After splitting games one and two in Fruitvale, the
Kimberley Dynamiters lost game three at home, and then won game four, forcing a
final and decisive game five in Fruitvale on Friday.
Game three was played at the Kimberley Civic Centre on
Tuesday night with 1,024 in attendance. The Beaver Valley Nitehawks’ Dylan
Heppler struck first, scoring just after the five-minute mark in the first.
Nitro’s Matt Davies would dangle in short handed and score a
beauty of a goal to tie the game at one. But this was as close as the game
would be, as the Nitehawks would put pressure on and chase down the puck,
scoring two more goals before the second ended.
“Frustration was definitely starting to creep in on the
bench.” Said head coach and general manager Derek Stuart. “They were working
extremely hard, taking a lot of abuse, but weren't getting rewarded for it on
the scoreboard. It's hard to convince the players that scoring chances are a
type of reward.”
The Dynamiters struggled to finish their chances as the
Nitehawks would score their fourth goal of the game late in third on a
defensive miscue by the Dynamiters.
The Nitehawks would take a 2-1 series lead with their 4-1
win.
“It wasn't a 4-1 game.” Stuart said, “They finished their
scoring chances and we didn't. It was pretty even game throughout the course of
60 minutes, in terms of scoring chances and opportunities.”
The focus quickly shifted from Tuesday nights loss, to the elimination
game on Wednesday night.
“Tomorrow is the easiest job for coaches for pre-game
motivation, if we lose, we go home. Motivation shouldn't be a problem tomorrow.”
Stuart said.
Nitro’s captain, Ryan Hozjan, added: “Make sure that when we
wake up tomorrow that we forget about tonight…
“Every one has believed and wanted to get to the finals for
a third year in a row. We are going to keep digging away.”
Wednesday was the first time this post-season that the
Dynamiters faced elimination, as such 1,043 Nitro’s faithful, sprinkled with a
few ‘Hawks faithful, filled the Civic Centre.
Both teams skated out a defensive first period, neither team
wanting to make an error to cost the game.
Cody Campbell has a history of bouncing back, and he showed
his commitment to the team, “I don't want to be the reason that the ship sinks,
we have such an amazing opportunity here.”
Campbell would make 17 saves in the middle period, which
allowed the team the opportunity to take the lead. Franco Colapaolo would take
the puck from the corner, and with patience, skate across Nitehawks Tallon
Kramer and give the Dynamiters a 1-0 lead.
“It feels great.” Colapaolo said about scoring the first
goal, “I just try to help out the team in any way I can. I knew it was going to
be a tight game, and I knew we needed the first goal - we play pretty good when
we get the first one.”
The Nitehawks would turn up the intensity dial in the third,
but the Dynamiters matched pace, and hold on to win 1-0.
Campbell was named the home star of the game as he made 32
saves to earn his first shut out of the post-season.
“I feel that under pressure in these playoffs I have good,
and the team has been great. It's a lot of fun.” Campbell said. “The whole team
very is happy.
“We knew it wasn't going to be easy, they are a phenomenal
team. We are on cloud nine.
Thursday is a rest and travel day for both teams before the winner-takes-all
game five on Friday for a ticket to the KIJHL Finals.
“But we are not done,” Campbell said “We know we can enjoy [the
win] for the next couple of hours. Make sure we are ready to go for Friday.”
“We have been believing all season,” Colapaolo said “Even if
people weren't giving us a chance.
“We know in that room that we are a good team and that we
can beat any one on any given night. Hopefully we planted some doubt in [the
Nitehawks] minds tonight.”
Faceoff is 8:30 MDT at the Fruitvale Arena.
MATCH STICKS: The
Osoyoos Coyotes and Chase Heat will be playing their game 5 at 9:00 MDT on
Friday, winner advances to the KIJHL finals.
Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman
Photo's by Jonathan Righton
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