JOSH LOCKHART
The Kimberley Dynamiters hosted top teams from the Neil Murdoch Division this past weekend, the Nelson Leafs and the Spokane Braves.
The Leafs were the first challengers. They were playing with 15-skaters, and a lone affiliate goalie.
After the customary get to know each other to start the first period, Derian Bamber opened the scoring. As the period wound down, Keegan McDowell gave the Nitros a 2-0 lead.
The second period was uneventful, as the Leafs kept pace the Nitros.
In the third, the Leafs controlled the first 10 minutes, even scoring a goal, to bring themselves within one.
The flatfooted Nitros were elevated as their captain Chase Gedny scored on the power play to restore the two goal lead.
Nelson kept pushing, and pulled their goalie. With just over a minute left, Bamber collected, controlled, and lofted the puck into the net. That secured the Nitros 4-1 win over the Leafs.
Adam Andersen made 19 saves for his 13th win of the year.
The 16-year old affiliate goaltender from Nelson, Tenzin Mint, made 30 saves in his second start of the season. The game prior he had a shutout.
Looking back at the game, Stuart was not impressed.
“The scoreboard was in our favour, but it wasn’t a very good hockey game.” He added that his team did not deserve to win the game.
“We need to be ready to go emotionally. It doesn’t who is on the other team, we need to bring our best, or we will get embarrassed if we play like that again.”
On Saturday, the only International team, in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the Spokane Braves, played in Kimberley.
The Braves were playing with a shortened bench as well. Just like the Leafs, they had 15-skaters and a single goaltender as well.
To make matters worse, their best player, Bear Hughes, was handed a game misconduct in the first period.
Captain Gedny opened the scoring, followed closely by Tyson Meier, and Brady Daniels.
In the second period, there were seven goals scored, and six were by the Nitros. Gedny, Ryan Skytt, Neil Kingston, Gedny again (hat-trick), Meier again, and Cam Russell, all scored for the Nitros. After 40 minutes it was 9-1.
“Bounces were going my way.” Gedny said about scoring his hat-trick goal. “Credit to Palmer and Russell for getting me the pucks.”
“It was kind of a relief, it was my first [hat-trick]. It felt good.”
The Dynamiters did not let up in the third, scoring another four goals. Erik Delaire, Chad MciLwain, Brock Palmer, and Skytt, all scored in the period.
When the game was finally done, it was 13-1 for the Nitros, and the shots were 63-16.
Andersen made 15 saves for his 14th win of the season.
“We did a lot better,” Gedny said. “Our execution was a lot better. The energy on the bench and on the ice. It was so much better than against Nelson.”
The Dynamiters now get ready to travel to Golden on Friday and then host the Columbia Valley Rockies on Saturday.
MATCH STICKS: The Dynamiters dressed two local affiliate players, Cameron Reid and Leith Olafson; each registered an assist. Jackson Bohan played two games with the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) this past weekend.
