Saturday, 29 December 2018
Story: The Kimberley Dynamiters will be appealing Kennedy's six-game suspension
At the KIJHL College Showcase the Kimberley Dynamiters are without Spencer Kennedy, who has been suspended six games.
Kennedy will miss out on both Showcase games, which he says sucks, but he will also miss out on the Holiday Classic between Fernie and Kimberley, plus two more games.
The suspension comes from the December 18 game against the Fernie Ghostriders. There were shenanigans that happened at the conclusion of the second, however, many of those penalties have been rescinded, except Kennedy's.
"I know for a fact that referee or the linesmen did not see what Kennedy did or didn't do." Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "They clearly made up a penalty on Fernie's player Green. Myself and Fernie's head coach received game misconducts, when those should have been bench minors.
"For me, if I am betting man, I would bet that he didn't see what happened and made something up."
An automatic three game suspension was given for the spearing penalty, which means Kennedy would have return January 5th. However, there was an additional three game suspension for 'deliberate intent, causing injury'.
"The biggest issue is that Kennedy got an additional three games for injuring a player, when that player played less than 72 hours later and scored two goals." Stuart said. "I don't know who deemed him to be injured, but he clearly wasn't injured."
"I don't know how you can call him injured if he is not missing any game time."
The additional suspension, and all but Kennedy's penalty being rescinded has been frustrating.
"We have tried to talk to the league and BC Hockey. There is no video of the incident. There are only a few people that saw what happened, and they say it wasn't a spear, that it was something else.
"It's frustrating that a call was made up, twice on the same play. [Fernie's] got rescinded and ours didn't. We are going to try and get the extra three rescinded."
The Dynamiters will now wait and see, while Kennedy, as of right now, is watching the KIJHL College Showcase and the Holiday Classic, plus two more games, from the stands.
While both of Fernie's players will be playing all the above games.
Story: Kimberley Dynamiters shut out 100 Mile House Wranglers in KIJHL Showcase Opener
The Kimberley Dynamiters had a great start to the KIJHL College Showcase, as they shut out the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
This was the first meeting between the Wranglers and Nitros since the 2016 KIJHL Finals, where the Wranglers went on to win the series and then capture gold at the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
The Dynamiters arrived late on the bus, travelling straight from Kimberley to Kamloops Friday, and their bus legs showed on the Olympic sized ice rink in the first period.
Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said that the team had to make some minor adjustments to the wider ice surface, and added, "our team is fit for this ice. Our speed and puck movement took over."
Despite playing a larger ice surface and the bus legs, the Nitros were able to score the lone goal in the first period, as Keegan McDowell scored on a breakaway.
In the second, the Nitros came to play. Fifty-six seconds into the period Chase Gedny gave the Nitros a 2-0 lead. Brock Palmer would then score back-to-back goals, 10 minutes apart. The Nitros had a commanding lead, 4-0, as the second finished.
In the third Erik Delaire would add one more tally, and Adam Andersen would stop three more shots to earn his first shut this season, and of his KIJHL career.
"It's nice obviously. It was fairly easy." Andersen said. "It was a great night, all the guys were going. They made it easy for me."
Delaire's successes has been overshadowed by the performance of other players, but he was able to score a goal at the showcase, but downplayed the importance of game.
"I tried not to worry about it as a showcase, it was just a regular season game, and tried to play it as every day." Delaire said, "I don't think the showcase got to anyone, we just played Nitros hockey."
Palmer, with five points in the game, was named the Home Star of the Game.
After the game, as was the goal of the KIJHL College Showcase, both head coach and assistant coach met with scouts from several different colleges/universities.
"For us, we made it clear that we are here to showcase our team, not any individuals. But by doing that they will get individual accolades and attention," Stuart said. "Tonight was a perfect job of that.
"They have talked to some players that they are interested in, whether it be for next year or for two years down the road. I'm sure we will have more scouts talking to our guys tomorrow."
It's a quick turn around for the Nitros, as they have a 1pm (Kamloops local time) game against the Osoyoos Coyotes.
MATCH STICKS: Kole Halvorson made an animated debut with the team, and Stuart was impressed with his play. The Nitros dressed seven defencemen and 11 forwards due to Ryan Bennett being injured, Spencer Kennedy is suspended, and Brandt Bertoia is with his family.
Friday, 28 December 2018
Thursday, 27 December 2018
The Full Face Mask Debate: Looking at penalties from last season to this season
The cited reason behind the change was for player safety and lowering insurance costs.
At the end of the December 18th game between the Kimberley Dynamiters and Fernie Ghostriders, head coach and general manager Derek Stuart had this to say: "There was probably 10-15 head shots tonight between both teams. Each team had a spearing penalty and there were numerous questionable hits into the boards. And it’s happening almost every game.
"This is a direct result of BC Hockey’s mandatory face-mask ruling. To them saving a few teeth, a few dollars and preventing the occasional facial laceration is far more important than protecting players heads, necks and spines.
"Their uneducated decision has put hundreds of young men in a very dangerous environment."
Now, I trust what Stuart says, but do the numbers back him up, or is this just a clash of the past, present, and future of hockey.
So here's what I did. I went through the first 30 games of the 2017-18 season, and the first 30 games of the 2018-19 season. I then counted each two minute stick infraction, four minute stick infraction, spearing, elbowing, head contact, boarding, checking from behind, and fighting penalty called.
Here's what the totals show:
- In 2017
- 2 min: 182
- 4 min: 2
- Spearing: 4
- Elbowing: 7
- Head contact: 10
- Boarding: 7
- Checks from behind: 7
- Fights: 24
- In 2018 (get ready for this)
- 2 min: 177
- 4 min: 4
- Spearing: 5
- Elbowing: 10
- Head contact: 24
- Boarding: 24
- Checks from behind: 4
- Fighting: 5
Did you see that? The over 200-300% increase in head contact and boarding calls this season?
By game nine this year there were as many boarding penalties called as last season.
By 11 games this season there were as many head contact penalties as last year.
There were 16 games last year that didn't have a head contact OR boarding penalty called. This year, five.
Sure sounds like the goal have player safety has been met (sarcasm).
Of course there are conspiracy theories, and potentially valid ones, as to the true reason BC Hockey mandated full cages.
But when Stuart says: "To them saving a few teeth, a few dollars and preventing the occasional facial laceration is far more important than protecting players heads, necks and spines."
I have to agree with him.
Friday, 21 December 2018
Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Story: Kimberley Dynamiters win penalty filled game against Fernie Ghostriders
More on that later.
Cam Russell opened the scoring 1:15 into the game, and it felt like the Nitros were going to satisfy their desire for revenge.
After the midway point of the first, he Nitros fell flat after being penalized. The Ghostriders would score on the power play just as their 5-on-3 concluded to tie the game.
"Sometimes with young kids, they get a great start and they think it is going to be an easy first period, or lopsided first period like we have had in the past month of so," head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "Credit to Fernie they worked hard and took advantage of our lulls."
In the second, Nitros Keegan McDowell scored on the power play.
To tie the game again, the 'Riders needed the weirdest goal of the year to beat Adam Andersen. The puck deflected skyward, and no one knew where the puck was. It then bounced in the crease and into the net. Just like that, the game was tied at two.
The second period ended tied. The buzzer sounded. The players from both teams started leaving the bench to go to their dressing room. Then all hell broke loose, and the second period wasn't done yet. Spencer Kennedy was called for spearing, and then 'Riders Derek Green came to help his injured teammate. As much of a brawl that can happen with cages, happened.
Both coaches were ejected from the game for dismissing their players prior to officials saying that they could. Kennedy was given a game misconduct, as well as Green. However, the officials threw the book at Green, resulting in a Nitros eight minute power play to start the third.
