Kimberley Dynamiters double both opponents heading into holiday break

The Kimberley Dynamiters head into the holiday break on a six game winning streak after defeating the Columbia Valley Rockies and the Nelson Leafs.

The Nitro’s opened the weekend with a game against the Rockies Friday. In an ongoing trend, the Nitro’s gave up the first goal of the game, and headed into the first intermission down 2-1.

“That was not a good start at all. That was exactly what I was worried about. They were not ready to go,” said general manager and head coach Derek Stuart. “They thought it was going to be an easy game because Columbia Valley is struggling at the moment. As you saw, Columbia Valley is a very worthy opponent.”

It took until just after the midway point of the second for the Dynamiters to tie the game with Nolan Kurylo’s second goal of the game. The play that changed the game was when Caige Sterzer busted in and scored an individual effort goal with under a minute left.

“I thought Sterzer's goal was the turning point for us. He did everything we have asked,” Staurt said, “he drove to the net, protected the puck, made a great move. It really was, in my opinion, the momentum shifter in the game giving us the lead going into third.”

In the third the Dynamiters added to their lead, as new comers Joe Karpyshyn and Nic Herringer scored their first goals as a Dynamiter to give the Nitro’s a 5-3 lead. Herringer would then score his second goal as the Dynamiters doubled the Rockies 6-3.

Stuart was impressed with the play of the two new forwards, and both feel that they have adjusted to being on the team.

“It felt good to finally get one.” Herringer said. “The first couple of games I was just feeling it out, came close. It feels good, good to help out.”

“I felt pretty good out there.” Karpyshyn said “Felt like I was shaking the dust off because I haven't played in about two weeks. It was a good first for me.”

Cody Call also made his first start as a Dynamiter and made 32 saves for the win.

“I thought he did great. After he settled in, I thought he was phenomenal.” Stuart said, “He made some outstanding saves. To be honest, I thought he kept us in the game for quite a while in the second period. He made some highlight reel saves.”

“It was a little nerve racking. Some pre-game jitters.” Call recalled, “Once you get the first shot out of the way I knew the boys had my back. Once we got rolling I knew we had it in the bag.”

The Dynamiters then shifted their focus to the Nelson Leafs, a team that has been just as hot as the Nitro’s, before they got to go on their holiday break.

The Leafs opened the scoring, as former Nitro, and current Leafs captain, Sawyer Hunt scored.

It took until the middle frame, when the Dynamiters were outshot 21-7, for the Nitro’s to get on the board. Matt Davies got the first goal, followed by Kurylo and Lucas Purdy.

“We had to remind them that we were not the team we were showing them in the first 40 minutes.

“Reminded them of the two alumni (Marchi and Bennato) that were honored tonight, and reminded them of how hard they played every time they suited up.

“I thought in the third period they came out and played like we can. If we would have done that all game, we would have been in good shape for the entire 60 minutes.”

In the last period, the Nitro’s outshot the Leafs 21-2, and Franco Colapaolo added the fourth, as they doubled their opponent for the second game in a row 4-2.

Purdy scored the eventual game winner, “A pretty new experience for me. I'm not a big goal scorer, so it is pretty nice.”

Purdy added, “We came out a little slow. But we finished it off and got the win, and that's all that really matters. Pretty good game.”

Cody Campbell made 31 saves, taking the Nitro’s into the holiday break on a six game winning streak.

“I think the results were definitely great, for the most part we executed how we wanted to, we got the result we wanted.” Stuart said. “Going into the break for us, we are just looking forward to a break right now, to refocus with the back-to-back with Fernie when we get back.”

MATCH STICKS: Caige Sterzer and Harrison Risdon have been named to the KIJHL Top Prospects game on January 14^th in Kelowna. Alumni Jared Marchi had his number retired Saturday against Fernie.

Photos by Jonathan Righton

Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman