The Rockies had another rough ride last weekend, as their opponents outscored them 13-5 between one game at home and another on the road.

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks, who are currently sitting at third in the Kootenay Conference of the KIJHL, hosted the Rockies on Friday, November 22nd.

The scoring was opened halfway through the first period with a goal from Dallas Calvin of the Nitehawks. The Rockies made their opponent pay for their first penalty of the night, as forward Ryan Henderson scored on power play, with assists by Matt Houston and Mitch Rosko.

But less than two minutes after tying the score, the Rockies were killing a penalty when Dallas Calvin scored again, bringing Beaver Valley ahead by one as the period drew to a close.

The second period dimmed the Rockies chances, as the Nitehawks increased their lead by two, including a hat trick goal by Dallas Calvin. The score was 4-1 before the third.

Minutes into the final period, Columbia Valley inched their way within two goals, as forward Bradly Palumbo was set up by Boone and Matthews to score an early goal. But the rest of the game belonged to the Nitehawks, who scored three unanswered goals, tallying the final score at 7-2.

“We had the pressure going, until they scored the fifth goal which kind of took the wind out of our sails,” said general manager Ross Bidinger.

Goaltender Brody Nelson blocked 36 of 43 shots.

Saturday’s game against the Kimberley Dynamiters began physically, as the two teams met for the fifth time this season. Kimberley’s record was 1-2-1 against Columbia Valley heading into Saturday’s matchup.

Moments after Damon Raven won a face-off five minutes into the opening period, defenceman Adam Pulliam scored the first goal of the game with a shot from the point. However, his goal was cancelled out minutes later by a Dynamiter goal, and the period concluded with a 1-1 draw.

As the Rockies endured the brunt of the penalties throughout the game, Kimberley took the lead with two power play goals in the second. But less than a minute after the Dynamiters second goal, Nigel Swab, with help from Henderson, scored to bring the Rockies within one and the second period ended with a 3-2 Kimberley lead.

The Dynamiters added to that lead with an early third-period goal. But halfway through the period, a Racey Big Snake goal assisted by Swab and Thorne brought the score within one again.

Unfortunately for Columbia Valley though, the only other goals scored came from Kimberley, who finished the game with a 6-3 win.

“Despite all the power play chances we gave them, we were still in the game. But we were shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties and not giving ourselves the chance to score,” Mr. Bidinger said, adding that the team lacked discipline towards the end.

Goaltender Conrad MacMillan saved 32 of Kimberley’s 38 shots.

Defenceman Kirk Lissel is out indefinitely, but forwards Doan Smith, Josh Haley are hopeful for next weekend, when the Rockies have two games at home

On Friday, the Fernie Ghostriders will be at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena for a game at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, the Rockies will take another stab at the Beaver Valley Nitehawks. That matchup also gets underway at 7:30 p.m. The Rockies are also in for another draw against the Dynamiters, as they head to Kimberley on Tuesday, December 3rd for a game at 7 p.m.

Ryan Henderson is leading the Rockies in scoring with 18 goals and 12 assists, followed by Doan Smith, who’s registered 11 goals and 12 assists.