"One of our guys, Kromm, got speared in not a very comfortable spot," Ghostriders head coach and general manager Jeff Wagner said. "We had one of our players on the ice, Green, who defended our guy. The officials said that Green jumped from our bench, I'm going with what my assistant is telling me that Green was already on the ice.
"So, it wasn't a matter that we didn't hold our bench, it was that Green came to defend his teammate. He did it admirably. For us to be short eight minutes after our guy gets attacked is pretty unreasonable."
Brock Palmer was able to score a goal on the lengthy power play to put the Nitros up by one.
And then as has been tradition for McDowell, if he scores one, he will score a second. That's just what he did in a gritty way.
"I was just sticking to my role, I have to put the puck in the net." McDowell said after the game.
The Nitros would win this game 4-2. Andersen made 28 saves in the win.
"It was one of the harder fought games right before Christmas that I have been a part of. The execution wasn't very good, it was very sloppy." Stuart said.
"Where we struggled tonight was our best players were not our best players tonight. Everyone else worked hard and got the job done."
McDowell was named the Home Star of the game. For Stuart though, MciLwain was the teams best player.
"We gotta work hard until bounces go our way. That's exactly what we did tonight." MciLwain said. "My role has been to move my feet and be physical. I am giving the guys energy."
At this point, suspensions are expected but have not been posted on the KIJHL website.
For Stuart though, this was his final thoughts on the game, "There was probably 10-15 head shots tonight between both teams. Each team had a spearing penalty and there were numerous questionable hits into the boards. And it’s happening almost every game.
"This is a direct result of BC Hockey’s mandatory face-mask ruling. To them saving a few teeth, a few dollars and preventing the occasional facial laceration is far more important than protecting players heads, necks and spines.
"Their uneducated decision has put hundreds of young men in a very dangerous environment."
The Ghostriders have one game this Friday before going on a holiday break, while the Dynamiters now start their nine-day holiday break.
McDowell and MciLwain are both looking forward to the break so that they can spend time with family and friends.
Lead photo by Jonathan Righton
Sunday, 16 December 2018
Story: The Kimberley Dynamiters win both games past weekend, prepare for Tuesday's game
Both teams are trying to draw closer to the Nitros in the standings, and on Friday, the Rockets made a case.
Captain Chase Gedny opened the scoring with 4:22 left in the third, but two minutes later the Rockets tied it at one.
The Rockets took a lead in the second period, going up 2-1. But after the midway point of the game, it was all Nitros. Keegan McDowell, Spencer Kennedy, and Erik Delaire each scored a goal to make it 4-2.
Late in the third, Brock Palmer made it 5-2.
Brett Anderson turned aside 29 shots in his 10th win of the season, while Palmer was named the Away Star of the game. Palmer earned his 100th KIJHL point that game.
"It was pretty cool, it was in the back of my mind the whole game." Palmer said. "I wanted it. It was a sweet experience."
"It was a huge win for us, it was a hard game to play." Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said looking back at the game. "It was physical and tough, and our guys answered the bell."
Next up was the Rockies, who are close behind the Nitros in the standings, and wanted to close the gap.
The Dynamiters exploded for three goals in the span of 59 seconds to start the game. Brandt Bertoia opened the scoring, with his 100th KIJHL point.
"I probably should have been aware of that." Bertoia said after the game. "It slipped the mind, I was thinking about how we should have a hot start."
Seconds later Delaire scored, followed closely by Cam Russell. In 90 seconds, the Nitros jumped into a massive three goal lead, and the Rockies changed their goalie after the first two shots went in.
Captain Gedny would add the Nitros fourth goal of the lead.
Then in a plot twist, with 5:29 left in the first, the Rockies scored on their first shot on net.
Before the period was over, Ryan Skytt scored against his former team. After one period, the Nitros were up 5-1.
It felt reminiscent of last weeks game against the Spokane Braves.
