2019 KIJHL Finals: Kimberley Dynamiters vs Revelstoke Grizzlies; "It's like looking in a mirror"

When the Kimberley Dynamiters won the Kootenay Conference on Monday March 25, 2019; they didn't know who their opponent was going to be in the KIJHL Finals.

Now they do.

The Revelstoke Grizzlies. A rematch of the 2018 KIJHL Finals. The last time there was a rematch in the league finals was in 2003.

"We are elated to have the opportunity again." Grizzlies head coach and general manager Ryan Parent said. "Going back shows that Revelstoke is one of the perennial teams in the KI."

"This is the way it should be." Dynamiters head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "They were the best team in their conference, and we feel that we are the best team in our conference. The two best teams in the league are going at it."

For Dynamiters Stuart, though, he said, "it's like looking in a mirror," about playing the Grizzlies, and the many similarities between the two teams.

Both teams have eight veterans returning from last year.

The Grizzlies have: Bedard, Bodtker, Cadden, Flann, Irvine, McGarva, Pereverzoff, and Wiatzka.

"I'm a believer that you don't want to return everybody." Parent said. "We wanted to adjust some things from the year prior, we were able to do that."

The Dynamiters have: Andersen, Bamber, Bertoia, Chilton, Gedny, Palmer, Risdon, and Russell. The Dynamiters also have two rookies who were affiliates that dressed up in the finals: Koran, and Delaire.

"In terms of experience from last years final, there shouldn't be an advantage for either team, in my opinion." Stuart said.

Both teams current starters were backups last season. Andersen went 26-4-1 during the regular season posting a 1.84 GAA and .921 SV% while earning three shutouts. McGarva, posted a 2.01 GAA and .922 SV%, earning three shutouts and having a 27-4-0 record.

In the playoffs, Andersen is 9-1 with a 1.56 GAA, .943 SV% and two shutouts. McGarva has played a couple more games, but again, numbers are similar: 11-2, 1.89 GAA, .932 SV%, and two shutouts.

The rosters are also young. the Dynamiters have 11 rookies, while the Grizzlies have 12.

Both teams had 11 players with 30 or more points during the regular season. In the playoffs, both teams have six players with 10 or more points.

In the regular season, the two teams were separated by only three points in the standings. The Dynamiters with the edge, 88, to the Grizzlies 85.

During the regular season, the Dynamiters power play was second (25.43%), Grizzlies third (24.07%).  Grizzlies penalty kill was number one (92.11%), Nitros was a bit lower at fifth (86.35%).

In the playoffs, both the Grizz and Nitros are tied at 88.06% on the penalty kill. The Nitros have the slight edge on the power play 24.66% to 22.78%.

Even when you look at their playoff bracket, they are similar.

The Dynamiters swept their first two rounds against the Golden Rockets and Fernie Ghostriders. The Grizzlies swept their first two series against the Kamloops Storm and 100 Mile House Wranglers. The Nitros needed five games against Beaver Valley to advance to the league finals; the Grizz needed six to win their conference against the Kelowna Chiefs.

Anyway you look at it, these two teams are identical.

In the lone game the two teams have played against eachother. The Grizzlies won a nail-biter 3-2 at the Kimberley Civic Centre, the only game the Nitros have lost at home all season. However, that game was on October 13th, five months ago.

Stuart says that they will not be relying on that long ago one-game experience to prepare for this series. "So many things have changed. It doesn't mean anything heading into the series."

A difference between the two teams is travel. The furthest the Nitros have had to travel this post-season was 242 kilometers to Beaver Valley. For the Grizzlies, they had to go 406 kilometers to 100 Mile House.

"We are used to the travel." Parent said. "Travel for us is a norm."

Stuart didn't think that travel was going to be an impact. "We travel all year long. We will be going there a day early, it shouldn't have anything to do with it at all."

Going into this series, the Grizzlies are going to be relying on this years playoff push lessons, but also last years.

"We are taking a look at Kimberley, and I am sure they are taking a look at us." Parent said. "It's going to be a fantastic series all around.

"You are going to see two very good hockey clubs go head-to-head over the next nine days."

The Dynamiters are going to be watching a lot of video of the Grizzlies previous series against Kelowna.

"Our focus is going to be on us, but we will have to prepare for them," Stuart said, "because they are such a good hockey team."

The series starts Friday at the Kimberley Civic Centre at 7pm. Game two will be Saturday at 7pm. Tickets are available for purchase at 3pm both days.

Relive Brock Palmer's Triple OT Winner to Advance to KIJHL Finals

The Kimberley Dynamiters are the 2019 Kootenay Conference Champions

For the fourth time in the past five years, the Kimberley Dynamiters are the Kootenay Conference Champions.

