The Dynamiters returned to the win column
on Tuesday, after a short three game losing streak, with a dominating 8-0
victory over the Golden Rockets.
Rockets starting goalie, Ruslan Katsnelson,
returned to the Civic Centre for the first time since being traded to Golden in
October.
Unfortunately for Katsnelson and the
Rockets, the Dynamiters fuse was lit and ready to explode.
“We were all pumped and ready to go,” said
Cranbrook native Korbyn Chabot. “It’s been a while since we have been at home.
Playing at home is always a great pleasure. The home barn gives you more
motivation.”
Chabot and the Nitro’s found a lot of
motivation and erupted for six goals in the first 12 minutes of the game,
out-shooting the Rockets 24-4 in the first 20 minutes.
Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart
was thrilled with the first period performance: “I thought the first period was
outstanding. Our guys were hot. Execution wise, that was probably our best
period of the year. I think a lot of teams would have a lot of trouble with how
we played in the first.”
The difficult task, though, was keeping the
players focused for the next 40 minutes with such a massive lead.
“That’s the harder part,” Stuart said, “especially
in this age group it is very hard. It’s even hard for the coaches to stay
focused.
“We talked about [staying focused] during
the first intermission. It clearly did not work, because in the second period
[Golden] took the play to us.
“It’s very, very hard knowing that you are
up that many goals with 40 minutes left to play. We let them know that we were
not very pleased with that second period. I thought the third period was a lot
better.”
The Dynamiters added a goal in both the
second and third period, rounding out the game to a commanding 8-0 victory.
Mitch Traichevich earned his second
shut-out of the season with 17 saves. While Chabot and captain Ryan Hozjan each
had 5 points on the night.
Hozjan had one goal and four assists,
“Everything I gave to Chabot ended up in the back of the net,” he said, “it
made it pretty easy on me. It was good to get some points after a drought. It’s
a relief, but it’s only one game.”
While Chabot, who scored four goals and
added an assist was just excited to be back on the ice after injury: “It’s
obviously good to have a big point night. I couldn’t have done it without a few
linemates: Hozjan and Davies – they had an incredible game. It’s just good to
be back and in the jersey.”
Stuart felt that the outcome had little to
do with Golden’s record, and more to do with his team’s performance: “They got
results tonight for doing the things we asked them. I don’t think it was so
much that we were playing the last team in our division.”
Hozjan added: “I think we got away from our
style of play, being hard to play against. Tonight, it was nice to get back to
playing our style.”
“We came out real strong. Our hard work
paid off today. It was good to get the confidence back.”
The Dynamiters October Player of the Month,
Chase Miller, was excited to end the short losing streak.
“It’s huge for us. We are not used to
losing. I think we got caught up in winning, we had a huge win-streak. It’s
good to get back on the winning side.”
The Dynamiters now shift their focus to
facing the Creston Valley Thunder Cats (15-3-1-1) for the third time this month
on Friday in Creston before returning home on Friday to play the Grand Forks
Border Bruins (9-7-2-2).
Chabot says the team is looking forward to
Friday’s matchup, and that it is simple to find the motivation: “They are our
big rivals, so that gets us going.”
Hozjan wants his team to repeat Tuesday’s
performance when they play again this weekend: “We got to get back to the way
we were playing in the first 20 minutes of tonight’s game. I think any team we
would have played against would have had a tough time keeping up with us. If we
carry that into Fridays game and play a full 60 that way, we’ll be in good
shape.”
Puck drops at 7:30 in Creston at the Johnny
Bucyk Arena on Friday, and then 7pm on Saturday at the Civic Centre.
MATCH
STICKS: Defenceman Robert Thomson has decided to
retire from hockey to focus on school. Troy Feldbusch was traded to Dawson
Creek (NWJHL). With four gaols, seven assists, and three stars of the game,
Chase Miller was named the Dynamiters October player of the Month.
Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman
Photo by Jonathan Righton
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