Kimberley Dynamiters survive Game 2 of the KIJHL Finals with a 6-3 victory

Photo by Jonathan Righton

The KIJHL Finals continued in Kimberley as the Kamloops Storm and the Kimberley Dynamiters faced off for Game 2. Kimberley's plan was to take a 2-0 series lead to Kamloops, while the Storm's plan was to level the series. 978 were in attendance at the game.

Game Notes

• Tyson Brouwer started against Jake Mullen.
• Injuries/Scratches: Mallard, Campanella, Hunt, Pagura

1st

Game 1 of the series it took nearly 38 minutes for the first penalty to be called, this game, just over five minutes. Kimberley got the first PP opportunity but couldn't capitalize. Haase did open the scoring for Kimberley with the assist going to Rosolowsky. With the period reaching the final minute of play, Jowsey lobbed the puck at the net and gave the Nitro's a 2-0 lead. However, seconds later Kinnon was penalized. With 16 seconds left in the period, Kamloops made it a 2-1 game. Kamloops led in shots 9-8.

2nd

Saretsky continued his scoring ways as he patiently waited for an opening to give the Dynamiters a 3-1 lead. Brouwer continued his stellar play, protecting his cage, by making saves that division rivals are noticing. The Dynamiters increased their lead as Rosolowsky buried a rebound. That spelled the end of the night for Mullen as De Palma took over crease duties. Buckley was penalized for skating by the Kamloops net, while also taking a cross-check to the chops. Yes, Buckley has a not-favourable reputation, but that is the past, the calls against him are all being made with the past in mind, not in the context of the game. Nothing gets called against him either, he got hauled down at centre ice, but no call. Nonetheless, the Storm got a PP opportunity. Kamloops got their boost of energy as they scored a PP goal (again) near the end of the period, cutting into the Dynamiters lead. Kimbo led 4-2 on the scoreboard, and 12-11 in shots.

3rd

Oh, the third period. This game was stellar until this point. The referee's, as usually happens, put their whistles away for the third period, but then six minutes into the period, it was getting out of control, and the whistles were pulled out, but it was too late. The moment to me when it became possible to cook an egg in the boiling arena was when Marchi slid into the Kamloops goalie, and then the Kamloops goalie took matters into his own hands. Neither player was penalized, which I think both could/should have been, and that would have changed the proceedings of the period. But no call were made, add to it that there were several other flagrant none calls against both teams, and then a simple tripping call was made against Kamloops, it set everyone off. It was terribly inconsistent and difficult to know what to expect. It was a lot of adversity for both teams. Saretsky added two more goals, both from Marchi, to get the hattrick. Kamloops continued their ways and scored a PP goal in the dying minutes of the period. Kimberley survived the period and won 6-3. Kamloops had 9 shots to Kimberley's 8.

The twitterverse used words like: ugly, disaster, wild, and interesting to describe the last 20 minutes of the game.

The series now shifts to Kamloops. The Storm are undefeated at home, 8-0 so far. Kimberley is 7-1 on the road.

Dynamite Player of the Game

Braden Saretsky - 3G 1A. Holding down the KIJHL playoff scoring race. KIJHL player of the game. Currently 'Hot in the KI'. I'm running out of memes and sayings for this guy, his play has been stellar. In the past 6 games he has 15 points (8 goals, 7 assists) including two hat-tricks.

Honorable Mentions

Jared Marchi - 2A helping Saretsky get the hattrick.

Alex Rosolowsky - 1G 1A Eventual GWG

Further Reading

Boxscore

Taylor Rocca write up

Adam Williams write up