Josh Lockhart
The Kimberley Dynamiters are preparing for their last home game of the season, but before that they need to brave the highway to Golden.
The Golden Rockets (5-34-1-4) host the Nitros tonight for their eighth and final meeting of the season. The Dynamiters have dominated the season series winning all seven previous contests.
They have also outscored the Rockets 34-10, shutting out the Rockets four times. Interestingly, the Rockets have yet to score against the Nitros at Golden Arena, and will surely be looking to end that streak.
The Dynamiters come home to the Kimberley Civic Centre for a match up on Saturday against the Spokane Braves (8-34-0-1). The Braves and Dynamiters have not played since October 22, 2016. The Dynamiters have won the previous two meetings by a score of 7-2 in Spokane and then 6-2 at home.
Both teams have changed considerably since their October meeting. Most notably the Braves traded leading scorer Paxton Malone to the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. However, the Braves are led by youth, with Carter Jones (’99) leading the team in scoring with 25 goals and 60 points. Luke Gallagher (’00) is also a solid defencemen with 33 points, and JJ Pichette (’99) is a formidable goaltender despite getting peppered with shots every game.
Tonight’s game in Golden starts at 7:30 p.m. and can be watched via pay-per-view at playfullscreen.com. Saturday’s game starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
MATCH STICKS: Chase Miller, James Rota and Caige Sterzer have been taken off the injured list and could play this weekend. Harrison Risdon will be sitting out due to his two-game kneeing suspension. The Dynamiters will open the first round of the playoffs against the Fernie Ghostriders on Friday, February 24.
For up-to-date Kimberley Dynamiter information visit: www.kimberleydynamiters.net/blog and follow Josh on twitter @joshuaklockhart.
