The Dynamiters played their game in the first period, firing 11 shots to the Wranglers 3. Busch scored the lone goal for the Nitro's on the PP. A revenge goal scored on the penalty that was given after Richter was crunched into the boards. When Richter returned to the ice, fans celebrated, and the team found energy in that.
In the second, the dynamics of the game shifted. It was a scoreless period, with many saves by Brouwer and defencemen. Shots were 14-6 for the Wranglers.
The Wranglers continued their strong play, and with the help of a couple PP's, the Wranglers tied the game with just under 15 minutes left (the PP tally was with 1 second left on the PP). Then the boards that the Dynamiters have relied so heavily on to create chances, well, they created a chance for the the Wranglers, and they used the opportunity to score, making it 2-1 with 6:15 left to play. The 1,057 in attendance tried to help rally the Dynamiters, but the Wranglers thwarted any effort, and held on to take a 1-0 series lead. - It was the Nitro's first home loss this playoff.
Brouwer made 25 saves in the loss.
Haase was the Home Star of the Game.
Marchi and
Hunt both had A's.
Buhler, Trevor Van Steinburg, and
Moser had several great energy shifts.
FYI, want to hear how loud it was, have a listen:
Game Two: Kimberley Dynamiters 4 vs 100 Mile House Wranglers 1
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| Photo by Jonathan Righton |
In an interview with
Taylor Rocca, 100 Mile House Coach, Hladun, said that after their win he was afraid they poked the bear. And in game two, that bear turned out to be
Richter.
The captain carried the team on his back, he led by example, and scored a hat-trick, as he helped the Nitro's to a 4-1 victory. It also appears that the line change of swapping
Chabot with
Wit paid dividends.
Chabot had two helpers and
Wit 1G 1A.
The Dynamiters had a 2-0 lead after 1 period. It took the Wranglers 45 seconds of the second period to cut the score in half, before
Richter responded with a goal of his own. This fan photo was shot just as
Richter fired the puck.
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| Photo by K. Ellerbeck |
It was 3-1 headed into the third. The Wranglers pulled the goalie with four minutes to, and they directed a lot of rubber and intensity towards
Brouwer, who played aggressively, and kept the puck out (with the help of the D).
Buckley rang the post with an EN shot, later
Wit added an EN, and the game ended 4-1.
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| Photo by Jonathan Righton |
Brouwer made 29 saves for the W.
Richter was the home player of the game.
Doell, Busch and
Marchi added a helper each.
Buhler got the worst of his own hit as he left the game, never returned, and reports are that his season is done. His intensity will be missed, he was entertaining to watch.
Richter was given 2+10, and ironically is a top PIM player on the team, it will be interesting to see the implications of this on the next game. (I understand that Richter may need to serve the remainder of his 10 minutes at the start of game three - we will see)
The series now shifts to 100 Mile House for three games.
Game Three: Kimberley Dynamiters 2 at 100 Mile House Wranglers 5
Depending if you bleed Dynamiter Red or Wrangler Blue, the officials in this game were either your best friend or your enemy.
A total of seven goals were scored in this game, what's amazing is that they were all scored in the back-end 40 minutes of play, five in the last 20.
The opening period was a goaltenders duel, which
Brouwer made many excellent saves.
Meier left the game in the first and never returned, reports are he is done for the season with a torn MCL.
The Wranglers opened the scoring in the 2nd. Kimberley responded with a goal by
Marchi from
Richter &
Wit on a 5-on-3 PP. Second ended knotted at one, despite Kimberley leading in shots, 22-11.
Then the wheels fell off, potentially due to physical exhaustion. The Wranglers scored four goals in the period (they took a page out of the Dynamiters book!).
Busch (at first credited to
Farmer)
did get the Nitro's on the board, but it was too little too late. Wranglers take Game three 5-2.
Dugdale took a a 5 minute penalty and a game under the five minute mark of the third, which typically means a one game suspension.
Brouwer made 24 saves in the loss.
Busch was the Away Star of the Game with his late game tally.
This game was played how the Wranglers wanted to play, physical bordering on dangerous. Not to mention special teams, which have usually been the Nitro's strength, is currently the Wranglers strength. Kimberley was 1/3 on the PK and 1/8 on the PP.
Game Four: Kimberley Dynamiters 2 at 100 Mile House Wranglers 3
Dugdale was suspended for three games, and with injuries to
Buhler and
Meier, Kimberley dressed an AP,
Sterzer. Got to wonder how injuries will impact the series.
The Wranglers continued their strong physical play and their dominance on the special teams. The Wranglers opened the scoring with a PP goal 10 minutes into the game. Later they added their second goal. In fact, the first 30 minutes was all Wranglers, they scored their third goal just before the midway point.
Marchi did ring a shot off the post this period, it is a game of inches.
Brouwer was relieved by
Traichevich and then it was the Dynamiters turn to control the game. The Nitro's had 7 PP chances in the last 30 minutes of play. They made a push back into the game with a PP goal of their own by
Chabot from
Hunt and
Busch. Later in the 3rd,
Marchi added another PP goal from
Haase. The Dynamiters scrambled for the remaining 1:46 with the net empty, but they just couldn't finish, despite firing 40 shots on net. The Wranglers held on for a 3-2 win, to earn a 3-1 series lead.
Brouwer and
Traichevich made 24 saves.
Marchi was the Away Star of the Game.
Tyler Van Steinburg left the game and didn't return (maybe another injured player).
When it's the KIJHL Finals, the officiating is under a microscope. It's important to remember that just like how the league is a development league for the players, it too is growing future officials - so it's understandable, even though frustrating, that mistakes will be made.
The next game is a do-or-die situation for Kimberley. It's also important to note that closing out a series is one of the most difficult tasks.
Game Five: Kimberley Dynamiters 1 at 100 Mile House Wranglers 2
Do or Die for the Kimberley Dynamiters. In an interview with a radio station prior to the game, HC Bancks knew the Wranglers would come out hard, but wanted his team to secure the first goal so that they didn't have to play catch up hockey.
Tyler Van Steinburg, who left last game injured, dressed and played in the game.
As the Wranglers have done all series, give them a PP, they get a goal. The Wranglers took a 1-0 lead on a PP goal with 8 minutes left in the first period.
Tables turned in the second, as the Dynamiters had a couple PP chances. But it was
Buckley, with two minutes left, who received a pass in the slot from
Marchi &
Hunt and tied the game at 1.
The third period was desperation hockey, and the officials whistles were put away. Kimberley needed a goal to bring the game back home, 100 Mile House needed a goal to win the championship on home ice. The Dynamiters had chances, but they were facing an incredibly hot goalie.
Brouwer too was keeping his team in the game, with incredible after incredible save.
And then, sadly, with just under four minutes on the clock, the Wranglers squeezed a loose puck in. 2-1 Wranglers, their fans went ecstatic. The Nitro's fought back, pulled the goalie, and gave it their all; but time ran out on the clock and the Wranlgers became the 2016 KIJHL Champions.
Brouwer made 30 saves.
Richter was the Away Star of the Game.
Player Stats for the KIJHL Finals
