Kimberley Dynamiters win preseason game 7-5

The Kimberley Dynamiters had their first taste of action on Tuesday as the traveled to Creston to play the Thunder Cats in their first preseason game.

Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said that the first exhibition was an extension of camp.

"It's more of an evaluation process extending from camp. It is an opportunity for the players that we are unsure of, to see them in a game against opposition instead of friends and teammates."

There were only a handful of returning players in the lineup: Harrison Risdon, Nick Ketola, James Rota, James Farmer, and Brett Roberts. The Nitro's did start a 20 year old goalie, Dalyn Haire, from Grand Prairie, AB.

The first period was a one-one draw, with the Nitro's only goal coming from Ketola.

However, the offensive floodgates opened for both teams during periods two and three.

Five goals were scored in the middle frame. Unfortunately due to a scattered webcast and no post-game boxscore, it was difficult to identify the goal scorers. Nonetheless, it was 4-3 for Creston after 40 minutes.

The Dynamiters then exploded in the third frame scoring four goals, to the Creston's two, to take the game 7-5. Three goal scorers were identified: Braiden Koran, Austin Lawson, and Erik Delaire.

The shots, surprisingly, were lopsided in the Cats favor, 45-21. Haire made 40 saves to help the Nitro's win their first pre-season game.

Thunder Cats head coach, Brad Tobin told Above the Ice after the game that he wasn't surprised by the scrambled play seen during the first pre-season game.

The Dynamiters play their next exhibition game at home on September 5th against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, and Stuart expects that the roster will be closer to the opening day roster for the game.

Kimberley Dynamiters prepare for preseason after finishing Main Camp

The 2017 Kimberley Dynamiters main camp has come and gone quickly. The team now prepares for two exhibition games against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats before the season's start on September 8th.

Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart says that the staff has done the difficult task of narrowing down the roster from 39 camp attendees to 24 players for the first exhibition game. He says that the task of narrowing down the roster for the season opener only gets more difficult as players potentially return from Junior A tryouts.

"This is a frustrating time of year," he said, "Some of the guys that are with us now will not be with us a week from now."

But looking back on camp, Stuart is pleased with the camp.

"It was intense and competitive. It cranked up as the camp went along. The practice on Friday was actually quite hard.

"I am impressed how in shape a lot of the new guys and veterans were."

Compared to last season, there are more veterans returning to the lineup.

Both James Farmer and James Rota finished last season playing defense, but are moving up to forward - where they started last season - and joing Nicholas Ketola and Brandt Bertoia as returning forward. The reason for the move is because of the number of returning veterans that are defencemen: Devon Langelaar, Mason Palaga, Lucas Purdy, Harrison Risdon, Brett Roberts, and Tyler Van Steinburg.

Having that many returning veterans on defense may seem problematic, but Stuart is happy with it, "It makes it easier on the coaching staff to have six defenders.

"They all showed well on the weekend, and have made it tough for us to determine who plays in which situation."

Between the six defenders, they have experience as they combine for 377 regular season KIJHL games, and 121 playoff games.Three of them are also 20 year-olds: Langelaar, Palaga and Roberts, which brings maturity.

Roberts is a somewhat familiar name to Nitro's fans as he was acquired during the 2016 off-season, but played with the Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) last season. He joins the Dynamiters this season to finish out his junior career because he wants to play on a winning team.

Newcomer, Palaga, who played with the Chase Heat last season, was thrilled with the camp experience. "It was a whole new experience, I absolutely loved it.

"The arena is really what caught my attention. Personally, I like to skate the puck a lot, and the ice is a lot wider and longer in this arena, I really think it could work out to my advantage this year."

Not to mention, he is excited with the potential that the team has.

"I think we are looking really strong. Our defense is looking stupid good." Palaga said, "Every pairing we have would be a top pairing on most teams in the KI. 

"We are going to have a really good run this year, hopefully win it all."

Returning Nitro, Bertoia, shared similar enthusiasm after shining during camp, "We aren't going to settle for anything less than a KIJHL championship."

