The Kimberley Dynamiters continued their hot streak, winning
their third and fourth games in a row as they bounced both the Grand Forks
Border Bruins and the Spokane Braves from the Kimberley Civic Centre.
Up first was the Border Bruins. The Dynamiters exploded from
the drop of the first puck, scoring four goals in the first period alone.
“That was probably the best start we have had to a game this
season,” said Dynamiters head coach and general manager Derek Stuart. However,
he cautioned: “It’s real tough whether you are a professional or a junior aged
player to keep your mind on the task at hand when you are up 4-0 that early.
They start thinking that it is point night, and don’t do what they are supposed
to do.”
The Dynamiters kept pressing scoring an additional three
goals in the middle frame to give them a 7-0 lead over the Border Bruins
heading into the third.
It was in the third where the Border Bruins got under the
skin of the Dynamiters.
“It’s hard staying focused in a game where you get up early
and are playing the dirtiest team in our conference.”
A whopping 117 minutes’ worth of penalties were called at
the 13:52 minute mark of the third.
The Bruins did score a power-play goal, but the Nitro’s
responded quickly. Then the Border Bruins scored another two quick goals within
ten seconds, before the Nitro’s responded in the last minute.
The Dynamiters finished the game with a 9-3 blowout win over
the Border Bruins.
James Rota, the 17-year-old local talent and home star of
the game said “We started out really strong. We were on them right away. Near
the end we let up a bit. But we finished strong with a goal at the end.” Rota
earned one goal, his first of the season, and the eventual game winner, plus he
added three assists on the night.
“It was awesome, it was my first of the year.” Rota said. “I’m
pretty happy to finally get one. I was just excited to get one. Being the game
winning goal, that’s always nice bonus.”
Stuart said of Rota: “He had a great game. He was definitely
one of our most valuable players tonight. His whole line was our best line,
Hozjan and Colapaolo.”
Cody Lassiter, the new addition from Bassano, AB, played his
first game as a Dynamiter. “He did very well. For him to step in like that and
be that calm with the puck and make that many good decisions with the puck. He was
very impressive.”
Dawson Creek, BC, native, Mitch Traichevich, made 29 saves for
his sixth win of the season.
The Dynamiters then focused their attention on battling the
visiting Spokane Braves.
The Dynamiters came out with a flash early again, scoring
within the first minute.
“I thought we started out great in the first 5-6 minutes.”
Stuart said. “I believe in the first four minutes we had nine shots on net, and
ended the period with 13. It went down hill from there.”
“We were pretty lackluster. Lazy with the puck. Lazy getting
to loose pucks.
“I don’t know if our heads are getting a little too big or
that early goal put thoughts in guys’ heads that this was going to be an easy
night. They should know that nothing comes easy against Spokane, because I
think they are better than their record shows.”
Chase Miller, an 18-year-old from Calgary, AB, said: “We had
a lot of turnovers in our own end, and we were just trying to be pretty with
the puck instead of just getting deep and grinding it out in their end.”
The Braves were always within striking distance as they
continually made plays out of nothing.
“I thought we let them hang around for far too long,” Stuart
said, “and gave them a chance to be in this game, and gave them hope.”
It wasn’t until the midway of the third that the Dynamiters
started to pull away to earn their fourth win in a row with a 6-2 victory.
“The book ends were good. The middle was not good.”
“Hopefully it is a wakeup call for us, even though it was a
win. I don’t think we were very good tonight.”
Cody Campbell from Calgary, AB, started his first game as a
Dynamiter and earned his first win the KIJHL with a 21 save performance.
“Campbell was good. I thought he was very composed and he
made a couple big saves. His first game with a new team in a new league he did
very well.”
Franco Colapaolo, also from Calgary, AB, continues to be a hard-working
force for the Dynamiters as he scored two of the three third period goals.
“Colapaolo is definitely a leader, he wears a letter for a
reason. With some help from his line mates he took over the third period and
willed those pucks into the net. He used his speed and went to the net with his
stick on the ice. Simple things that every player can do.”
Chase Miller was the start of the game as he distributed the
puck well earning three assists in front of family for the Dynamiters Family
weekend game.
“I had lots of family here. It was awesome having them all
out here.
“It was a good night. I was working the puck well.
“It wasn’t our prettiest game, but got the win and that’s
what matters at the end of the night”
Looking back on the current four game winning streak, the Dynamiters
have now scored 29 goals, while being scored on nine times.
“Last four, the results look great.” Stuart said.
“The nine against is a huge sign of how we have been playing
the defensive zone. If we can keep that up, we can get a lot of wins.
Especially in a league like this where it is tough to score goals.”
Despite winning nine of their past ten, Stuart says, “Now we
put it behind us and look forward to Nelson Friday.”
Photo's by Jonathan Righton
Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman
