Storr `returns’ to Kings

It’s hard to believe that Jamie Storr is still only 34 years old. After he spent parts of nine seasons with the Kings — he was the backup goalie on the last Kings team to make the playoffs, in 2001-02 — Storr made an NHL stop in Carolina and AHL stops in Lowell, Springfield, Utah and Philadelphia before he signed to play for DEG Metro Stars, one of the top German teams, in 2006. Storr spent three seasons in Germany and retired after last season.

Now, Storr runs his own goalie school — www.jamiestorr.com — out of the Kings’ training facility in El Segundo. When the Kings needed a second goalie in practice this week, with Jonathan Quick participating in the Olympics, they turned to Storr, who will practice with the Kings all week if needed. If the U.S. makes the gold-medal game, Quick won’t rejoin the Kings until Tuesday morning in Dallas. Here’s what Storr said about his “return” to the NHL…

Question: How did it feel to be back out for an NHL practice?

STORR: “I was really excited. Ronnie (Hextall) called me about a week and a half ago and asked if I would be interested in coming out to skate, because of Jonathan being at the Olympics. The last couple days, it’s been exciting. It’s exciting to get back on the ice with this level of players. It’s pretty neat to be a part of it, even at a practice level. It’s exciting. It was fun.”

Question: Did you play with anyone on the current roster? Sean O’Donnell?

STORR: “OD came in the same year as me here. Frolov was a young guy, a rookie, one of my last years. Just the PR guys, other than that.”

Question: Do you still have some association with your old team in Germany?

STORR: “Yeah. I had this year left on my contract, and coming home, I just thought, I have an 8-year-old, a 6-year-old and a 5-month-ago now, and it’s too much to play anymore, so I decided to retire and stay here. My old GM called me about two weeks ago and said, `Would you be interested if we just roster you?’ J.S. Aubin is the goalie there, and he has played every game. He’s actually the goalie of the year there. They said, `If he gets hurt, I’m not confident going into playoffs with just him, so if he gets hurt, would you fly over for the playoffs?’ I said, sure. That’s one of the reasons why it’s exciting to get back and start training a little bit, just for fun, but at the same time, it feels good to get back on the ice again.”

Question: How are things going with the goalie school?

STORR: “Really good. I used to do private lessons during the week, and I run the Junior Kings program for goalies. From 5 o’clock to 9 o’clock, Monday through Friday, I’m busy. I’ve got 25 to 40 goalies a week, depending on how many come through. It’s been really busy. It’s fun. We’re starting to train some older kids that are trying to turn pro, or going to the WHL and being looked at. You go through the same stuff you would go through, training and getting them ready with everything. It’s been exciting doing that, but at the same time, I told them last week, `I’m going to get on the ice with you,’ because I wanted to get back skating again. It’s fun to do it yourself. As much as you like teaching kids, it’s also fun to get out there with them. It’s been fun.”