As for Stuart, he doesn't want to judge the teams future based on camp and few pre-season games. He says that August 29th's preseason roster in Creston will be an extended camp evaluation to see some players play against an opposition instead of teammates and friends.

As for the roster on September 5th's preseason game in Kimberley, he expects it to be closer to the opening day roster.

August 29th's game in Creston starts at 8:30pm, and September 5th's game starts at 7:30 in Kimberley.

MATCH STICKS: Several players remain at tryouts with other teams: George Bertoia, Matt Davies, Nic Herringer, Brandon Langridge, Caige Sterzer, and Cody Campbell.

LIVE Blogging of the Kimberley Dynamiters 2018 Main Camp

Main Camp Schedule

Team Black Roster

Team Red Roster

Roster Comments

RED

Returning Players: B. Bertoia, Ketola, Rota, Langelaar, Russell (signed in offseason), Palaga (acquired in off season)

BLACK

Returning Players: Farmer, Clarricoates (former AP), Van Steinburg, Roberts (acquired 2016 offseason), Purdy, Andersen

RED PRACTICE 6PM FRIDAY

5:50 Assistant coaches giving orders on the first warm up drill of the night for team red.

6:05 Time for stretches before the serious drills

6:10 Assistant coaches walking through a drill, and then it is executed

6:20 Next drill

Team red on ice!! pic.twitter.com/y9PW6jyYlU

— Kimberley Dynamiters (@nitroshockey) August 26, 2017

6:30 Players gather for another drill - lots going on. A lot of focus on break out and puck control/possession. - This current drill is one-on-one.
6:45 Over hear assistant coach saying they want to work on cross overs for the next drill
7:00 New drill, battle for the puck in the corner. Everyone's favourite drill
7:20 Cool down skate and stretches

BLACK PRACTICE ...coming up...
They have been watching the drills, so they should know what to expect and how to execute the drills.
7:45 They have begun their pre warm up skate and stretches.
8:00 Fast break drills
8:15 Assistant coach calls everyone back in to go over a new drill.
8:30 Water break.
8:35 HC/GM did say an intense camp puts players at risk for injury. Three players currently being tended to on the bench. They are giving it their all out there.
8:50 Water break after one to one battles behind the net.
9:05 End of day stretches and skate

SATURDAY RED vs BLACK scrimmage 1:30
Continuous clock
35 black in net; 35 red in net
1st Period
Puck has dropped
14 black with first shot
4 red with a point shot
GOAL: 11 black breaks in alone and 16 puts home the rebound
11 red with a wrap around, stopped
Puck is out of play. Faceoff at red blueline
Red ices the puck
8 black breaks in
3-on-1 for red is foiled by a missed pass.
13 black with a drop pass to 19 black stopped.
GOAL 14 red with a steal at his own blue line, breaks in alone and scores
4 red with a shot that just misses high
15 black takes a loft pass, and is stopped on the break
10 Minute Mark
11 black wrists a shot from the slot on net, batted aside
Red offside, faceoff outside black blueline.
Black goalie stops play
9 red steals puck downlow feeds it, but it is mishandled.
2 red with a point shot
4 red with a hard shot that is wide
Red ices the puck
Red goalie freezes a loose puck
3 Minute Mark
Multiple give a goes by Red- great sportsmanship but no one wants to finish
12 red with a shot from the circle, stopped.
Red offside
14 red feeds 9 red in the slot, stopped
4 red with a shot up high, wide
11 red creates a turnover
AND That's the first period of scrimmage
Players leave the ice, ice gets a new coat.
2nd Period
Players are heading out.... well black is, just waiting for red
39 red in net; 33 black in net
Puck has dropped
4 red fires a shot on net, 10 red deflects it, guided out of play
4 red drives in and fires a shot, gloved down.
3 black with a wrist point shot
Red ices the puck
Red ices the puck, again.
7 red with a loft shot on net, gloved down
13 reds shot is blocked, and then it trickles on net, goalie freezes the play
15 red forces a turnover behind team blacks net
14 black back hands the puck on net, caught.
GOAL: 17 red picks up a loose puck, fires it on net and the puts his own rebound home.
19 black takes a pass and misses the net, looks skyward.
11 red with the biggest hit so far
15 red, getting creative, tries a bank shot from behind the net.
15 red with another great chance on net, gloved down
5 red with a slapper from the point
5 MINUTE MARK
12 red now creates a turn over. Black having a tough time getting out of their zone.
9 black chases down the puck, cancelling the icing, creates a great chance that goes off the post.
Red goalie freezes the play
5 red with a shot, turned aside
6 black with a shot on net at the end of the period