Until the second started, and the Rockies came back with force, scoring three unanswered goals, chasing Adam Andersen from the crease. After 40 minutes, the Nitros were barely holding on to their lead.
Captain Gedny led the charge in the second period, scoring two goals and completing his hat-trick.
"It's a good feeling. I am just happy that the bounces are going my way," Gedny smiled after the game. "Credit goes to my teammates, making all the moves and getting me the puck."
Delaire scored his second and Keegan McDowell added another goal as the Dynamiters went on to win the game 9-4.
"It was an up and down game for us." Stuart said after the game. "Two good periods, and one really bad period. Our two good periods were excellent."
After the roller-coaster ride of a game, Gedny was named the Home Star of the game.
The Dynamiters have a game Tuesday at home against the last team that beat them, the Fernie Ghostriders.
Bertoia says there is one mindset he and his teammates need, revenge. "They ended that huge win streak we had. When they won, they were shoving it in our faces, and honestly a lot of the guys have been thinking about this game for a while and looking forward to it.
"Especially in front of a home crowd, its going to be a good game. It's going to be fun."
Puck drop is 7pm at the Kimberley Civic Centre.
MATCH STICKS: The Nitros acquired defender Kole Halvorson ('98) from the Castlegar Rebels.
Lead photo by Jonathan Righton. Subway 7th Player Easton with Gedny and Palmer.
Saturday, 15 December 2018
Stats Preview: Kimberley Dynamiters vs Columbia Valley Rockies
 |  | |
| Kimberley Dynamiters | at | Columbia Valley Rockies |
| 24-4-0-0 | Record | 19-7-0-3 |
| 48 | Points | 41 |
| 1st | Division Standing | 2nd |
| 14-1-0-0 | Home/Away | 10-3-0-2 |
| 5.11 (3rd) | Offence (GFA) | 4.07 (4th) |
| 2.18 (2nd) | Defence (GAA) | 3.41 (9th) |
| 0.910 | Goaltending (SV%) | 0.903 |
| 27.98 (1st) | Power Play | 19.12 (7th) |
| 83.22 (8th) | Penalty Kill | 81.17 (13th) |
| 3rd | Power Ranking | 5th |
| W3 | Streak | W1 |
| 9-1-0-0 | Last 10 | 8-2-0-0 |
| Brock Palmer (12G-33A) | Top Scorer | Dace Prymak (10G-20A) |
| Chase Gedny (17G-18A) | 2nd Top Scorer | Fraser McMann (11G-17A) |
| Keegan McDowell (19G-15A) | 3rd Top Scorer | Eric Lloyd (10G-15A) |
| Adam Andersen (5.25) | Top GSAA | Ben Kelsch (4.83) |
| Harrison Risdon (95) | PIM Leader | Loclyn Kabatoff (126) |
Friday, 14 December 2018
Stats Preview: Kimberley Dynamiters at Golden Rockets
|  | |
| Kimberley Dynamiters | at | Golden Rockets |
| 23-4-0-0 | Record | 13-13-1-2 |
| 46 | Points | 29 |
| 1st | Division Standing | 4th |
| 9-3-0-0 | Home/Away | 7-5-1-0 |
| 5.11 (3rd) | Offence (GFA) | 2.93 (12th) |
| 2.19 (1st) | Defence (GAA) | 3.55 (12th) |
| 0.909 | Goaltending (SV%) | 0.902 |
| 27.88 (1st) | Power Play | 13.70 (14th) |
| 83.10 (10th) | Penalty Kill | 85.29 (5th) |
| 3rd | Power Ranking | 15th |
| W2 | Streak | L1 |
| 9-1-0-0 | Last 10 | 5-4-0-1 |
| Brock Palmer (12G-29A) | Top Scorer | Briar Whyte (12G-20A) |
| Keegan McDowell (18G-16A) | 2nd Top Scorer | Dominic Turner (21G-7A) |
| Chase Gedny (16G-16A) | 3rd Top Scorer | Bryce Trimmer (6G-18A) |
| Adam Andersen (5.19) | Top GSAA | Ryan Baker (6.30) |
| Harrison Risdon (95) | PIM Leader | Ryan Taylor (117) |
Thursday, 13 December 2018
Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Monday, 10 December 2018
Kimberley Dynamiters November Player of the Month: Brock Palmer
"Brock was excellent in November." Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "His work ethic and relentless puck pursuit allowed him to use his skill and get rewarded on the scoresheet."
