The Fernie Ghostriders are off to the second round of the KIJHL playoffs after a 4-2 victory over the Golden Rockets in game 5 of their best of seven series.
The Riders got up early with a goal from Cole Keebler less than two minutes into the contest and didn’t look back.
To the Rockets’ credit, they made it interesting midway through the third.
After Fernie scored a pair in the second to take a 3-0 lead, Cole Mckechney got Golden on the board with a power play goal to give the Rockets some life heading into the final frame.
Matthew Krusky made it even more interesting when he notched a shorthanded marker with 12:22 remaining in the third period.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Justin Peers responded just over two minutes later, taking the wind out of Golden’s sails for good.
Magnus Viberg posted 41 saves in the loss, while Golden managed just 21 shots on opposing netminder Jeff Orser.
The Ghostriders will take on the Kimberley Dynamiters in the Division Finals next week. Kimberley is fresh off a 4-1 series win over the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
The loss marked the final game behind the Rockets’ bench for head coach Ty Davidson, who earlier announced that he would not be returning to the club.
