The Kimberley Dynamiters closed out their series with the
Fernie Ghostriders in a thrilling fashion, winning 3-2 in overtime to advance
to the second round against the Cyclone Taylor Cup hosts, the Creston Valley
Thunder Cats.
After securing a 2-0 lead that they built in the first 40
minutes, goals by Chase Miller and Nicholas Ketola, the Ghostrider’s entered
the third period, as if they were the Griz taking down the grizzly bear. They
fired shots from all angles, and found random holes in Campbell’s armour to tie
the game at two with 2:09 left in the third, forcing overtime.
In hopes of a quick overtime result, the teams played a
short ten minute first period of overtime. It remained a draw, so the ice was
flooded and the teams returned for period two.
Tyler Van Steinburg, a local Cranbrook talent who is
balancing life, school, and hockey, took command of the puck, soared in across
the blueline and fired the puck in short side, scoring the overtime and series
winning goal.
“Tyler is a guy that his skill level and hockey IQ is above
this level. It seems like he decided to take the puck and go… and take charge.”
Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. “It was a great play using
his speed and the defencemen as a screen. He's got one of the best shots on the
team and he utilized it.”
Van Steinburg and company celebrated their win right in
front of Nitro faithful that made the road trip to Fernie.
Cody Campbell, who has helped lead the team to three wins in
a row, made 45 saves for the win. During the past three games Campbell, has
posted a 1.55 goals against average and a .956 save percentage.
“Since game three he has been outstanding. He has probably
been most consistent guy, and he needs to be, because he is our starting
goalie.” Stuart said. “To handle the pressure, with two of the last three in
Fernie, with their crowd getting on him, in the environment, is really
impressive for an 18-year-old rookie. He handled it excellently.”
The star of the series, and stand out point producer that
currently sits first in the KIJHL playoff scoring race, is James Farmer. He
recorded three goals and 10 assists, two of the goals and six of the assists
were on the power play.
“The power play unit runs through him, he's been great. Very
smart with the puck on the power play.” Stuart said, but added, “There are very
few times where it doesn't look like he has been a defenceman his whole life.
“Everyone knew his ability with the puck, his vision, and
his calmness with the puck. But defensively, without the puck, he has been
excellent as well.”
Another accomplishment for the Dynamiters, despite winning
the series, was escaping a series with the Ghostriders without any injuries.
“We are healthy right now, no one is injured. We somehow got
out of that series unscathed, everyone is 100% healthy and ready to go.”
With a roster 100% healthy, the Dynamiters are ready to take
on their new best-of-seven series opponent, the Thuner Cats.
The Thunder Cats dispatched the Columbia Valley Rockies in
four games. They were lead by goaltender Brock Lefebvre and forwards Thomas
Cankovic, four goals and eight assists, and Justen James, three goals and five
assists.
The Dynamiters are excited for their new series and
opponent.
“From our standpoint, we are excited. I think we match up
well when we play our style of hockey.
“It is going to be a totally different opponent, I don't
think you can get two different teams that are more different in their style
and the way they play their game. We are going to have to shift gears mentally
and preparing for a different opponent.”
The series opens Tuesday night at 7:30pm in Creston for Game
One, with Game Two Wednesday in Creston. The series then shifts to Kimberley
for games three and four on Friday and Saturday.
MATCH STICKS: Division
final series from around the league, Beavery Valley Nitehawks vs Nelson Leafs;
Osoyoos Coyotes vs Summerland Steam; Chase Heat vs Kamloops Storm.
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