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Posted 2010-09-02 by Webmaster. - Nitros kick off exhibition play with a bang
Nitros topple the Rockies
Nitros Topple the Rockies
The Kimberley Dynamiters stayed in the hunt for second place in the tough Eddie Mountain Division with a convincing 8 - 1 decision over the Columbia Valley Rockies in Kimberley on Saturday night.
The under-manned Nitros were without 4 regulars in the line-up including Brennan Foreman and Kieran Spice out with Lower Body injuries and Corson Johnstone and Chad Filatoff out with Upper Body injuries.
Captain Corey Allen and Matt Foster led the attack for the Dynamiters with two goals each, while Mason Spier, Trevor Grier, J.T. Ward and Taylor McDowell chipped in with singles. Julian Fraser replied for the Rockies, who really never generated any serious chances against Nitros starter Michael Smith who just returned from a stint with the Quesnel Millionaires of the BCHL.
A relalively quiet night was capped off with Rockies starting Goaltender Cameron Dagg skated the length of the ice and challenged Smith to a duel. Both players were ejected for fighting and Dagg issued the extra two minutes for leaving the crease.
For complete details, see the KIJHL Box Score - here:
http://www.kijhl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=2223&leagueID=5221&gameID=715606
The Dynamiters will next see action on Saturday, January 30th, when they play host to the Chase Chiefs. Game time Saturday night will be 7:30 p.m.
On Friday at the Civic Centre the Nitros entertained the road-weary Thunder Cats, who returned from a two-game set against the Fernie Ghostriders mid-week in Whitehorse, and couldn’t find their offense in a 3-1 loss.
Just 24 hours later the Dynamiters took out their offensive frustrations on the Rockies, dumping the division’s worst team 8-1.
“It’s always good to get some goals and get some confidence going with the guys,” said Dynamiter head coach Kevin Mackay. “At times we’ve struggled to score some goals like we did last night but we battled through tonight, got some opportunities and made our chances count.”
The chances, there were a lot of them. Kimberley opened the scoring with Corey Allan’s 19th of the season 3:16 into the game with a wrist-shot that beat Columbia Valley’s starter Cameron Dagg, one of the 20 he faced in the first.
Kimberley got two more on goals by Matt Foster and D Trevor Grier before the Rockies got their only goal of the night when Julian Fraser beat Micheal Smith at 13:30 for a 3-1 Nitro lead after one.
Kimberley continued the offensive onslaught in the second period, pounding Dagg with 29 shots, five of which ended up behind the 17-year-old who on this night was just under his ballooned 8.02 goals against average this season. Allen and Foster gave Kimberley a 5-1 lead before J.T. Ward made it 6-1 at 11:14 mark. Two more goals in the period’s last two minutes by Mason Spear and 16-year-old rookie Taylor McDowell, who got his 5th with a minute left made the score 8-1.
The Dynamiters got some unexpected offense from their injury-riddled line-up with 18-year-old Calgary product Trevor Grier chipping in with a goal and two assists.
“It just felt good for me tonight,” said Grier who originally was credited a four-point game but had one assist taken away. “I kept my feet moving, kept the puck on my stick and just went with it.”
A scoreless third period was marked by the unusual event of a goalie fight with less than two minutes left in the game. During a post-whistle scrum to the right of Nitro goaltender Michael Smith Rockies goaltender Cameron Dagg skated the length of the ice and challenged Smith to a fight.
Perhaps frustrated by his teammates’ lack of offense or just sick of seeing more rubber than the highway his bus rode in on after seeing 59 shots fired at him, Dagg’s action shocked and angered Mackay.
“It’s ridiculous,” he said, recalling a similar incident between him and his now assistant coach in the 1990s. “Jay (Nelson) and I were talking and I had a goaltender by the name of Wade Dubielewicz and him and the Cranbrook goalie wanted to fight and they did. Wade threw out his shoulder and was gone for the playoffs. That’s how silly that is. There’s not much (goaltender) Smith could do but he answered the bell. But it’s ridiculous to me.”
Nitro Notes – The loss Friday against Creston was costly in the standings and in the injury department. D Corson Johnstone didn’t dress due to a concussion but could return next week. LW Chad Filatoff, F Kieran Spice and forward Brennan Foreman all went down to injury with undisclosed injuries and did not play Saturday night. Their status for next weekend is uncertain... The goaltender fight situation Mackay speaks of was when he was the coach of the Fernie Ghostriders in 1997-98. Current Nitro assistant coach Jay Nelson was the President and GM of the Cranbrook Colts of the RMJHL and the goaltender Dubielewicz fought was Sean Herdman… The Dynamiters host the Chase Chiefs next Saturday at the Civic Centre.
Nitros News
The Big Bang Progressive 50 / 50 DRAW!
The Dynamiters have a great raffle underway.
Big Bang Tickets are $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00
You can purchase your tickets from Dynamiters Players or Executive members and at Dynamiter Home Games at the Guest Services table. Dynamiter players will also be at the Mark Creek Market and Overwaitea selling tickets over the next few Saturdays. The Nitros give a big shout out to the Management and Staff of Mark Creek and Overwaitea for their support this season. We would also like to thank Darlene Heinrich for coordinating the Big Bang Progressive 50/50 draw!
Draw date will be on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at the Dynamiters Final Regular Season Home Game.
*Special Start Time - Sunday, February 14th - 6:00 PM
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Matt Foster - KIJHL Kootenay Conference December Player of the Month
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.
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
