One of the Campbell River Storm’s core players has taken the next step in his career.
After 90 games and 68 points, forward Jackson Gudz is leaving the Storm and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) behind him. The 21-year-old Brandon, Man., product is joining the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners for the team’s 2024-25 campaign in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL). They will be defending their title from last year.
“Jackson has been a quintessential member of the Storm ever since he first put on our uniform,” says Wes Roed, the Storm’s director of hockey operations. “A hard-working, effective competitor and leader, as well as a great ambassador to our program. Jackson’s character and commitment will serve him well, and, of course, will make the VIU Mariners all that much better.”
Gudz joined the Storm in the 2021-22 season after playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings U188 AAA team. In his rookie season, Gudz played in 34 games, scoring five goals and 13 assists. The next season, he split his time with the Storm and the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. He only played six games for the Kings, recording one assist, and only 12 games for the Storm, collecting five points. He returned to the Storm for the 2023-24 season, playing 44 games and recording 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists). He also featured in the playoffs, playing six games and scoring one goal and two assists in the first series against the Kerry Park Islanders.