Dynamiters destroy Rockies
The Kimberley Dynamiters edged out the Columbia Valley Rockies 5-1 at the Kimberley Civic Centre on Friday, December 11th.
There was no scoring during the first period of the game, but the second was rather eventful with the Dynamiters scoring twice.
Dynamiters player Eric Buckley scored the first of the two goals with assists from Jason Richter and Jared Marchi during a power play. Then, Brendon Benson scored the second goal in a power play with assists from Jordan Busch and Buckley.
Rockies teammates Luke Bellerose and Donoven Quintin scored the Junior B’s first and only goal of the game with less than six minutes left during the second.
The Dynamiters gained their three finals goals in the third thanks to Brodie Buhler, Benson and Buckley.
Rockies defeat Bruins
The Rockies made a comeback the next night.
The Columbia Valley Rockies won 4-1 against the Grand Forks Border Bruins at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena on Saturday, December 12th.
Although there was lots of action on the ice from both teams, there wasn’t any scoring during the first period in spite of moving the puck around each other’s end of the ice.
“Grand Forks did a good job of clogging it up,” said Wade Dubielewicz, Rockies head coach. “They played the right way, and they played hard so it’s not always easy to get the puck in the net, but as the right wing came on, we started doing a better job of penetrating and getting some pucks through.”
During the second, Rockies player Nolan Menard brought the Junior B team into a 1-0 lead when he scored with an assist from Harrison Davies.
“We started getting pucks deep, sport checking and playing physically — and when you do that, you’re going to have success,” said Dubielewicz.
In the third, Nolan Menard scored two goals for the Rockies — both without assists — putting the Rockies up to 3-0. Then, Bruins athlete Josh Gladman scored a goal with less than 10 minutes left in the game.
Nick Hoobanoff scored the Rockies’ final goal of the game during a power play with assists from Michael Cardinal and Colton Sandboe.
“We actually came out and started the third really well, but I felt like they started getting chippy and we didn’t back down,” Dubielewicz said. “For the first time in a few years, there’s been a couple of fights in the game, it happens. I just don’t want to make it a habit.”
But overall, Dubielewicz was pleased with his team’s win that night.
“I thought it was good,” he explained. “At the end of the day, or in a month, nobody’s going to remember how you won. It’s just a matter of figuring out the way to win.”
The Rockies will go head to head against the Golden Rockets at 7 p.m. in the Golden Arena on Friday, December 18th.
“(Golden is) a team that’s getting better and better,” said Dubielewicz. “We can’t take them lightly.”
The next home game for the Rockies will be against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats at the Eddie at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 19th.
“We haven’t seen Creston back for a long time, so it should be an interesting match-up,” said Dubielewicz.