Stats
BLACK
Rota - 1G
Somerset - 1A

RED
Bertoia - 1G
Kingston - 1G

That's it, first scrimmage is done. Check back in at 6.45pm tonight for the second scrimmage.

SATURDAY RED vs BLACK 7pm Scrimmage
6:55 players are warming up. We even have music this time!

Updated rosters:

7:03 Game has started
1st Period
33 black in net, 39 red in net
16 red with a shot on net deflected by 15 red, close call.
Puck out of play, faceoff outside of black blueline
10 red with a heavy shot, blocked
11 red dangles from the circle to the slot and wrists on net, stopped
4 red wrists the puck on net, gloved down
33 black with an unorthodox save, but it gets the job done
14 red digs the pucks loose and skates in for a shot, stopped (All red so far)
12 red rips a shot on net, swallowed by the keeper.
12 black takes a shot, swallowed by the red keeper
15 black fires it on net, 18 black bangs home the rebound - goal waved off - net was off.
11 red spins and shoots wide
9 red splits through defenders, back hands it on net, stopped
Puck dumped in on the black goal and play is stopped
16 black throws his opponent into the back of the net (intensity is building)
14 red feeds 11 red in the crease, and it is stopped
13 red with a point shot, redirected by the masked man
11 red found an opening for a shot, gloved.
4 red busts in on the rush, tried to sneak one short side, goalie hugged the post
12 red rides out 13 black
5 black with a point shot, right on net, turned aside
10 black with a shot from a weird angle, 8 black gets the second chance, stopped
14 red gets a chance after a turnover, shot wide
7 red levels his man
PERIOD ONE DONE - No score. Ice gets a new coat.
2nd Period
7:35 players are back out.... just waiting for coaching staff
7:40 Puck drops
10 red spots 7 red trailing, shot fired and blocked
Play cycles to 8 red who takes a shot that is blocked
19 black takes the shot on a 2-on-1, shouldered away
Black ices the puck
16 black flutters a puck on net
6 black shots from the point, blockered away
7 red dangled himself in for a chance but ran out of room
15 red lofts a point shot on net hoping for a deflection, no luck, stopped by the keeper
13 red fires a point shot wide
18 red gifted the puck by black, fires it back on net, stopped.
GOALIE SWITCH 35 black in net, 35 red in net
7 red negates icing, takes a sharp angle shot
14 black with a shot on net
11 black creates an opening for 19 black, into the bread basket of the goalie
Quick shot off the draw for red, toed away
8 red fires a shot from the circles, swallowed
18 red rings a shot off the post!
17 red finds 11, stopped, 18 fired rebound wide
GOAL 17 red finds 11 red again, this time it is buried with the one knee shot
4 red point shot deflected off the outside of the post
11 black shots from the top of the circle, awkwardly caught
2 black with a point shot, blockered away
11 black in the slot, swats at it, stopped
11 black gloves down the puck and shoots, snagged by the catcher
10 red found himself with the puck and fired wide glove side
6 red rips it, pain by whoever blocked it.
17 red dishes to 4 red, off the crossbar and out of play
6 black levels 5 red and the red teams blueline
Black ices the puck
PERIOD TWO DONE. Red leads 1-0 over Black
3rd Period
8:12 players are making their way out on the ice
8:15 Puck has dropped
8 black lays out the body
Net is off, stoppage in play
11 black with a shot on net, 14 black tried to put home the rebound, stopped
14 red tried to sneak the puck between the post and the pad, no room
10 black with a the wrap around, stopped by the pads
GOAL 7 red rips a wrist shot home
18 black gets into the slot and fires, turned away
Puck deflected out of play
Nice passing play results in 14 red shot on net, turned away
GOAL 9 black with a turn over and fires a pass on net, and 10 deflects it in
7 black tries a lob shot on net, stopped
8 black tried squeezing one in, stopped
18 black with a shot after a draw, almost squeezed it's way through
Again, 18 black with a chance after the draw
11 red passes to 17 red and shoots, stopped
14 black shoots shortside, puck shouldered out
4 red point shot, just misses wide
15 black steals the puck and gets a shot on net. held by the goalie
Team black has pulled the goalie, 90 seconds left
11 black with a shot on net
THIRD PERIOD IS DONE - 2-1 for Red


