The Kimberley Dynamiters finished the 2016-17 season on a
high note, clipping the Beaver Valley Nitehawks 6-3.
In early January, the Nitehawks embarrassed the Dynamiters
9-2 at the Memorial Arena in Cranbrook. The Dynamiters players took it upon
themselves to recall that memory and bring it to forefront to show the
Nitehawks who the Nitro’s truly are.
“We've got to show them that we are coming for them.” Forward,
and Unity, SK native Brandt Bertoia said prior to the game, “We need to show
them that [the 9-2 loss] wasn't us, they don't know the real us.”
The Nitro’s were quick to score, with Devon Langelaar
scoring his seventh of the season, prior to the three-minute mark. The
Dynamiters then dialed it up, with two more goals scored by James Farmer and
Brandon Langridge, leaving the fans at the Fruitvale Arena shocked.
“We came out strong, our guys were ready to play.” Head
coach and general manager Derek Stuart said.
In the second the Dynamiters kept pouring it on, as Brandt
Bertoia would give the Nitro’s a commanding 4-0 lead. However, the ever
dangerous Nitehawks clawed their way back into the game with three power play
goals. Franco Colapaolo would score to keep the Nitehawks at bay, as the Nitro’s
would end the middle period with a 5-3 lead.
In the last frame, Bertoia would score his second of the
game to secure a 6-3 win over the league leading Beaver Valley Nitehawks; giving
the Nitehawks their fifth loss of the season and ending their 16-game winning
streak.
Campbell would turn aside 34 of 37 shots for his 14th
win of the season.
“We are really happy with how we are getting offensive
contributions from a lot of different places.” Stuart said, “When you are
resting players, it is comforting to know that you can get contributions from
other guys. It is really a well-balanced attack that we have going right now.
“The players did a great job of utilizing our team speed [against
Beaver Valley] in all areas of the game.”
The Dynamiters now enter the playoffs hot, winning their
past five.
“We have confidence right now, we have won five in a row,
just beat the best team in their rink, going into Friday I assume our players
will be ready to go.”
Stuart added: “I'm a big believer that the playoffs are a brand-new
season, anything that happens in the regular season is out the window now.”
The Dynamiters get ready to battle the Fernie Ghostriders, a
fan favourite matchup, with game one on Friday at the Kimberley Civic Centre at
7 p.m.
Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman
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