Sunday 19 February 2017

Kimberley Dynamiters win fifth in a row to end regular season

The Kimberley Dynamiters finished the 2016-17 season on a high note, clipping the Beaver Valley Nitehawks 6-3.

In early January, the Nitehawks embarrassed the Dynamiters 9-2 at the Memorial Arena in Cranbrook. The Dynamiters players took it upon themselves to recall that memory and bring it to forefront to show the Nitehawks who the Nitro’s truly are.

“We've got to show them that we are coming for them.” Forward, and Unity, SK native Brandt Bertoia said prior to the game, “We need to show them that [the 9-2 loss] wasn't us, they don't know the real us.”

The Nitro’s were quick to score, with Devon Langelaar scoring his seventh of the season, prior to the three-minute mark. The Dynamiters then dialed it up, with two more goals scored by James Farmer and Brandon Langridge, leaving the fans at the Fruitvale Arena shocked.

“We came out strong, our guys were ready to play.” Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said.

In the second the Dynamiters kept pouring it on, as Brandt Bertoia would give the Nitro’s a commanding 4-0 lead. However, the ever dangerous Nitehawks clawed their way back into the game with three power play goals. Franco Colapaolo would score to keep the Nitehawks at bay, as the Nitro’s would end the middle period with a 5-3 lead.

In the last frame, Bertoia would score his second of the game to secure a 6-3 win over the league leading Beaver Valley Nitehawks; giving the Nitehawks their fifth loss of the season and ending their 16-game winning streak.

Campbell would turn aside 34 of 37 shots for his 14th win of the season.

“We are really happy with how we are getting offensive contributions from a lot of different places.” Stuart said, “When you are resting players, it is comforting to know that you can get contributions from other guys. It is really a well-balanced attack that we have going right now.

“The players did a great job of utilizing our team speed [against Beaver Valley] in all areas of the game.”

The Dynamiters now enter the playoffs hot, winning their past five.

“We have confidence right now, we have won five in a row, just beat the best team in their rink, going into Friday I assume our players will be ready to go.”

Stuart added: “I'm a big believer that the playoffs are a brand-new season, anything that happens in the regular season is out the window now.”

The Dynamiters get ready to battle the Fernie Ghostriders, a fan favourite matchup, with game one on Friday at the Kimberley Civic Centre at 7 p.m.

Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman

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