"It's a good run this organization has going." Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "Jerry Bancks started all of this, I am just trying my best to keep up and keep it going."

It took triple overtime for the Nitros to down the Beaver Valley Nitehawks and to advance to the KIJHL Finals. Nearly replicating last years double overtime win in game six against the Nelson Leafs.

This game though, felt like deja-vu.

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks opened the scoring. The only other time they opened the scoring was in game four, and they went on to win. Bradley Ross scored on the power play in game four, he did the same thing in game five.

To make matters worse, the Nitros did not get their first shot on net until there was 8:45 left in the first. They were doubled in shots 10-5.

The Nitehawks literally quieted the Nitros fanbase.

The 1,342 in attendance got more and more into the game as it progressed.

In the second, it was the Nitros turn to dominate a period. Outshooting the Nitehawks 18-4.

One of those shots was by Captain Chase Gedny, tying the game at one. The Civic Centre erupted to 110.8 decibels, louder than a helicopter.

Brock Palmer said about the noise level of the fans, "I think the noise makes it easier to focus. It gets you in the zone. When everyone is cheering, it is just so mesmerizing."

During the third, the Dynamiters took a one goal lead during a wacky play. The puck lofted over the Nitehawks stellar goalie, Noah Decottignies, hit the cross bar, landing the crease. A scrum ensued and Palmer poked the puck in. 2-1 Nitros.

Late in the third, penalties got the better of the Nitros. On a subsequent 5-on-3, the Nitehawks scored their second power play goal of the game.

With 5:40 left in the third, the game felt like overtime.

When the third ended, there was a short break and then a ten minute first overtime period. Resolved nothing.

During the full intermission, players and fans found ways to snack and be hydrated to keep their energy level up during the second overtime period.

The second overtime period was penalty-less. Fans were holding their breath with every Nitehawks chance, and waiting to celebrate when the Nitros had a chance.

Adam Andersen and Decottignies made it feel like this game was going to be a stale mate with their fantastic goaltending.

The second overtime ended without a winner.

Meanwhile, the Revelstoke Grizzlies won  5-1 against the Kelowna Chiefs. A game that started and ended during the Nitros and Nitehawks game.

Third overtime. Brock Palmer. All alone as his linemates were changing. Found a weak spot in the Nitehawks goalies armour, and won the game 51 seconds into the third overtime period!

"It was crazy. It was nuts." Palmer said. "All the fans in the building, it's such a great atmosphere."

The crowd erupted.

The Nitros celebrated.

Kootenay Conference Champions.

"To get to where we are now feels outstanding," Stuart said, "the guys have earned it every step of the way. They should be proud of themselves."

After the game, the two teams kept the hockey tradition and shook hands. The Dynamiters were also presented with the 2019 Kootenay Conference Champions banner. No one touched it.

Now the Nitros wait for the outcome of the Revelstoke and Kelowna series. Revelstoke leads the series 3-2.

If Kelowna wins, the KIJHL Finals start in Kelowna. If Revelstoke wins, the KIJHL finals start in Kimberley.

In either case, the Finals start Friday March 29.

For now, the Nitros will enjoy the feeling of the win as they take a day off.

MATCH STICKS: In a terrible turn of events for the Kelowna Chiefs, their team President and General Manager, Grant Sheridan, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. He is currently in ICU at Kamloops hospital.

Lead photo by Jonathan Righton

The Dynamiters split the games in Beaver Valley, return home with a 3-1 series lead.

The Kimberley Dynamiters headed into the weekend games in Beaver Valley relying heavily on their experience against the Fernie Ghostriders. While the Nitehawks were going to bring their 'A' game.

In game three in Fruitvale, the Dynamiters took a first period lead as Brock Palmer scored on a pass from Keegan McDowell.

The teams then went scoreless in the middle period.

In he third, the Nitehawks tied the game on the power play.

Twenty-two seconds later, McDowell scored his seventh of the playoffs on a pass from Palmer.

"We worked so hard to tie the game up," Nitehawks head coach and general manager Terry Jones said, "and then to give it up right away the next shift. That was tough."

Brett Anderson made 17 saves for the win. It was the Nitros 25th win in a row, going back into the regular season.

Game four belonged to the Nitehawks.

The Nitehawks opened the scoring on the power play.

"Getting the lead was important," Jones said. "It was nice to get up and get our offensive game going."

In the second period, the Nitehawks continued to pour it on, scoring two goals a mere 65 seconds apart to take a 3-0 lead.

The Nitros couldn't recover. For the first time since December 15, 2018; the Nitros pulled their goalie. Anderson replaced Andersen in net.

"We were not ready to go," Nitros head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "We didn't play our game.

"We like to think that if we are playing the way we can, we control the outcome of the game. We didn't do that."

Even when Neil Kingston scored on the power play, the Nitehawks had an answer.

The Nitros tried to fight their way back, launching 20 shots on net in the third to the Nitehawks four, but they couldn't score.

Stuart said, "when you only play 20 minutes of Dynamiters hockey, you don't deserve to win."

Goaltending was the key to the Nitehawks success in the game four win.

"[Decottingies] was simply outstanding in the third period," Jones said. "He made every save look easy, and was very composed."

The Nitehawks survived an elimination game forcing game five.

"We really battled," Jones said. "It was good to get the win."

Derian Bamber noted that it has been a while since the Nitros lost, "It's bound to happen, we are not perfect."

Now the series returns back to Kimberley on Monday at the Civic Centre.

"We approach it one game at time." Jones said about how his team will be getting ready for the game.

"Our guys know how to play, and they know what they need to do."

As for the Nitros, Bamber said, "We need to get back to our normal game. Get our confidence back. We need to forget about what happened last game. The only thing that matters is your next shift.

He added that the fan support has been key to their success.

"The support we get is unbelievable. Close to half the fans in Fruitvale were Nitros fans."

He is looking forward to the fan support for game five at home.

Tickets can be purchased as early as 3pm on Monday.

Some of our fans awaiting the game!!! pic.twitter.com/vuLKx57Fr9

— Kimberley Dynamiters (@nitroshockey) March 24, 2019

The Kimberley Dynamiters take a 2-0 series lead against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the Kootenay Conference Finals

The Kootenay Conference Finals are underway between the Kimberley Dynamiters and Beaver Valley Nitehawks, and the Dynamiters couldn't have asked for a better start to the series.

The two teams last met on November 23, 2018; so they took a moment to get to know eachother.

Spencer Kennedy opened the scoring just after the ten minute mark of the first, scoring on the power play. Brady Daniels collected the assist.

In the middle period, Derian Bamber scored on a wrist shot, to make it 2-0. Daniels, picked up another assist.

In the third, captain Chase Gedny made it 3-0; and again, Daniels earned an assist.

"I felt that we got stronger as the game went along," head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said. "We got better and better.

"There were no passengers tonight, everyone stood out in different times."

Adam Andersen made 19 saves for his second shutout in a row, while Daniels was named the Home Star of the game.

"Just finding the right areas on the ice," Daniels said about his performance. "Putting the puck on net and good things are happening."

In game two, things did not go as smoothly for the Nitros.

While Daniels did open the scoring for the Nitros. The Dynamiters got themselves into penalty trouble, and the Nitehawks scored on back-to-back five-on-three power plays.

This was the second time in the playoffs that the Nitros trailed in a game, unfamiliar territory.

Cam Russell tied the game at two, to only have the Nitehawks restore their one goal lead moments later.

Now twice in one game the Nitros were trailing.

In the third, Kennedy was able to swat home a rebound to score on the power play tying the game at three.

Then on a breakout poke-check pass by Bamber, Keegan McDowell charged in and was able to tuck the puck in. Nitros up, 4-3.

"It was a team effort," McDowell said after the game about the game winning goal. "We just battled through, we knew we could get them."

The Dynamiters would survive the Nitehawks third period push. The Nitehawks pulled their goalie for a sixth skater, however, the Dynamiters had their own support: the fans.

"The fans were a huge boost to the guys, especially in the third period. They were a big reason we were able to comeback and win."

With the support of the fans, the Nitro's overcame adversity and held on to take a 2-0 series lead. Kennedy was named the Home Star of the Game, and Andersen made 28 saves.

"We might have gotten a little bit fortunate there," a bearded Stuart said after the game, "We will take it, not going to complain, it's 2-0, and that's all that really matters now."

Reflecting on the game, Nitehawks head coach and general manager Terry Jones said, "I thought we had a pretty good game," he said. "Unfortunately we turned the puck over three times in our zone, and three times it went in the net."

The series now shifts to Fruitvale where the Nitehawks have not lost at home this playoffs, that being said, the Nitros have yet to lose a game these playoffs, winning ten in a row.

"We haven't lost at home," Jones said. "We gotta bring our 'A' game and our 'A' effort, and that's what we are going to do. We are not going to lay down, we are going to come out and play our hardest, and get game three."

For Stuart, he too feels confident going into Fridays game, using the Fernie series as a measuring stick, "it's not going to be louder than Fernie, there won't be more people than in Fernie, it's not going to be any smaller of a rink than Fernie. We feel like we are prepared."

Puck drop is at 7PM in Fruitvale for game three and four, on Friday and Saturday.

Podcast: Ghostriders Series Review; Nitehawks Series Preview

Series Recap & Review: Kimberley Dynamiters sweep the Fernie Ghostriders

Our tale of the Kimberley Dynamiters Eddie Mountain Division Finals sweep begins on Thursday March 7 at the Kimberley Civic Centre.

