Kimberley Dynamiters lose in OT as the Fernie Ghostriders chaotically storm their way back

Photo by Jonathan Righton

It's always a full house when Fernie comes to town, and this game did not let down.

Game Notes

• While most fans feared KIJHL leading scorer, Cole Keebler, I said the greatest threat for Fernie is Zach Befus (#1 clutch scorer)
• 691 crammed into the arena to watch the game
• Injuries: Wallace, Pagura, Campanella, Chabot, Tyler van Steinburg, Hunt, and Rota were all sidelined.
• The Ghostriders have five players listed as injured.
• Two local boys dressed for the game: Caige Sterzer (Kimberley) and Terrell Clarricoates (Cranbrook). Sterzer ('00) has been playing Major Midget for the Kootenay Ice, has played 16 games scoring two goals and two assists. Clarricoates ('99) has bee playing for the Ice as well, in 15 games he has one assist.
• Brouwer started against Orser
• This was the mitts, tuques, and sock toss on the ice after the first goal. Fans eagerly awaited.

1st

Compared to the rest of the game, this period was tame. Teams swapped chances early on. And what may have been an indication of the confusing calls to come, a Rider player tripped up Busch, and no call was made - despite all the evidence of the Rider players stick being caught in Busch's blade. Nonetheless, Richter erupted the arena as he busted in with speed and scored the first goal of the game. The mittens, tuques, and socks flooded the ice surface (while this is a great activity for an awesome cause, I often wonder if it interferes with the flow of the game for goalies, players and coaches. Then after that goal, this game got chippy. There were slashing, and roughing after the whistle calls - all in one sequence, that favoured the Riders, so they went on the PP. Kimberley blocked shots and kept the puck along the edges to hold onto their 1-0 lead. At the intermission shots were 10-9 for Kimberley.

2nd

In summary. This period had 28 PIM and two game misconducts. Details: Buckley skates past a goalie before the whistle has blown to get the loose puck, that equals a 10 minute misconduct. Brouwer scrambles to make a save, a Rider player then goes limp fish and falls on the him. Then the Rider player slowly struggles to get up (as if he is a peewee player learned to skate) and continues to drive his knee into Brouwers chest - well that's an innocent Rider player, no call. As the period drew to an end, the recently acquired Buhler dropped the gloves, both players got fair swings and I'd call it a draw (Fernie fans say the Rider won because he got more swings in, Kimberley fans say Buhler because he wrestled the Rider to the ground). There were chances, but they were overshadowed by the grungy-ness of the game. Shots were 11-10 for Fernie.

3rd

We go from a period with so many calls, to a highly skilled game. Noting though the ref has also put his whistle away, wanting to let the players decide the game. The Haase, Buckley, Trevor van Steinburg line played excellent, and there was one shift where they were just firing on net, eventually after several close chances, van Steinburg buried a rebound. The Dynamiters were up 2-0 with 15 minutes left to play. Fernie kept pressing, and on a two on two break, a Nitro player was guided into Brouwer, very eloquently, and Fernie scored on the play, it was 2-1. Then with just over two minutes left, on a scramble play with Brouwer snow-angel-ing on the ground, the puck was slid in. 2-2. Then this is when the arena started to boil. After a whole period of letting everything go, Doell was being cross checked and held, so he began to hold the Fernie player back, as the two struggled, Doell tackled the Fernie player to the ground an was penalized (which this has happened heaps already this period, no calls). So Fernie now has a PP with 1:17 left in the game. Silence, and a lot of nail biting (nervous energy). Kimberley nearly won the game as an alley-hoop pass was sent to Marchi who broke in deked, but couldn't lift the puck over the goalie, so the game stayed 2-2 going to overtime. Shots this period were 11-11.

OT

In a strange start to the period, the ref was having a pow-wow with the four Fernie players on the ice - which is unusual because typically only the captain (or alternates) can chat with the official. But here we have all four skaters and ref chatting it up. Puck dropped and Fernie was still on the PP at the start of the period (held my breath) but Kimberley killed the PP. Then as Kimberley tried attacking, they were tied up, tripped up and crunched - again no call. This develops the mentality in the players of "If that's what they can do to get possession of the puck, then I can too!" So Farmer went to get the puck back and tripped up the Rider player - the ref called it kneeing (imo I didn't see a knee on knee) and handed the game over to the Riders on a silver platter. 20 seconds after the penalty call, the Riders scored. Then a barn that doesn't like to lose to Fernie, adding the mixture of not in that fashion, booed.

Kimberley played a fantastic game, they still get one point out of that match. The Riders won that game with the help of the officiating - which I know isn't fair to say, and they have a hard job - it was just hard to swallow the inconsistency. As fans, for some reason, we expect million dollar refs for a Jr B game - when we actually get Jr B (or refs in training) and the good ones (cue my fav official) move on to Jr A.

Dynamite Player of the Game

Jason Richter - there is just something about his passion that is motivating. Scored the opening goal.

Honorable Mentions

The whole Buckley-Haase-van Steinburg line - Their speed and aggressiveness to win back puck possession was a delight to watch.

Austin Moser - Given the complimentary duty of leading the two AP's.

Devon Langelaar - He was given more ice time with the injuries, had some solid blocks.

Justin Meier - His energy and tempo matched Fernie's. Delivered some heavy collisions.

Tyson Brouwer - 31 saves

Extra Reading

Boxscore