Unfortunately I will not be able to live blog Sunday's scrimmage - But a story will follow camps completion.


Thanks to Tasha for providing updates on the Sunday Scrimmage

RED vs BLACK Sunday Scrimmage 11am
35 red starting; 33 black in net
1st period
Team Black on Power Play for start as Red slow to get office for warm up
Red did great job killing penalty
12:40 Blk 16 tripping
11:13 Red 17 penalty tripping
10:22 GOAL Black 7 scores PPG
9:37 GOAL Red 14 scores
7:02 Red 11 hooking
1-1 after 1 period
2nd Period
14: 43 Blk 12 high sticking
7:14 blk 18 tripping
4:00 in goalie change for both teams
1:52 Off setting peanlties Red 9 Blk 3 roughing
1-1 after 2
3rd Period
14:56 Red GOAL by 12
11:54 Red GOAL by 10
11:31 Blk 11 GOAL
9:08 Blk 9 high stick penalty
5:57 red GOAL 14
1:08 Red GOAL by 10
5-2 red final

Kimberley Dynamiters preparing for Main Camp this weekend

Hockey season is just around the corner! The Kimberley Dynamiters are having their main camp this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This year head coach and general manager Derek Stuart says things will be a little different, having learned many lessons in his inagural season.

He says that this years camp will be smaller, because there are less roster spots open because of the number of returning veterans. There are about eight returning players, and four to five on the bubble of returning depending on tryouts with WHL or Junior A clubs.

With a smaller camp comes more intensity, "We are only going to have two teams [at camp]. With a condensed schedule in three days, and the teams seeing each other three times, the intensity and compete will be high."

Heading into camp, the Nitro's have six to seven returning defenders, which will be a massive strength for the team. However, there is more uncertainty with offense and goaltending then defence. As a result of players moving on there are some holes up front; James Farmer who was excellent on defence at the end of last season, and especially leading the power play, has been moved back to forward to help fill those gaps.

As for goaltending, this is new territory for Nitro's fans in recent memory, as the Nitro's don't have a returning goalie. Cody Campbell is listed on the teams roster, however he is trying out at the Junior A level. "You hope and want players make it to the next level," Stuart said "if they don't, we welcome them back."

It's not just the staff that are looking forward to camp, two returning players, Devon Langelaar and Farmer, are both looking forward to the upcoming camp and season.

"Looking at the roster and seeing how much potential we have," Langelaar says, "we could make a serious run for provincials." He then added, "It's my last year, I have to have high goals."

Farmer echoed the same enthusiasm, "We expect to win, it's not a given, you have to work for it. We have good guys coming back, so we definitely think we have a good opportunity."

While Stuart is excited about the season, he says the teams goals come later in the year, but added that the team wants to get to the conference finals again but have a different ending. But for now, his focus is on camp.

"We want a really intense and really competitive camp." Stuart said "We are going to make sure and hope our veterans realize that and set the tone. We want to build off the success of last season."

"We all want to get to the conference finals and have a different ending."