During the month of November the Coaldale, AB native scored seven goals and seven assists in eight games.
"It's awesome." Palmer said after the game. "It was awesome to get player of the month in those green jerseys, it's a pretty special feeling."
Palmer credits his success to his linemates, in particular the success they saw on the power play.
"Me, Cam Russell, and Chase Gedny, we're doing really good. We were really clicking that month."
He added that the old chemistry from last year between him, Russell, and Gedny; has been paying dividends this season.
Russell was named the Kootenay Conference November Player of the Month, and Gedny is coming off of a four-goal weekend.
Palmer and the Dynamiters will be travelling this Friday to Golden to take on the Rockets.
Sunday, 9 December 2018
Story: The Dynamiters win both weekend games, scoring 17 goals.
The Kimberley Dynamiters hosted top teams from the Neil Murdoch Division this past weekend, the Nelson Leafs and the Spokane Braves.
The Leafs were the first challengers. They were playing with 15-skaters, and a lone affiliate goalie.
After the customary get to know each other to start the first period, Derian Bamber opened the scoring. As the period wound down, Keegan McDowell gave the Nitros a 2-0 lead.
The second period was uneventful, as the Leafs kept pace the Nitros.
In the third, the Leafs controlled the first 10 minutes, even scoring a goal, to bring themselves within one.
The flatfooted Nitros were elevated as their captain Chase Gedny scored on the power play to restore the two goal lead.
Nelson kept pushing, and pulled their goalie. With just over a minute left, Bamber collected, controlled, and lofted the puck into the net. That secured the Nitros 4-1 win over the Leafs.
Adam Andersen made 19 saves for his 13th win of the year.
The 16-year old affiliate goaltender from Nelson, Tenzin Mint, made 30 saves in his second start of the season. The game prior he had a shutout.
Looking back at the game, Stuart was not impressed.
"The scoreboard was in our favour, but it wasn't a very good hockey game." He added that his team did not deserve to win the game.
"We need to be ready to go emotionally. It doesn't who is on the other team, we need to bring our best, or we will get embarrassed if we play like that again."
On Saturday, the only International team, in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the Spokane Braves.
The Braves were playing with a shortened bench as well. Just like the Leafs, they had 15-skaters and a single goaltender as well.
To make matters worse, their best player, Bear Hughes, was handed a game misconduct in the first period.
Captain Gedny opened the scoring, followed closely by Tyson Meier, and Brady Daniels.
In the second period, there were seven goals scored, and six were by the Nitros. Gedny, Ryan Skytt, Neil Kingston, Gedny again (hat-trick), Meier again, and Cam Russell, all scored for the Nitros. After 40 minutes it was 9-1.
"Bounces were going my way." Gedny said about scoring his hat-trick goal. "Credit to Palmer and Russell for getting me the pucks."
"It was kind of a relief, it was my first [hat-trick]. It felt good."
The Dynamiters did not let up in the third, scoring another four goals. Erik Delaire, Chad MciLwain, Brock Palmer, and Skytt, all scored in the period.
When the game was finally done, it was 13-1 for the Nitros, and the shots were 63-16.
Andersen made 15 saves for his 14th win of the season.
"We did a lot better," Gedny said. "Our execution was a lot better. The energy on the bench and on the ice. It was so much better than against Nelson."
