The Kimberley Dynamiters had a successful
season opening weekend in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League,
going 1-1.
Nitro’s first game and home opener was
against Division rivals, the Fernie Ghostriders.
Head Coach & General Manager Derek
Stuart shared by phone on Sunday, “all things considered, for not having five
players, playing essentially most of the game with three forwards on defense; I
think things went really, really well.
“The
guys battled hard and they competed. Their compete level and how they worked,
was very, very impressive.”
It was the early season jitters that got
the best of them, when the Riders opened the scoring 32 seconds into the game.
Fernie then had a 2-0 lead in the third
before Kimberley got on the board. Local-boy, Caige Sterzer, banged home a
rebound.
Sterzer was so excited to be in the game, and
even more thrilled to score, “I was so pumped to be on the ice with my team on
the home opener. We have a great new bunch of guys and coaching staff.
“I was honoured to score my first goal in
front of friends, family and the home town. “
For 59 minutes it was an entertaining and
close game for the 607 in attendance at the Civic Centre. But the game finished
in Fernie’s favour as they won 2-1 and led 29-21 in shots.
“Having 600 plus people there Friday, the
boys fed off the energy of the crowd.” Stuart recalled.
“For a young team having their home opener
against one of the pre-season favourites to win the league, the nerves were
high, they were scored on the first, but they did very well.”
The Dynamiters followed up their one-goal
loss on Friday with a one goal win on Saturday, defeating the Castlegar Rebels
4-3 in front of 351 fans.
In a moment of déjà vu, the Nitro’s gave up
an early goal to the Rebels.
“For some reason, we are having a tough
time at the start of a game and also the start of a period.
“Three of the five goals we have given up
this year have come within the first minute of a period. We need to figure that
out right away and fix it.”
The Nitro’s responded with three goals in
the second frame.
“It was very encouraging to see from a
coaching standpoint. Because, if we can establish that as our model for the
year it is a very good foundation.”
Korbyn Chabot set up Chase Miller for the
first goal, and then Miller returned the favour and helped Chabot get the next
goal. Sterzer restored the Dynamiters lead when he poked a loose puck in.
The resilient Rebels wouldn’t go away and
tied the game 35 seconds into the third period.
At the midway point, Sterzer found James Farmer
who was busting in on a developing two-on-one with Nicholas Ketola. Farmer was
able to get Ketola the puck, and had no issue giving the Dynamiters a 4-3 lead.
That was the score until the final buzzer sounded.
“It was awesome to be able to contribute to
our teams first win of the season.” Sterzer shared. “Now we just have to have a
good week of practice and carry it on to next weekend against Golden and
Fernie.”
The Dynamiters return to the ice this Friday
when they host the Golden Rockets at the Civic Centre, game time is 7pm; and
then host the Fernie Ghostriders in a rematch on Saturday at 7pm.
Match
Sticks: Ruslan
Katsnelson recorded his first KIJHL win in his first KIJHL game as he turned
aside 24 of the 27 shots Saturday... The Nitro’s released forwards Wyatt
Fleming and Terrell Clarricoates on Sunday… Stuart was absent from behind the
bench on Saturday. “I got suspended for dressing an ineligible player Friday
for two games. I thought he was approved, but he was pending. That was my bad.
It was my mistake. I will take ownership of that.”
Photo by Jonathan Righton
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