Kimberley Dynamiters lose exhibition game 4-3

The Kimberley Dynamiters played their first exhibition game Thursday night against the Fernie Ghostriders. For the 'Rdiers, it was their third exhibition game.

"The structure is slowly getting there." Jeff Wagner, Fernie's head coach and general manager said. "We are changing the way we play this year. Fernie has usually been a meat and potato, big and tough.

"This year we are looking at gain some speed, that way when we come to places like Kimberley we are not getting skated around."

The 'Riders still do not have access to their arena, so they are currently living out of their suitcases, trying to make the best of the situation.

Bryce McDonald opened the scoring for the game, giving the Dynamiters a 1-0 lead.

"It felt good, scoring right off the bat, it helps get the monkey off the back from the off-season." McDonald said, "I just hope to keep it rolling into the season."

From that point on, the Ghostriders took control of the scoreboard.

"There was some tentativeness," Carson Loftsgard, Nitro's associate coach said, "but that comes with the unfamiliarity of playing with each other. Most of them have never played together."

The second period was bogged down by penalties, as the players and officials try to adjust to the new rules that came with the newly minted cages.

As the third period drew to a close, Brandon Pelletier, was able to draw the Nitro's in closer. Then as the period ended, Derian Bamber scored. But it was not enough, as the Nitro's would lose 4-3.

"When we were 5-on-5, we did well. We had 40 shots on net. We played really well when we had the puck."

Adam Andersen and Matt Merkle shared crease duties in the exhibition game loss, together they faced 25 shots.

While winning would have been nice, the primary purpose of the exhibition game is to evaluate players.

"The game gave as an opportunity to look at a lot of individuals and evaluate where they are at at this point." Loftsgard said. "By that measurement stick, the game was a success."

For Loftsgard he was most impressed with was having more than 600 fans show up for a mid-week exhibition game. He also appreciated the moment of silence for Brad Tipper.

"Those moments, it is a real sense of community."

The Nitro's have one more exhibition game on Saturday against the Columbia Valley Rockies in Invermere.

"We are just looking to evaluate the players, to give them opportunity to play within the system work we have done. Can you learn and play within a system and show us that you can grown within a system."

For McDonald, he wants to see less penalties, "We just gotta stay out of the box, worry about just the game. And execute the game plan well, instead of running around trying to kill everyone, sort of speak."

Lead photo by Jonathan Righton