Kimberley Dynamiters complete the comeback to win 5-4 in OT over Golden Rockets

Photo by Jonathan Righton

The third meeting between these two teams was vastly unique compared to the other two games. Golden was so frantic, that it Kimberley struggled with the pace. It's like that friend that when you are around them, everything goes chaotic. With all that chaos the Rockets were three minutes away from winning their first game in the third before the game was tied and then lost in OT. Quite the game.

Game Notes

• Keenan Haase was not in the game
• Brody Nelson, Kimberley's backup goalie last season, started against his former team. I queried GM Mike Reid about this his response: "Brody was a great teammate and friend but that goes aside when competing against him." Adding that "[Brody] also knows our best shooters very well."
• Mike Traichevich got the start for Kimberley.
• According to the boxscore, Golden dressed 16 skaters.

1st Period

Chaos. The first half of this period was dominated by Golden. They scored two goals in the first five minutes that Traichevich could not see, and was an apparent victim of a bad practice. Brouwer replaced Traichevich in net, now his shut-out streak was on the line with Golden up 2-0. Then somehow, the tables turned. And for the last half of the period, Kimberley dominated tying the game with goals from Chabot and Langelaar (his first as a Nitro).

2nd

Brouwer remained in the net. But this period was Golden's. After a fight which removed Doell from the game, the Rockets took a 3-2 lead. And then what happens when the new way of trying things as a team doesn't work? Revert back to individual strengths...which doesn't work in a team sport. Kimberley dug themselves more in a hole as they focused on taking out the man, which created more penalty trouble. Golden took another two goal lead, 4-2. There was a moment that created confusion, an infraction occurred, the ref started to raise his hand, Brouwer started to leave the net, and then the ref lowered his hand, which left Brouwer scrambling back to the net surprised at the no-call. So were we.

3rd

The Dynamiters got back to their game play, controlling the play. Busch brought the team within one. Then in the last five minutes, on the PP, a nice tic-tac-toe play leveled the score. Sigh of relief. Then later, Moser, who managed to split the D had a breakaway and beat everyone and everything but the post. The game was headed to OT.

OT

Kimberley truly played the possession game, especially as Marchi had the puck on his stick like a yo-yo. Then in almost the same chaotic fashion as the game had been, Meier scored the OT winner as the puck crossed the line, and then he followed. Golden was not impressed, but the Dynamiters were celebrating, and the goal stood.

With that kind of ending, Golden will be looking for revenge in their barn when the two teams face off again tonight (Saturday) in Golden.

I was truly impressed with Brody Nelson, who made a lot of grand saves.

I chatted with one of goal judges after the game, and he felt the team was lucky to escape that game with a W. When I asked about the last goal, he simply responded "We hit the light when the puck crosses the line" eluding to any other judgements about a goal are up to the ref.

Dynamite Player of the Game

Justin Meier - His presence was known, scored the GWG with intent

Honorable Mentions

Austyn Moser - 1A, KIJHL Player of the Game

Jordan Busch - 1G 2A

Trevor van Steinburg - He's like a crash-test dummy, willing to do anything for the team sacrificing his body.

Extra Reading

Taylor Rocca's article in the Kimberley Bulletin

Boxscore