Last weekend, the Rebels beat the Nitro's 5-0 in Castlegar, but this time the game was in Kimberley where the Nitro's have yet to lose a game.
The Rebels looked like they were on a mission early, scoring just before the two minute mark. Nicholas Ketola, a.k.a. Captain America, scored his ninth goal of the season shorthanded. However, the Rebels continued to haunt the Nitro's and scored in the final minute to regain their one goal lead.
The Rebels then diffused the Nitro's in the middle period scoring two more goals to make it 4-1 by the five minute mark of the second.
Captain Brett Roberts tried to get the team going, scoring a goal during a four-on-four, but it didn't look like it was enough to jump start the team.
It wasn't until the final minutes of the second, when Brant Mack dropped the gloves, that the Nitro's showed any signs of life, a moment that head coach and general manager Derek Stuart felt was the turning point in the game.
"Our team was not going to quit, and that is a good sign."
Ketola scored his second short handed goal of the game, and then he scored his hattrick goal, securing his title as Captain America, since he is the only American on the Nitro's lineup.
"Ketola is one of the players that plays the same way, from the start to the end of the game. It was great that he got rewarded for using his speed on the penalty kill."
The Dynamiters were able to hold on to the tie and force over-time. The first five minutes of extra time were played four-on-four. The Nitro's even had a five-on-three powerplay but couldn't capitalize.
The teams then went into double over-time, three-on-three hockey, lots of ice to play with. The period was fast and furious, but short, as the Rebels dealt the Dynamiters their first home loss of the season.
After the game Stuart said, "The third period was one of our best periods of the season. Unfortunately, the first was one of our worst."
For Stuart, he felt that motivation was the reason for the polar-opposite periods. "It's now the point in time in the season where players need to figure it out and fix it themselves."
Cody Campbell made 31 saves in the overtime loss, and Stuart feels that the many of the goals were not Campbell's fault, "On four of them, there was no way he could have saved them, including the winner. I don't blame him whatsoever."
The Dynamiters now play their rescheduled game Tuesday against the Fernie Ghostriders, the 'Riders first home game since the tragedy in Fernie Memorial Arena.
"I hope and trust that it will be a good atmosphere for the players to experience. Obviously when you experience a tragedy like that, everyone feels terrible. It's not a good situation that it happened." Stuart said, "At the same time, if there is a great atmosphere in the rink, and both teams are playing like they can it should be a really good game."
Faceoff Tuesday is at 7:30pm at the Sparwood - Elk Valley Leisure Centre.
AROUND THE EDDIE: Creston Valley Thunder Cats continue to pursue the Nitro's in the standings winning both their weekend games, 1-0 over the Nitehawks and 6-2 over the Golden Rockets on Saturday. The Rockets lost 4-3 in overtime the night prior against the Border Bruins. The Columbia Valley Rockies split their weekend, losing 3-2 to the Rebels, and then downing the Border Bruins 9-2. The Ghostriders won their lone game 4-2 against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
Photo by Jonathan Righton - Subway 7th Player
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