The Kimberley Dynamiters had a busy weekend with 24 goals
being scored over two games. The Dynamiters lost to the Beaver Valley Nitehawks
9-2, but then bounced back with an 11-2 win over the Columbia Valley Rockies
On Friday the Nitro’s faced the Nitehawks at a “neutral”
venue, the Cranbrook Memorial Arena. However, this venue has never boded well
for the Nitro’s, as it was the former home to the Cranbrook Colts, a huge rival
to the Dynamiters when both teams competed in the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey
League (Jr. A).
The Colts last game was a game seven league victory over the
Dynamiters, and who was on the losing end that game, Nitro’s head coach and
general manager Derek Stuart.
“Myself and [assistant coach] Jeff Keiver played many games
in this arena. Definitely had many battles in this arena. It's not a rink that
I am very fond of, based on the 90's playing against the Colts.”
The Dynamiters even used the Colts old dressing and could
see the Colts winning banners towering over the ice surface. Needless to say,
the Cranbrook hockey gods were not on Kimberley’s side.
Nitro’s Chase Miller got the 575 in attendance into the game
early as he scored just after the two minute mark. After that, it was all
Beaver Valley.
“It just snowballed, we tried to control it.” Stuart said. “We
tried everything we could as a coaching staff, it's tough to stop that
snowball.”
The Nitehawks scored six in a row before Joe Karpyshyn
scored in the third period. But the Nitehawks kept coming and scored another
three after that, for a total of nine goals scored by eight players.
The Dynamiters left the Memorial Arena embarrassed and with
their heads down.
“Hopefully, it definitely could be a good thing to be
humbled.” Stuart said “Any time that you get your ass whooped like that, you
either have to learn from it or it is going to happen again. This could be a
good thing.”
Seems like it was a good thing, as the Nitro’s went into
Invermere and posted an 11-2 victory. However, while Stuart was pleased with
the win, he feels the Dynamiters had not learned their lesson fully.
“We haven't completely learned our lesson from the Beaver
Valley game. To the players credit they did learn quite quickly to play
consistently. Especially in the last 40 minutes was some of the best hockey we
have played.
“We did everything hard, we made sure we were smart with the
puck in all three zones, really limited their opportunities to get scoring
chances.
“We still have a lot of work to do in terms of being able to
compete for 60 minutes. At the same time the players did an excellent job
taking the first step.”
After 20 minutes, the Dynamiters were tied with the Rockies
at two, despite firing 21 shots on the Rockies goalie.
In the next 40 minutes, the Dynamiters piled up an
astounding nine goals, with Chase Miller taking the lead with three goals and
two assists.
“For the coaches, we were more happy to see the players
doing the right things, playing the right way, taking that first step.
“Whether they scored or not, it's great that we got those
nine goals in the last 40 minutes, but those were a direct result of doing
things right, managing the puck, and shooting pucks.”
After two very polarizing games, the Dynamiters look
forwards to their next opponent on Wednesday, the Nelson Leafs (16-16-0-4).
“Our mantra is to focus on our next opponent.” Stuart says
“We have a few things we work on our consistency in terms of playing hard all
the time, and when we do that we can compete with any body.”
Games starts at 8pm in Nelson at the Nelson Community
Complex.
MATCH STICKS: The
Dynamiters added forward Cooper Page (’98) from the Okotoks Oilers (AJHL). As a
result of the addition, defensemen Drew Van Den Bosch (’98) was traded to the
Comox Valley Glacier Kings (VIJHL). Cody Campbell was recognized as the
Kimberley Dynamiters December Player of the Month. George Bertoia, Brandon
Langridge, Garreth Osmar and Harrison Risdon remain out of the line up due to
suspension.
Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman
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