The Kimberley Dynamiters played another weekend on the road,
this time visiting two offensively talented teams, the Spokane Braves and the
Grand Forks Border Bruins.
Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart felt that there
was excitement about crossing the border into the United States, and that the
short stop at the border allowed them to be prepared for the Spokane Braves.
“We started out really well, I think that was a big boost to
our guys.”
The Dynamiters took a quick 2-0 lead with goals from Ryan
Hozjan and Korbyn Chabot. But the pesky Braves wouldn’t go away as they tied
the game by the midway point of the second.
“Give credit Spokane,” Stuart said “they worked hard and
they competed hard.”
Then after that, the Nitro’s turned it on scoring five goals
in the remaining 30 minutes of the game.
“The guys overpowered Spokane as a team as the game wore on.
They took over the game halfway through the second period.
“I think in the end our depth and our speed was just too
much.”
What helped launch the Dynamiters past the Braves was their
power play.
“Our power play was really great in Spokane. We were moving
the puck well.
“We were not just standing around watching, but moving
around without the puck, which was a big key as well.”
Chabot gave the Dynamiters a 3-2 lead. Then Tyler Van
Steinburg scored his first of the season to give the Nitro’s a 4-2 lead after
two.
The Dynamiters kept pushing as Caige Sterzer, and Franco
Colapaolo (twice) scored in the third giving the Dynamiters a 7-2 win.
Cranbrook native Chabot finished the game with three points;
two goals and an assist.
“Chabot was a physical force as usual. When he get’s a
chance to let his shot go or drive the net with his size and force, it creates
opportunities to score.”
Colapaolo from Calgary notched two goals as he continues to
lead by example.
“Everything Colapaolo gets points wise is a result of his
hard work. We expected a really good game from him, and we got that. He got
rewarded again from working hard.”
By the end of the night, Stuart was pleased with the
defensive effort of his team. “For us to hold them to two goals with such a
high scoring first line and a really good power play. We did a really good job
defensively against their top line.”
The Dynamiters then had to cross the border back into Canada
after spending the night in Spokane to face-off against the Grand Forks Border
Bruins.
The Border Bruins had two familiar faces on their roster,
Connor Sullivan and Dontae Nowell, who were both sent to the Bruins when the
Nitro’s roster became crowded in late September. “For the coaching staff it was
irrelevant.” Stuart said “I know some of the players talk to the guys. They are
both good kids, it was a numbers thing for moving them.
“We respect them both very much, and they competed like they
always do. For the players it may have had a little more of an effect.”
Heading into the game, Grand Forks was leading the league in
penalty minutes, and Stuart wanted to make sure the players didn’t get drawn into
a penalty filled match.
“We addressed that before in the meeting: stay out of the
stuff after the whistle, play with our speed and depth, and they will
eventually take penalties – which is what happened.”
By the end of the game, the Bruins collected 88 minutes’
worth of penalties.
This gave the Dynamiters ample chances on the power play and
a lot of ice to work with. Eleven different Nitro’s had at least one point as
they went on to beat the Bruins 7-2.
“Sterzer was one of our better players.” Staurt recalled. “He
played physical and he got involved.” Sterzer earned three assists by the end
of the night.
Chase Miller also played well on the power play earning two
assists.
“When we are set up on the power play, Miller is one of the
guys we want with the puck to get the power play going. He is distributing the
puck really well.”
One of the benefactors of the passing from Sterzer and
Miller was Garreth Osmar.
“Osmar finally got to a spot where he could use his shot. He
has one of the better shots on our team, just hasn’t been able to find the
areas where he could let them go.
“Both his goals came from walking off the wall with speed
and power; and getting to spot within the slot where he could use his shot.”
Osmar said, “It was great to finally find the back of the
net and to help the team come out with the win.”
An unheralded star amongst the offensive output is
goaltender Mitch Traichevich. He turned aside 55 of the 59 shots he faced this
weekend. Amongst goalies that have played five or more games, Traichevich has a
KIJHL leading 1.63 GAA and .946 SV%.
“Traichevich was good. He was a little shaky at the start of
both games. It is something that he admits. He will have to address and fix
himself. After the first five minutes of both games he was excellent. He has
kept us in games, and gives a chance to win. Which is all you can ask for from
a goalie.”
All in all, Stuart is really impressed with his squads’
performance.
“For us the stat we like to pride ourselves on is goals
against, and to hold two teams with offensive threats to two goals, speaks to
how committed we were to playing defense.
“On the attack, we just kept coming. It was good to see in both
games we went on the attack until the end of the game, we didn’t slow up or let
down. We had a lead and kept attacking.”
MATCH STICKS: The
Kimberley Dynamiters have added goaltender Cody Campbell (’98). Campbell
started the season with the Canmore Eagles (AJHL). Ruslan Katsnelson (’97) is
being moved, but details were not available at time of print.
Check it out in the Kimberley Bulletin/Cranbrook Townsman
