Kimberley Dynamiters win over Creston Valley inches them closer to home-ice advantage

Photo by Jonathan Righton

Creston Valley and Kimberley met up for what will most likely be a first round match up. What's at stake? Home ice advantage. The two teams sat three points apart at the start of the game. A win for the Dynamiters gives them a better hold on 2nd spot in the division, a win for Creston puts them one point behind.

Game Notes

• Brouwer got the start in net
• Injuries/Scratches: Prevost, Campanella, Pagura
• And no... my son was not cheering for Creston this time (which I admit surprised me, given what he did last game)

1st

The Dynamiters started the game playing a good part of the game in the Cats end. Gordon wristed the puck at the net, and it was deflected by Van Steinburg. Play unfortunately got delayed as the period went on, as the score clock started glitching out - horn going sporadically, times getting garbled, and so on. It was a nuisance to everyone in attendance, and probably terribly distracting for the players. Later, Hunt broke in and Roy had to be notified from the bench that it was a 2-on-1 opportunity and to not come to the bench for a line change, as a result Hunt fed the puck to Roy and he snuck it in. The Dynamiters  had penalty troubles late in the period, but Marchi and Richter teamed up, stole the puck, and Marchi scored a SH goal. The period closed with a 3-0 lead for the Dynamiters in a tightly contested match, the shots were 14-4. Again deceptive, as the game felt more intense and closer than those two stats suggest.

2nd

The Nitro's penalties carried over to this period, and they started the period 3-on-5. The Thunder Cats scored two quick identical power play goals to get back in the game. However, Van Steinburg was the benefactor of a 2-on-1, and gave the Nitro's a 4-2 lead. Then as the period drew to a close, the score clock started acting up, the officials tried to ignore it, but it hit the point where play needed to be stopped and GM Smith had to come to the rescue. The Cats led in shots 10-7.

3rd

There was some disorganized chaos on the ice as the puck got close to the Cats bench, this resulted in a too many men on the ice penalty. The Dynamiters scored on the ensuing power play, goal was by Busch. Haase added his own tally moments later, as he jabbed at a loose puck. The Cats then switched goalies, and then this was when things got intense. Kinnon delivered a crunching hit on Cartwright, Post took exception to it, Meier tried to aid Kinnon but got penalized. After that moment, 19 PIM were handed out and a game misconduct. Lane added another PP goal as the Nitro's made it 7-2. Gordon and Miller-Jeannotte got tangled up, each got 10 minutes. And then relief 'tender took exception to Kinnon's placement and blockered him over the head, and got 10+2 for that. The Nitro's led in shots this period, 15-7.

The Dynamiters now have a 5-point lead for home ice advantage over Creston.

Nitro's Player of the Game
Trevor van Steinburg - He had an extra jump in his skates, and that showed as he scored 2G.

Honorable Mentions
Jason Ricther - His 2A tie him for KIJHL leading scorer.
Tyler Kinnon - Delivering heavy hits, and not getting sucked into fighting.

Further Reading
Boxscore