ago and was co-winner of the Scholastic Player of the Year Award.
He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Stars and is pencilled in to play with the club's American Hockey League affiliate next season.
"Taylor brings size, good faceoff ability, strong defensive awareness and adds to our organizational depth down the middle," said Dallas general manager Joe Nieuwendyk. "We look forward to watching him develop with the Texas Stars next year."
Icing....
Another member of the '07 Storm left behind his junior hockey career to focus on baseball. Jackson Gooch is now on a scholarship at McNeese State University in Louisiana where he is batting .279 11 games into his junior season.