The camp is open to the public. It starts Friday at 6pm with practices until 9:15pm. On Saturday there will be two scrimmages, first game is at 1:30pm and the second is at 6:45pm. And then the camp concludes with a scrimmage on Sunday at 11am.

Farmer encouraged fans to come check out the camp: "We are going to give it all, we are going to be the best we can, hopefully make it fun for them to watch."

Past Nitro's: Tyson Brouwer

Tyson Brouwer played for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2013-2016. He played in 94 games, winning 66 while posting a 2.33 GAA, and a .917 SV%. He also played in 45 playoff games, winning 32 and posting a 1.99 GAA and a .933 SV%.

This past season he played for the upstart University of Jameston Jimmies. He played in 27 games, winning 15 while posting a 2.46 GAA and .918 SV%. His efforts earned him team MVP recognition.

Past Nitro's: Braeden Ostepchuk

Braeden Ostepchuk played for the Kimberley Dynamiters in the 2011-12 season. That year he played in 30 games posting a 2.58 GAA and a .909 SV%. He then played in nine playoff games registering a 2.86 GAA and .897 SV%.

This past season he played for the Norwich University Cadets (NCAA III). He played in 18 games, winning 16, and posting a 1.83 GAA and a .924 SV%. He was also named to the First Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of American.

Past Nitro's: Matt Climie

Matt Climie played for the Kimberley Dynamiters in the 2000-01 season. In that one season he started in 26 games.

This past season he played for the Straubing Tigers (DEL). He played in 31 games, posting 13 wins, a 3.11 GAA and a .908 SV%. He played in two playoff games, losing both, but posting a 1.85 GAA, and a .952 SV%.

Past Nitro's: Jordan Roy

Jordan Roy played for the Kimberley Dynamiters in the 2014-15 season. He scored eight goals and 12 assists in 21 games. He then added a goal and an assist in 11 playoff games.

This past season Roy played for the Red Deer Rebels. He scored five goals and six assists in 63 games. H then went pointless in 7 playoff games.

Past Nitro's: Coy Prevost

Coy Prevost played for the Kimberley Dynamiters during the 2014-15 season. In that year he scored 14 goals and 35 assists in 50 games. He then would add 11 goals and eight assists in 22 playoff games.

This past season Prevost played with the Canmore Eagles. He scored 21 goals and 22 assists in 60 games.

Past Nitro's: Trey Doell

Trey Doell played the 2015-16 season with the Kimberley Dynamiters. In that season he scored four goals and 20 assists in 36 games. He then added another two goals and seven assists in 19 playoff games.

This past season the defender played for the La Ronge Ice Wolves (SJHL). He scored one goal and three assists in 50 games.

Past Nitro's: Trevor Van Steinburg

Trevor Van Steinburg played for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2014-16. He played in 101 games with the Nitro's scoring 14 goals and 21 assists. He then added six goals (one of them the biggest goal in Nitro's history) and four assists during 37 playoff games.

This past season he played for the Canmore Eagles. He scored four goals and eight assists in 57 games. He then added two assists in three playoff games.

Past Nitro's: Jonas Gordon

Jonas Gordon played the 2014-15 season with the Kimberley Dynamiters. He scored two goals and 11 assists in 34 games. He had two assists in 21 playoff games.

This past season Gordon was a traveler. He started the season with the Canmore Eagles (13GP, 1G, 2A), then went to the Trail Smoke Eaters (17GP, 2A), and then finished the season with the West Kelowna Warriors. (13GP, 1A). He then played 4 playoff games with the Warriors recording one assist.

Past Nitro's: Jason Richter

Jason Richter played for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2012-2016. In those four season he played in 179 games (4th all-time), scoring 104 goals (1st), 97 assists (7th), and 201 points (2nd). He then played in 55 playoff games, including the 2015 Championship team, scoring 21 goals and 32 assists.

This past season Richter played for the newly formed University of Jamestown Jimmies. In 31 games as a freshman he scored 12 goals and 12 assists. He also earned the teams Jimmie Knight Award, an award given to the player who best exemplifies Jimmie hockey on and off the ice.