The Dynamiters now get ready to travel to Golden on Friday and then hosting the Columbia Valley Rockies on Saturday.
MATCH STICKS: The Dynamiters dressed two local affiliate players, Cameron Reid and Leith Olafson; each registered an assist. Jackson Bohan played two games with the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) this past weekend.
Lead photo by Jonathan Righton
Saturday, 8 December 2018
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
Story: Cam Russell named November Kootenay Conference Player of the Month
The Kimberley Dynamiters Cam Russell was named the Kootenay Conference November Player of the Month.
"It's always awesome to get recognized when you are playing well, and it's pretty cool being named the player of the month for the conference," Russell said.
Russell joined the team at the start of November after a Junior A stint. In eight games he scored four goals and 11 assists.
"He was outstanding. His November was remarkable." Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "I am being biased, but he is the best player in this league, in my opinion. He is the most complete player.
"He's made everyone else around him better, and made the team a lot more confident."
Russell understands that his role with the team has changed since last year.
"Having more experience is obviously a huge asset in a player that a coach looks for, and adding 60+ games last year in he league automatically makes for a bigger role.
"I think I can see that slowly starting to mold into what I see as my role this year."
During the month of November, the Dynamiters also went undefeated, which Russell feels is an important intimidation factor as other teams prepare to face them.
Despite Russell's individual success, he was quick to credit the team for his achievement, "the team this year is just getting along exactly how you would hope for, and that's where I give all my credit to."
Keegan McDowell (seven goals, six assists) and Brock Palmer (seven goals, seven assists) were named as honorable mentions for player of the month in November.
Russell and the Dynamiters are back in action this Friday as they host the Nelson Leafs, the number one team in the Neil Murdoch Division.
Lead photo by Jonathan Righton
Monday, 3 December 2018
Story: The Nitro's go undefeated in November, lose first game of December
When the Kimberley Dynamiters traveled to Creston on Friday, their 11-game winning streak was on the line, but so was their untainted November record.
Brock Palmer scored within the first 90 seconds of the game to give the Dynamiters an early lead. Keegan McDowell added the teams second goal before the end of the first.
McDowell would then score 45 seconds into the second period. The Nitros continued their scoring ways with Chad MciLwain scoring, and then McDowell with his hat-trick goal.
"It felt good." McDowell said, adding that it was such a relief after having come so close before, scoring two goals in a game five times prior.
The Cats would score a couple of goals, but by the end of the second, the Nitros led 5-2.
The Nitros continued their theme of scoring early in the period, as Palmer scored his second of the game. Chase Gedny and Brock Palmer would then bookend the Cats lone third period goal.
The Nitros de-thundered the Thunder Cats en route to a 8-3 victory.
"It went really well," head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said of the game. "They guys were skating, being physical, and attacking the net really well. We finished a majority of our chances. It went as well as we could have hoped for."
Brett Anderson made 23 saves in the win. The star of the game, McDowell, had three assists to go along with his hat-trick.
"It was pretty crazy," McDowell said, "I actually forgot my sticks, so I had to use someone else's. Everything I touched seemed to go in."
With that win, the Dynamiters won their 12th in a row, and went undefeated in the month of November.
The Dynamiters last lost back on October 13th to the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
Looking back on the month Stuart says, "the guys really took control of a quite a few games. For the most part we had great starts, showing the other team that: this is what you are up against."
For Stuart the winning streak means a lot, "it shows the players how good we can be, if we put our mind to it and prepare properly for the game. Preparation is the most important part of a hockey game."
The Dynamiters looked to continue their streak as the headed to Fernie.
The last time the Nitros played in Fernie Memorial Arena, Tyler Van Steinburg scored a the 2017 Eddie Mountain Division semi-final series overtime winning goal, Stuart recalled.
The celebration of being undefeated for a month, and winning 12-in-a-row came to a screeching halt in Fernie.
