The Nitros were two for three over the weekend in a triple header, defeating the Columbia Valley Rockies and the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, but dropping their final contest with the Osoyoos Coyotes.
The Dynamiters hosted the Rockies at home on Friday, wininng 6-2, before heading to Creston to earn a 7-2 victory. However, the Coyotes spoiled the chance for Kimberley to sweep the table on Sunday, beating the Nitros 5-3 at the Civic Centre.
Dynamiter goaltenders Bryce Halverson and Jeremy Mousseau split duties, as both earned a win each, while the former took the loss on Sunday.
Kimberley is scrapping with divisional rivals in the Fernie Ghostriders for the top spot in the Eddie Mountain Division. Kimberley is currently one point ahead of the Ghosties and rank fifth overall in the league, however, Fernie has three games in hand.
Adam Hodge and Isaac Schacher each had a three point night as the Rockies crumbled under the Dynamiters offensive prowess.
Despite losing, Jake Fardoe struck first for the Rockies five minutes into the game on a power play.
However, Brett Luker and Schacher responded for Kimberley before the end of the opening frame.
Columbia Valley tied up the affair on another power play goal less than a minute into the second period, but the floodgates opened after that as Kimberley scored four unanswered goals before the final buzzer sounded.
Dallin Wolf got things started, while Connor Kutzner and Aaron Shubert followed up before the second frame ended.
Schacher scored his second of the game and the only goal of the third period to close it out.
Mousseau earned the win, stopping 19 shots, while Rockies net minder Brody Nelson turned away 33 pucks.
The refs were busy on the whistle, as the Rockies had 10 power play opportunities, converting twice, while the Nitros were good for one goal with the man-advantage in 11 chances.
Kimberley followed up the win with another successful performance on Saturday in Creston, beating the Thunder Cats 7-2, with Schacher and Mitchell Loose leading the way with three points each.
The bulk of the scoring occurred in the first period, as both teams combined for seven goals.
Five minutes into the affair, Adam Hodge for Kimberley scored, but Trevor LeBlanc tied it up for Creston a few minutes later.
Wolf and Hodge responded with two quick goals before Trevor Hanna found the back of the net for the T-Cats.
Loose and Jason Richter scored after that to give Kimberley a 5-2 lead after the opening period.
Schacher scored the lone goal in the second period, while Matt Gann potted the only goal in the third.
Bryce Halverson turned away 27 shots for Kimberley, while the Nitros chased Tyler Moffatt from the net after 5 goals in 15 shots. Creston backup Zach Straza took over after Kimberley’s fifth goal in the first period and made 26 saves by the end of the game.
Kimberley suffered it’s only defeat of the triple header weekend on Sunday as Alex Grupe posted a hat trick to lead the Osoyoos Coyotes 5-3 past the Nitros.
Despite the loss, Kimberley took a first period lead off of goals from Isaac Schacher and Connor Tetlock, before the ‘Yotes responded with Grupe’s first marker of the evening.
Both teams traded goals in the second frame, with Connor Kutzner getting on the scoreboard for Kimberley, while Troy Maclise answered for Osoyoos.
The Dynamiters blew their lead in the third period, as the ‘Yotes scored three unanswered goals—two from Grupe and one from Brandon Watson—to surge ahead and edge out the win.
Grupe’s second of the night was a shorthanded effort that tied it up early in the frame, but the sniper completed his hat trick and took the lead for his team with 49 seconds left in the game. Watson put a puck into an empty net with 20 seconds remaining.
Halverson took the loss in net for Kimberley, turning away 30 shots, while Bryson McKinnon turned away 27 shots for the ‘Yotes.
The Dynamiters get a break for the week before heading to the Okanagan for contests with the Summerland Steam and the Kelowna Chiefs.
