The Kimberley Dynamiters open their seven-game playoff
series against the Fernie Ghostriders tonight.
The Riders and Nitro’s are familiar opponents having played
each other eight times during the regular season. The teams split the series
4-4, with both teams being 3-1 at home and 1-3 on the road. The Riders just
edged the Dynamiters in scoring, 32-31.
Despite a 12-point difference in the standings in favor of
the Nitro’s, this series is lining up to be one of the KIJHL’s most evenly
matched first round series. Not to mention a fan favourite.
Both teams enter the playoffs after defeating the league
leading Beaver Valley Nitehawks. Both are on winning streaks. Both teams have
leading scorers that just passed the 50-point plateau, Chase Miller with 51
while Fernie’s Mitch Titus has 52. And both teams sport save percentages of
0.898. Just to name a few of the evenly matched statistics.
With all this excitement, head coach and general manager
Derek Stuart knows that finding the motivation to play Fernie will come
naturally.
“The motivation shouldn't be a problem at all. There are a
few things that Fernie does really well that we need to be aware of and try to
stop. There is not going to be any surprises come Friday, we need to play our
game.”
Stuart knows that the teams are evenly matched, but added,
“it is a new season starting now, we are 0-0 right now… Anything that happens
in the regular season is out the window now.”
It is with the clean-slate mentality and confidence that the
Dynamiters begin their pursuit of their third KIJHL final appearance in a row.
They start their pursuit tonight and tomorrow for games one
and two at the Kimberley Civic Centre at 7p.m., before going to Fernie for
games three and four on Monday and Tuesday and 7:30p.m.
MATCH STICKS: Garreth
Osmar is suspended for two games and will return on Monday. The Ghostriders
have three players listed as injured: Keegan Kingwell, Kevin Pierce, and Kyle
Haugo.
Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman
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