Story: Kimberley Dynamiters Joe Karpyshyn commits to Calgary Mustangs (AJHL)

The Kimberley Dynamiters have helped another player move on up. This time it is Joe Karpyhsyn ('98) committing to the Calgary Mustangs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for next season.

Kimberley Dynamiters general manager and head coach, Derek Stuart, is happy for Karpyshyn, but is also sad to be loosing him.

"He helped us a lot on the ice, averaging a point per game, also by being the agitator that he was. It is something we are going to miss, and it is going to be hard to replace a guy like Joe."

Karpyshyn, from Calgary, is excited to be back in Junior A after splitting last season between the Olds Grizzlies (AJHL) and the Dynamiters.

"I'm really excited to play Junior A next year. I'm confident in our team and I believe we'll have a good year."

During his time with the Nitro's, Karpyshyn scored nine goals and 17 assists in 18 games, while adding five goals and nine assists in 17 playoff games. Karpyshyn feels his time and exposure in Kimberley helped get him back to Junior A.

"Playing for the Nitro's was a great experience. It helped me get back to Junior A by playing lots of minutes and getting confidence in my game back in all three zones of the ice.

"The way coach Stuart runs the team, the expectations are exactly like Junior A, so it'll be easy to adjust next season."

Karpyshyn joins Cooper Page and Chase Miller who have also moved on to Junior A clubs. Karpyshyn and Miller will both be sporting Mustangs uniforms next season.

Stuart is pleased to be seeing so many players moving to Junior A after getting their confidence back by buying into the teams system and realizing that the team will do their best to get them to or back to Junior A.

"As an organization, that is our primary goal, to help players move on. We are very excited and happy to help Joe in that regard.

As for Karpyshyn, he will miss but had gratitude for playing in Kimberley.

"Thanks to everyone involved in the Dynamiters team from the head coach to all of the volunteers. They made my KI experience amazing and the Nitro's are definitely the best organization in the KIJHL. [They] have Junior A caliber fans."