The Kimberley Dynamiters have finalized their squad and are
ready to start the regular season. The 23 player roster sports two goalies, six
defencemen, and 15 forwards. Amongst the 23, are eight KIJHL veterans, six returning
Dynamiters, and 15 making their KIJHL debut.
Amongst the returning players are the two newly acquired
Ryan Hozjan (96) and Nicholas Ketola (97); plus three local talents, Korbyn
Chabot (99), Lucas Purdy (98), and James Rota (98); two returnees from Alberta:
Franco Colapaolo (96) and James Farmer (97); and goaltender Mitch Traichevich
(97).
Needless to say the Dynamiters will have a new look this
coming fall.
Despite the majority the team being new to the KIJHL, Head Coach
and General Manager Derek Stuart says “We as a coaching staff are pleased with
and excited about the team speed and size.
“We have quite a few rookies that don’t look like rookies.
Everyone on the opening day roster deserves to be there.”
The Dynamiters have not yet named player leadership this
season, Stuart said “We have veterans that are mature and are helping.”
Hozjan and Colapaolo are two veterans of those veterans.
Colapaolo is excited about starting the season with the team,
“having this many rookies fighting to stay on the team and crack the lineup
definitely raises the compete level and intensity in our practices, which is
great because that’s kind of the motto that Coach wants us to embrace.
“I’m really looking forward to enjoying my last year of
junior hockey. I am excited to mentor the younger guys this season just like
the vets did for me in my first couple of years”
Hozjan who is new to town says “I have been welcomed to the
town by the, community, team, and billet family. It’s been great.”
While Hozjan is enjoying the new location, he is pleased
with how the team is forming, “we have four lines that will be able to
contribute this season. We have gelled together nicely.”
But adds, “the past two weeks have been long, I am anxious
to get the season started.”
Colapoalo is very confident in how the team will perform
this season. “I think we’ll surprise some people with how quickly we rebound
from losing the core of our team in the off-season.
“We want to be hard to play against every shift. Even though
we are a younger team, there is no excuse that we can’t be the hardest working
team in the league.
“We want other teams to hate playing against us.”
The Dynamiters open their regular season tonight against the
Fernie Ghostriders at the Civic Centre. Game time is 7pm.
Match Sticks: The Dynamiters continue to have a connection
with California. Goaltender, Ruslan Katsnelson (97), is from West Hills,
California. There are six veterans currently trying out with Jr A clubs: George Bertoia, Brett Roberts, Trey Doell,
Tyler van Steinburg, Trevor van Steinburg and Devon Langelaar.
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