Past Nitro's: Matt Wilkins

Matt Wilkins played for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2007-2009. He totaled 40 goals and 44 assists in 91 games with the Nitro's.

This past season he played 51 games with the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League. He scored 10 goals and 14 assists in his rookie campaign.

Past Nitro's: Carter Bancks

Carter Bancks played for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2004-2006.  He scored 25 goals and 54 assists in 61 games with the Nitro's. He also scored five goals and seven assists in 13 playoff games.

This past season he played for and captained the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League. He palyed in 69 games scoring 10 goals and 12 assists.

Past Nitro's: Matt Foster

Matt Foster played in 64 games for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2008-2010. During that time he scored 46 goals and 31 assists.

This year he played for the Daysland Northstars, part of the North Central Senior Hockey League. In eight games he posted nine goals and six assists. He then added three goals and two assists in three playoff games as the Northstars went on to win the NCHL title.

Past Nitro's: Drayson Bowman

Drayson Bowman played one season with the Kimberley Dynamiters during the 2004-05 season before moving onto the WHL. He played in 47 games scoring 29 goals and 30 assists.

This past season he played for the Düsseldorfer EG in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. In 51 games he scored 11 goals and nine assists.

Past Nitro's: Tommy Latouche-Gauvin

Tommy Latouche-Gauvin played for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2005-2008. During his three seasons he scored 86 goals and 83 assists in 142 games. He sits 7th all-time with 169 points (goals 3rd, assists 10th).

This past season he played for the Balsta Hockey Club, a Division 2 league in Sweden. He averaged a point per game, with 18 goals and nine assists in 27 games.

The Kimberley Dynamiters held their Annual General Meeting

The Kimberley Dynamiters held their Annual General Meeting on May 17^th at the Trickle Creek Lodge in Kimberley, BC.

During the meeting, James Leroux, who is now in his second year of being the Kimberley Dynamiters President, said that his priorities have been first to make sure that the team is making money, and second that the team is competitive. He added that given his two priorities, he and the board is very pleased with the Nitro’s performance during the 2016-17 season.

The Dynamiters finished the season with a 33-13-0-1 record, second in the Eddie Mountain Division, and advanced to the Kootenay Conference Finals before losing to the eventual KIJHL and Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.

During the Treasurer report by Troy Pollock, he agreed that the Kimberley Dynamiters had a successful season on and off the ice. He credits the playoff run as a major contributor to the Nitro’s financial success.

Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said during his report that he expects seven to twelve players to return from last season. He said that this last season was really exciting and a lot of fun for his first season in the KIJHL, and that he is looking forward to the next season.

After the reports, the board voted and elected the following as their executive: James Leroux, President; Glen Johnston, Vice President; Troy Pollock, Treasurer; Al Rice, Co-Treasurer; and Karrie Hall, Secretary.

The following are directors at large that take lead on various committees for the team: Amber Anderson, Scott Cameron, Chris Hall, Tasha Johnston, Chad Koran, Jodi L’Heureux, Nancy Sebolsky, Robyn Wardle, and Mitchell Zuvela.

The Dyanmiters board is using the off-season to work on several projects as they prepare for the 2017-18 season.

Past Nitro's: Mike Whitequills

Mike Whitequills played for the Kimberley Dynamiters from 2005-2008. In 126 games with the Nito's he scored 83 goals and 93 assists for 176 points. His totals sit 6th all-time for points, 4th for goals, and 8th for assists. He added another 12 goals and 17 assists in 31 playoff games, including an appearance to the finals during the 2005-06 campaign.

This season he played for the Kainai Nation Braves in the Ranchland Hockey League, a senior mens league. He played in nine games scoring six goals and adding five assists. He then posted five goals and four assists in the playoffs.

Past Nitro's: Jeremy Weasel-Moccasin

Jeremy Weasel-Moccasin played one season for the Kimberley Dynamiters during the 2006-07 season. He scored 29 goals and 49 assists with 119 penalty minutes.

This past season he played for the Kainai Nation Braves in the Ranchland Hockey League, a senior mens league. He played in 14 games scoring five goals and 12 assists. He then added four goals and one assist in four playoff games.

Kimberley Dynamiters alumni shine with the University of Jamestown Jimmies

The inaugural season for the University of Jamestown Jimmies was a tremendous success for three Kimberley Dynamiters alumni, as Tyson Brouwer, Eric Buckley, and Jason Richter all contributed to a memorable year for the new American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 program.

Brouwer, a goalie from Lethbridge, Alberta, switched his studies from kinesiology to law at the North Dakota school, while playing in 27 games and posting a 15-11 record with a 2.46 goals against average, a .918 save percentage and earning two shutouts.

For his efforts, Brouwer was recognized with the team’s first-ever Most Valuable Player award.

“It’s a great honour,” Brouwer said, struggling to put his feelings into words. “It was a surprise to receive such a high recognition two seasons in a row.”

Brouwer was named the MVP of the Nitros for the 2015-16 season and believes that former Dynamiters bench boss, Jerry Banks, helped prepare him, along with the other alumni, to be able to compete so well at the college level.

For Brouwer, the season’s top highlight was beating the NCAA Division One ranked Ohio State Buckeyes program early in the season.

“No one expected us to do that,” he said.

While Brouwer was pleased with his recognition, he felt that his past teammates also made vital contributions to the team.

Richter, who is from Cranbrook, BC, and was the captain of the Dynamiters from 2014-16, scored 12 goals and 12 assists for second in point-scoring for the Jimmies.

The 21-year-old forward is majoring in business administration and was recognized with the Jimmie Knight Award, an honour given to the player who best exemplifies Jimmie hockey on and off the ice.

Buckley, who is from Penticton, BC, was a fan favourite during his tenure with the Nitros and this season scored eight goals and 12 assists, good for fourth in team scoring, while majoring in computer science.

While the Jimmies only featured three Nitros this season, there was a deep KIJHL connection on the team. 15 of Jamestown’s many freshmen played in the KIJHL prior to joining the collegiate ranks.

Brouwer said that even though they were opponents the season prior, there was a mutual respect and appreciation associated with all coming from the same league that allowed the team to gel quickly.

The KIJHL-led Jimmies easily handled the pressures of their inaugural season and posted a 20-10-3 record in the ACHA. They ranked well enough to compete in the championships, but due to it being their first season were ineligible to play in the tournament.

Brouwer believes that the disappointment of not competing for a title will only make the team more invigorated for next season.

MATCH STICKS: During the months of May, June, July, and August the Nitro’s Night in Kimberley Blog will be reviewing the 2016-17 seasons of Kimberley Dynamiters alumni.

Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman