Kimberley Dynamiters hold off Creston Valley ThunderCats to win 2-1 and win the series

Photo by Jonathan Righton

Desperation hockey. Dynamiters want to end the series and kill all hope. The ThunderCats, with their four '94's, had nothing to lose. Both teams were prepped and ready (fans too) to give it their all on the ice. 673 in attendance.

Game Notes

• Tyson Brouwer and Mitchell Martell went head to head
• Campanella dressed for his first game of 2015, his last since December 6, 2014.
• Injuries/Scratches: Van Steinburg, Mallard, Roy, Pagura

1st

The period was tightly played. Regardless of who was breaking in, there was always a stick on the way to break up the play, or a body in the way of a shot. Lane did have a moment of freedom and wired a wrist shot off the post and out of play. Both Martell and Brouwer were unbeatable this period. The Dynamiters led in shots 10-7.

2nd

The Dynamiters special teams kept clicking. A shot was wristed from the point and got caught up in a Cats d-man, before falling to the ice. Haase was able to regain control of the puck down low and wristed it past Martell. They play at this point was 4 on 3 with penalties that had been called. Later, as players started returning to the ice from the box, Wallace swatted in a rebound 4 seconds after Creston went on the PP. The goals were less than a minute a part. On the same PK, Hunt who was floating high got a break away, and was robbed by the toe of Martell.

Emotions increased, and the ref did a good job of making logical calls to keep both teams down. As noted, both teams were desperate. There was a moment when you could see Cats fans foaming, and the bench was upset. The Cats captain made contact with a Nitro players head, and the announcer declared that Fuchs was given 2 minutes and a game misconduct - which is such a terrible way to go out in such an important game. However, at the end of the period the announcer corrected his statement, that it was 2 and 10, not a game, which created relief.

The teams then traded PP opportunities to end the period. Dynamiters led 2-0, and had 12 shots to Creston's 9.

3rd

I have to admit some nerves about this period, with nothing left to lose, and 20 minutes remaining, I though play would get really chippy. But both teams were disciplined, and created an entertaining period. The Cats got on the board just 5 minutes into the period. Both teams went back and fourth, but the excitement came as the Cats pulled their goalie with 2 minutes left, and they sustained the pressure and kept the puck in the zone. Dynamiters were throwing themselves in front of the puck, and Brouwer made last line saves when needed. The Nitro's iced the puck several times, and had many moments where the puck got to the blue line, but Creston kept the play on side. The dying seconds dragged on as both teams used their time outs. Kimberley held on for the victory.

The Cats put on a stellar performance and a valiant effort. The Dynamiters move on to play Fernie Ghostriders.

Dynamite Player of the Game

Tyson Brouwer - 26 save performance

Honorable Mentions

Lincoln Lane - Resilient. He kept giving it his all, despite struggling to get the puck across the blue line to clear the zone, he continued to throw his body in front of the puck.

Justin Meier - I can understand why he is referred to a Tasmanian Devil. Plays with a lot of passion and energy, and uses his body to deliver heavy hits.

Eric Buckley - got crunched at the start of the game, helped off the ice, and returned later.

Further Reading

Boxscore

Taylor Rocca write up