The Rockies had a slow start to a long weekend, but the team’s recent trades have begun to make an impact on the scoresheets.
At the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena, Columbia Valley hosted matches between Creston Valley and Castlegar on Friday, December 12th and Saturday, December 13th, and headed to Fernie for a game on Sunday, December 14th.
The Rockies began Friday’s game on the power play after the Thunder Cats were penalized for a warm up violation. Ninety-seconds into the game, the Rockies took an early lead over the Thunder Cats, when their new acquisition, Tyler Rebelato, scored a power play goal. Creston Valley scored twice midway through the opening period, but a Columbia Valley goal by Braydon Barker tied the game before the first intermission.
The Rockies took the lead early in the second after Barker scored again. Minutes later on the power play, another new face, Kale Johnston, put Columbia Valley ahead 4 –2.
But before the end of the second, the Thunder Cats answered back with a power play and a regular strength goal to tie the score.
The Rockies had two power play opportunities in the third, but there were no more goals scored during regulation, dragging the game into overtime.
During the second sudden death period of extra play, Creston Valley’s Tyler Podgorenko scored his third of the evening, ending the game with a 5 – 4 Thunder Cats win.
The Rockies new goaltender, Jason Sandhu, saved 47 shots. Rockies assists went to Colton Sandboe, Dario Piva, Ryan St. Jean, Kale Johnston, Tyson Kapty, and Braydon Barker.
Saturday’s game against Castlegar wasn’t so close. The Rebels grabbed the game’s first goal early on, growing their lead to three before the end of the first.
Rockies Malcolm Fenelon, with help from Ryan St.Jean and Dario Piva, put his team on the board with an early second period goal. But five more Castlegar goals went unanswered, and Columbia Valley suffered an 8 – 1 defeat. Sandhu started and blocked two of four shots, before Patrick Ostermann filled in for the rest of the game and saved 42 of 48.
On Sunday night, the Rockies headed to Fernie, and again weren’t able to match their opponent.
Former Rockies centreman Doan Smith opened the scoring for Fernie in the first.
Duing the middle period, three more Ghostrider goals were scored before Columbia Valley scored their first of the game.
The final period began with a 4 – 1 Fernie lead. The score nearly doubled before the game came to an end, and the Ghostriders won 7 – 2.
Rockies goals were scored by Seth Bjorkman and Braydon Barker, with assists going to Ryan St. Jean (2), Kale Johsnton, and Harrison Davies.
Sandhu blocked 40 shots.
Only two more games remain for the Rockies before their holiday break. The Rockets will be at the Eddie on Friday, December 19th, and the Rockies will be in Golden the following night – Saturday, December 20th. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
