A convincing 6-1 win for the Kimberley Dynamiters over the Creston Valley Thunder Cats

Photo by Jonathan Righton

While this game was the Kimberley Dynamiters against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, it appeared more like Kenaan Haase vs the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.

Game Notes

• 485 in attendance
• The best goalie match up in the KI: Brouwer vs Lefebvre.
• Bertoia returned to the lineup after finishing a suspension

1st
Kenaan Haase opened the scoring early as he pushed himself past the Creston defensemen to give Kimberley an early 1-0 lead. After the goal Kimberley took three penalties in a row, including a 5-on-3. But Kimberley held the fort and kept the puck out. In the last quarter of the period, Busch creamed a Creston player, who then retaliated, and the Nitro's were on the PP. Not even 30-seconds in the PP, Haase got his second of the period, 2-0 Kimberley. But another 50 seconds later, Bertoia scored, his first of the season and as a Nitro. 3-0 Kimberley by the end of the first. Kimberley led in shots 11-5.

2nd
There was a bouncing puck that Creston took advantage of, but Brouwer was up to it. Later, in a miscommunication between D and Brouwer, led to a turnover and a wrap around goal that beat Brouwer, and Creston cut into the lead 3-1. Only one penalty this period, retaliation, again against Creston. As the period wound down, Haase snapped in his hat-trick goal, 4-1 Kimberley. Shots were 8 a piece.

3rd
Haase got himself in the penalty column as well, as Creston went on the PP. But again, Kimberley barricaded the fort and kept the puck out. The period continued rather uneventfully, until the last five minutes. Kimberley went on the PP, and you could tell the guys were trying to get Haase his 4th goal of the game as they kept feeding him the puck. But Buckley found Marchi, who fired in a PP goal giving Kimberley a 5-1 lead. Haase, then with 5 seconds left, scored his 4th of the game, and the period ended 6-1 Kimberley. Shots were 10-7 for Kimberley.

Kimberley really delivered a message to a flat pawed Thunder Cats team. I will also admit during a webcast intermission interview I mentioned that Kimberley's special teams were their weak spot. Tonight there were 3/5 on the PP and 4/4 on the PK. I'd say they are improving.

Dynamite Player of the Game
Kenaan Haase - First 5pt game in the KIJHL, and first 4 goal game, but his 3rd Hat Trick of the season and 5th of his KI career.

Honorable Mentions
George Bertoia - The defensive defenseman was awarded with offensive numbers
Sawyer Hunt - 3A
Eric Buckley - 2A
Jordan Busch - 2A

Extra Reading
Taylor Rocca article
Boxscore