Kingston opened the scoring, but the Ghostriders had an answer, plus one more goal. After 20 minutes it was 2-1 for the 'Riders, and that was all the scoring for the game.
"It was a lot of fun to be in that type of playoff type atmosphere."
Adam Andersen made 28 saves in the teams first loss in 50 days.
"I hope our guys learned a valuable lesson playing in that arena. It's not conducive to the way hockey is played nowadays.
"The skill and making plays in that arena its irrelevant, its so small."
The Dynamiters return home this weekend, and host the Neil Murdoch Division leaders, the Nelson Leafs, on Friday; followed up by the Spokane Braves on Saturday.
MATCH STICKS: The recently acquired Ryan Skytt is expected to debut with the team on Friday night.
Brock Palmer scored within the first 90 seconds of the game to give the Dynamiters an early lead. Keegan McDowell added the teams second goal before the end of the first.
McDowell would then score 45 seconds into the second period. The Nitros continued their scoring ways with Chad MciLwain scoring, and then McDowell with his hat-trick goal.
"It felt good." McDowell said, adding that it was such a relief after having come so close before, scoring two goals in a game five times prior.
The Cats would score a couple of goals, but by the end of the second, the Nitros led 5-2.
The Nitros continued their theme of scoring early in the period, as Palmer scored his second of the game. Chase Gedny and Brock Palmer would then bookend the Cats lone third period goal.
The Nitros de-thundered the Thunder Cats en route to a 8-3 victory.
"It went really well," head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said of the game. "They guys were skating, being physical, and attacking the net really well. We finished a majority of our chances. It went as well as we could have hoped for."
Brett Anderson made 23 saves in the win. The star of the game, McDowell, had three assists to go along with his hat-trick.
"It was pretty crazy," McDowell said, "I actually forgot my sticks, so I had to use someone else's. Everything I touched seemed to go in."
With that win, the Dynamiters won their 12th in a row, and went undefeated in the month of November.
The Dynamiters last lost back on October 13th to the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
Looking back on the month Stuart says, "the guys really took control of a quite a few games. For the most part we had great starts, showing the other team that: this is what you are up against."
For Stuart the winning streak means a lot, "it shows the players how good we can be, if we put our mind to it and prepare properly for the game. Preparation is the most important part of a hockey game."
The Dynamiters looked to continue their streak as the headed to Fernie.
The last time the Nitros played in Fernie Memorial Arena, Tyler Van Steinburg scored a the 2017 Eddie Mountain Division semi-final series overtime winning goal, Stuart recalled.
The celebration of being undefeated for a month, and winning 12-in-a-row came to a screeching halt in Fernie.
Kingston opened the scoring, but the Ghostriders had an answer, plus one more goal. After 20 minutes it was 2-1 for the 'Riders, and that was all the scoring for the game.
"It was a lot of fun to be in that type of playoff type atmosphere."
Adam Andersen made 28 saves in the teams first loss in 50 days.
"I hope our guys learned a valuable lesson playing in that arena. It's not conducive to the way hockey is played nowadays.
"The skill and making plays in that arena its irrelevant, its so small."
The Dynamiters return home this weekend, and host the Neil Murdoch Division leaders, the Nelson Leafs, on Friday; followed up by the Spokane Braves on Saturday.
MATCH STICKS: The recently acquired Ryan Skytt is expected to debut with the team on Friday night.
Saturday, 1 December 2018
KIJHL Clutch Scorers: December 2018
It has been some time since I have done a KIJHL Clutch Scorers post. So here it is!
Some changes to note.
- Ryan Piva is no longer in the KIJHL.
- The top three is ALL Kelowna Chiefs.
- Garrett Hilton for the Wranglers is sooo close to being a top three.
- (Homer) There are two Nitros on the list: Spencer Kennedy and Brock Palmer.
- There are four 17-year olds: Chiefs Paddison, Braves Huges, Grizzlies Schaeffer, and Rockies Fleck.
Here is the top 20 list
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