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Posted 2010-09-02 by Webmaster. - Nitros kick off exhibition play with a bang
Tough Weekend for the Nitros
Hard luck limits Nitros to one point
January 11,2010
Matt Coxford - Bulletin / Townsman SportsThe Nitros lost 3-0 to the Fernie Ghostriders on Friday, then dropped a 5-4 decision in double overtime to the Creston Valley Thundercats Saturday.
"We had some good success (on Saturday) but it didn't look good on the scoreboard because they gain a point on us. Sometimes that's not indicative of what we're trying to get across," said MacKay. "I really feel we're getting stronger and stronger every time out, and maybe those four games (in a row) against Fernie have pushed us hard."
Saturday's loss was a shining example of how luck can make all the difference.
Creston's Sean Maktaak and Colton Meaden had built a 2-0 lead late in the first, but Thierry Martine replied with 43 seconds left.
Matt Foster and Brett Richards (shorthanded) scored in the second to put Kimberley up 3-2 after two.
Brody Moen tied the game 7:28 into the next period, but J.T. Ward scored unassisted at the midway point to put the visitors back on top.
"It's the ebb and flow of junior hockey: it's up and down," said MacKay. "One team will have momentum and the other team will get it back. That's part of the game, and for the most part I thought we had pretty good momentum."
The Nitros were inches — and seconds — away from ending Saturday's game in regulation.
In the final minute, Richards had won a faceoff and Foster grabbed the loose puck, banking it off the wall and down the ice.
It just missed the empty cage, and came back on the icing call.
"Usually, if you miss something at one end, that just comes back to haunt you, and it did," said MacKay.
Travis Ludwar's goal with 17 seconds left sent the game to overtime.
After the first session 4-on-4 session was scoreless, they came out for another, 3-on-3.
Ultimately, Kimberley lost the game on about the worst penalty you can hope to lose on: delay of game.
Goalie Tory Caldwell was playing a dump-in when he accidentally shot the puck over Creston's short glass, giving the Thundercats a power play.
Kimberley were within 13 seconds of killing it off when Matt Dixon scored.
"It's a penalty if (the puck) goes out without being obstructed, but it's low glass," said MacKay. "I can see that being a penalty if the glass is even throughout the league but this is junior hockey, it's different from the NHL."
Caldwell (30 saves) was still named the game's second star, a feat accomplished by goalie Mike Smith the night before in Fernie.
"That's our team: we've got two exceptional goaltenders," said MacKay. "Mike had a great game on Friday, and Tory came back Saturday and had an outstanding game for us as well. That's been our M.O. since the start of the year, solid goaltending... If we have a bit of a drawback, it's scoring enough goals to complement our great goaltending."
MacKay was attempting to improve that at yesterday's trade deadline, but was still working the lines as of press time.
Smith made 45 stops against Fernie, who got two goals from Darrell Boldon and a shorthander from James Werner.
Kimberley didn't get enough traffic to the net to bother Fernie's Stephen Wolff, who was facing the Nitros for the first time this season.
"I think we just didn't get pucks to the net, and they kept us to the outside. They played a pretty strong defensive game, and they were pressuring us pretty hard like they normally do," said MacKay, whose team wound up 0-8-1-0 against the Ghostriders this season.
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Congratulations Corey - KIJHL All Star
Nitros Captain Corey Allen
The Dynamiters received some great news this past week. Captain Corey Allen has been selected to represent the club at the KIJHL All Star game next Tuesday (Jan 12th) in Beaver Valley. Allen has 16 goals and 24 assists in 34 games played for the Nitros. As well as 131 minutes in penalties.
We wish Corey all the very best in the All Star game.
Matt Foster - KIJHL Kootenay Conference Player of the Month
Also the Dynamiters wish to give a big shout out to Matt Foster. Matt was named the KIJHL and Hi Heat Insulating December Players of the Month. Matt represents the Kootenay Conference and Aaron Buat, the veteran Sicamous Eagle is the Okanagan winner.
Matt scored 6 goals and had 11 points in 8 games to help lead the Dynamiters to a 6-2 record in that span.
Congratulations to all the nominees who can be seen here.
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Next Dynamiter Home Games
Wednesday, January 13th
vs.
Kimberley Civic Centre
Friday, January 15th
Kimberley Civic Centre
Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
General Admission Tickets go on sale at 6:30 p.m. Civic Centre Box Office
Adults $9.00Students and Seniors $7.00Child (5-12 yrs old) $6.00Child not in school (with a parent) FREE
Official Coachlines of the Kimberley DynamitersPlease click on the Sponsor logos located on each edge of this Home Page to visit our local Nitros supporters