GAME ONE
The game went as fans hoped, tightly contested.

It wasn't until the third that the scoring began. Home Star of the Game Keegan McDowell opened the scoring on the power play early in the third period.

Braiden Koran added the Nitros second goal just after the halfway point of the period.

In the closing Ghostriders Nikolas Sombrowski brought his team to within one.

Then Nitros February Player of the Month Brady Daniels scored an empty net to seal this game, 3-1.

Adam Andersen made 27 saves in the win.

GAME TWO
March 8th, in Kimberley.

The fans doubled, from 716 to 1434 for this Friday night tilt.

Keelan Saworski opened the scoring giving the Ghostriders the lead.

This is only the fifth time that the Nitros have been scored on first in 2019. However, four of those five first goals have been scored by Fernie.

"I don't think there is any correlation to Fernie getting the first goal on us," head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said after the two games. "It's obviously not translating in to wins for them, it's not too concerning on our end."

As the first period wound down, Captain Chase Gedny scored on the power play to tie it at one.

In the middle frame, Neil Kingston scored the periods only goal. Nitros up 2-1.

In the third, the game was intense. Simon Bergsagel tied the game with just over twelve minutes left.

From then on the game felt like it was in overtime.

The first period of overtime, solved nothing.

In the second overtime period, Andersen made a fantastic 2-on-1 save to prevent the Ghostriders from winning, and the fans erupted in praising him for the save.

"I saw the two on one shape up," Andersen recounted, "I was thinking 'shot' the whole way. I just threw everything I had to pushing across, threw my arm out, it worked out well."

"That was the coolest moment of my time playing hockey in my entire life."

Moments later, Koran finished off a rush play with the overtime winner.

Andersen made 28 saves in the teams 20th straight win, going back into the regular season.

"It's obviously what we wanted [having a 2-0 start], we are halfway there," Stuart said after the two games, "no body is thinking that it is over with, we have a lot of work to do still."

Stuart highlighted the impressive unheralded play of Mitch Fargey, "he has been our best defencemen in the playoffs thus far."

And also added "Cam Russell has been great this series, he's dominated a lot of the time he's on the ice."

GAME THREE
March 10th, in Fernie.

A raucus 910 showed up in Fernie.

"We knew what to expect going in there," Tyson Meier said.

The fans were quickly silenced be Spencer Kennedy, the Away Star of the Game. He scored two power play goals 1:36 apart.

Bergsagel got the Ghostriders back into the game late in the second period. To only have Brady Daniels score minutes later. After 40 minutes, Nitros were up 3-1.

Koran, scoring for the third game in a row, made it 4-1. Then Erik Delaire potted an empty net goal.

It was Brett Anderson's first game in Fernie, and he turned aside 29 of 30 shots.

"Brett was outstanding and gave us a chance to win," Stuart said. "He was a huge reason why we won game three."


GAME FOUR
March 11th, in Fernie.

The Ghostriders season on the line.

Cam Russell, wearing the 'C' in Gedny's absence, scored on a lucky play giving the Nitros a 1-0 lead.

Jackson Bohan scored on the power play in the second period for the Nitros second goal.

Ryan Skytt added the third goal, in the third period, on the power play.

Andersen made 26 saves for his first career KIJHL playoff shutout, and was named the Away Star of the Game.

"It feels really good knowing that our goaltending is hot in playoffs right now," Meier said, "and our defense is doing really good too. Keeping it simple and keeping pucks out."

And that's how our tale ends, with the Nitros sweeping the 'Riders.

AFTER MATH
"We got better as the series went on," Stuart said reflecting on the series. "Our physicality and conditioning took over.

"Winning on the road is huge in the playoffs."

One key aspect to the Dynamiters success was their defensive play, they limited the Ghostriders top three scorers (Tyler Witzke, Brandon Nemes, and Kyle Ford) to a combined three assists.

Stuart also added that the penalty kill, which did not allow a single goal the whole series, was another key contributing factor to the series sweep.

It's the first time in recent history that the Dynamiters have swept rounds one and two in the KIJHL playoffs.

"We are just expecting to win every game that we play," Stuart said.

They have also won 22 in a row going back to the regular season.

Also, it is the fifth season in a row that the Nitros have advanced to the Kootenay Conference Finals.

With the series now complete, the Nitros wait for the winner of the Nelson Leafs and Beaver Valley Nitehawks series.

"We are going to do our best to take care of our bodies, and prepare for the next series," Meier said, "And keep our habits good."

The Kootenay Conference Finals are anticipated to start Tuesday March 19 in Kimberley.

Lead photo by Jonathan Righton after Nitros 3-2 OT win in Game Two.