By Colin MacLean
TC Media
SUMMERSIDE — The Summerside Storm is getting ready to play its second annual New Year’s Eve game tonight when the winless Montreal Jazz make its first trip to P.E.I. in the National Basketball League of Canada.
Game time at Eastlink Arena is 7 p.m.
Head coach, Joe Salerno, said the Storm cannot afford to take anything for granted against the Jazz (0-15).
“I think they’re better than what their record shows. I mean they’ve been very competitive in the last six or seven games they’ve played,” said Salerno.
“We saw what can happen for us when we came out complacent against Halifax a week ago. So we just need to be ready to come out and compete, and not overlook these guys at all.”
The Storm come into the game in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 10-9 record after an exciting 101-95 home win Friday night over the Moncton Miracles.
Storm forward Brandon Robinson went over the 1,000-point mark in the game, the first NBL player to ever score over 1,000 career points in the league.
The Storm’s Al Stewart is the current career leader in two categories.
He has 308 assists, six more than Anthony Anderson of Saint John and Stewart’s 114 steals is 30 more than Anderson.
The Storm’s Omari Johnson had career blocks 59 and 60 against the Miracles Friday night.
That puts him in second place, 10 behind Sylvania Watkins of Moncton. Johnson recorded his second consecutive double-double with the Storm with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
It was Johnson’s 14th career double-double, good for fourth place all-time in the NBL.
So far this season, the Storm has a 6-3 record at home.
Last season, the team was 8-11 after 19 games, and after nine home games last season, the Storm sported a 3-6 record.
The Storm’s six home wins this season equals the total the team registered all last season when they went 6-12 at home.
The Storm has now scored over 100 points in eight straight games, a new team record.
There will be plenty of excitement and fun for the whole family at Credit Union Place on New Year’s Eve with entertainment and food in the lobby, sleigh rides outside the building, along with free skating, bowling and swimming before the game.
Guests are invited to come to Credit Union Place early and enjoy the party then stay for the game.
Following the game there will be a countdown and everyone joining in the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
