Kimberley Dynamiters versus the Fernie Ghostriders, during the holiday break, it must be the Christmas Classic series!
The first game of the home-and-home was held in Kimberley Wednesday night, where over 1,000 people crammed into the Civic Centre, to watch, what was arguably the best game of the year. A game that head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said probably won some fans back.
However, this game wasn't a finesse or hard working game, it was sloppy and disorganized, but highly entertaining. Officials were stuck in the unfortunate accident at Moyie, and the players were not completely in game shape.
"Having a nine day lay-off, any team is not going to be in as good of shape as they were when they left." Said Stuart. "It is something everyone has to deal with. The conditioning and the lack of lung capacity definitely showed."
Davies would give the Dynamiters a one-goal lead, only for the 'Riders to again respond with two of their own goals to give themselves a 4-3 lead, despite being outshot 12-6 by the Nitro's.
"In the second period we deserved the better fate, score wise." Stuart said, "In my opinion, we carried the play, we just didn't get the bounces on goal.
"Give Fernie credit, they played a good solid road game tonight. Didn't give us too many opportunities. We had to earn every opportunity we got."
In the third period, the pace of the game slowed, as the lack of conditioning over the Christmas break began to show. Kimberley then had a chance to get level in the game with a penalty called with 2:19 left in the third. Adding to the intensity was clock issues, as the score clock struggled to post the remaining time. Nonetheless, it took the Nitro's took 30 seconds to cash-in on the power play with a goal from Chase Miller. It was from this moment on that it felt like overtime.
The first period of overtime, four on four, resolved nothing so the game moved into a five minute period of three-on-three hockey.
Nicholas Ketola was dragged down on a break away and awarded with a penalty shot, but Ghostriders goalie Brandon Butler stopped him. Moments later the Nitro's thought they scored the winner, but the net was dislodged before the puck went in. No goal. After two glorious opportunities, hope was beginning to fade.
"We have gotten to the point as a staff that when something like that happens, we don't have to say anything anymore." Stuart said "The group of leaders and veterans were just telling everyone to calm down and keep plugging away. They take care of it themselves."
And that's what they did. With 2:22 left in the last period of overtime Herringer (now credited to Karpyshyn) scored the overtime winning goal. The Civic Centre erupted!
— Kimberley Dynamiters (@nitroshockey) December 29, 2016
"The most important thing is that we beat Fernie, putting a little more distance between us and them." Stuart said.
"It feels good. It's nice to get the win after a break." Defencemen Tyler Van Steinburg added.The Dynamiters now shift their focus down the highway as they travel to Fernie for the second game in this home-and-home series.
Van Steinburg said that the team needs to focus on this game being a new game: "Got to get our heads around that it is going to be an entirely different game. It will be more compact in a smaller rink. They are going to be right on us, we are not going to have the time like we did tonight. Be ready to hit and be hit."
Whereas, Stuart is looking to capitalize on any advantage that his team has: "We have to take advantage of the little advantage that we have, that we don't need to travel back on a bus and get back to bed to get rest. For us going into Fernie, it is important for us to have a good start.
"Overall, which ever team is in the best condition right now will have the advantage."
Photos by Jonathan Righton
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