Kimberley Dynamiters rally back twice to win Game 1 in OT over Beaver Valley Nitehawks

There wasn't a lot of time between Game 6 of the Fernie series and Game 1 of the Beaver Valley series for the Dynamiters. Despite that, the first game of the best-of-seven of the Kootenay Conference finals between Kimberley and Beaver Valley ended dramatically, in favor of the Dynamiters. 130 in attendance.

Game Notes

• The last time these two teams met, was in 2004-05, and Beaver Valley won the best of 5 series.
• Tyson Brouwer started.
• Remember to check out the series preview.
• Injuries/Scratches: Mallard, Campanella, Roy.
• Want to know how to pronounce Dynamiter names? The Beaver Valley webcast crew was provided with a pronunciation sheet. 
• The KI has shifted to a two referee system for the conference finals.

1st

Beaver Valley came out firing, but Brouwer kept the door closed. The period had a couple of penalties, but overall it was a pretty tame period in terms of physicality, as both teams were feeling eachother out. Beaver Valley led in shots 16-7.

2nd

Beaver Valley kept laying on the pressure, directing a lot of shots at Brouwer and the D. On the Nitehawks third PP of the game, they capitalized, and took a 1-0 lead. Kimberley tried to even the game, but couldn't solve the goalie. Beaver Valley again had a large margin in shots, 12-6.

3rd

21 minutes after the Nitehawks scored, Rosolowsky tied the game for the Nitro's. As the game approached 10 minutes remaining, the game felt like it was inching closer to OT. Until the Nitehawks pounced on a dumped in puck and squeaked it past Brouwer from an awkward angle. As a fan, down 2-1 with 5 minutes left, anxiety increased. And somehow Prevost got his stick on a loose puck, and buried the rebound. It was 2-2 with just over three minutes left. Not that the white-flag was raised by both teams, but both seemed to skate out the rest of the period, and save their energy for OT. Kimberley was outshot 9-7.

OT

I was worried about fatigue for the Dynamiters, having played so many games in such a short time. Both teams traded chances, and it seemed that neither goalie was going to give up a goal. That was until Buckley squeaked his way in, and past a Nitehawks d-man, to get himself a break away and the game winning goal.

Kimberley has a 1-0 series lead. The two teams play again tonight.

Dynamite Player of the Game

Tyson Brouwer - a 38 save performance, and made some flashy glove saves.

Honourable Mentions

Eric Buckley - GW breakaway goal, plus 1A

Charlie Dagostin - 1A, he is really an unsung hero, and does the dirty/hard work that doesn't get rewarded on the scoresheet

Trevor van Steinburg - I thought he was in on the first goal, but his speed was impressive, and he helped create chances.

Further Reading

Boxscore

Taylor Rocca write up