The Kimberley Dynamiters have returned with a win and two losses following a three-game road trip through the Okanagan last weekend.
The Nitros dropped a 3-1 decision to the Princeton Posse, rebounded with a 1-0 win over the Osoyoos Coyotes, but lost their final game 5-1 to the Penticton Lakers.
Despite the weekend record, the Nitros have moved up to the top of the Eddie Mountain Division—one point ahead of their divisional rivals in the Fernie Ghostriders.
In Princeton on Friday, both teams were tied at 1-1 after the opening period, with goals from Lane Erickson for the Posse and Riley Hellekson for the Nitros.
However, Princeton broke it open in the following frame, as Justin Moltzahn and Kurtis Bond found the back of the net.
Both teams held each other scoreless in the final period.
Bryce Halverson turned away 23 shots for Kimberley, while Jack Burgart made 13 saves for the Posse.
Princeton outshot the Dynamiters in all three periods.
The Nitros rolled into Osoyoos the following night and edged out a gritty 1-0 win over the second-ranked team in the KIJHL.
Hellekson scored the lone goal of the hockey game for the Dynamiters in the second period on a power play.
Nitro goaltender Bryce Halverson earned the first star of the game, turning away 34 shots, while Bryson McKinnon stopped 41 shots for the Coyotes.
It was a penalty-riddled affair, as the Dynamiters had 12 opportunities on the man-advantage, capitalizing once on Hellekson’s marker. The Coyotes, in turn, were denied on all nine power play chances.
A strong first period contributed towards the win for the Lakers on Sunday, as Penticton built on an early two-goal lead to end the affair by a score of 5-1.
The Lakers added a third goal in the second period, while holding the Dynamiters off the scoreboard.
Mitchell Loose put the Nitros on the board in the third period, but Dylan Gamble and Philip Cameron scored to put the game out of reach for Kimberley.
Halverson manned the crease for the third consecutive game, stopping 21 shots, while his opponent, Niall McGregor, stopped 30 shots.
Next home action is Friday night at the Civic Centre, where the Nitros will host the Columbia Valley Rockies.