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Posted 2010-09-02 by Webmaster. - Nitros kick off exhibition play with a bang
Nitros dump Border Bruins and Thunder Cats
Matt Foster and the Kimberley Dynamiters had the Creston Valley Thundercats goalies looking behind themselves often on Saturday night. On this occasion, Sunny Gill didn’t need to worry.Nitros Dump the Bruins and Cats 7 - 4
The newly bleach-blonded bunch exited last weekend with 7-4 wins over the Grand Forks Border Bruins and Creston Valley Thundercats.
Although the dye jobs are in anticipation of the upcoming playoffs, Saturday’s early game plan certainly wasn’t — the teams combined for 10 goals in two periods.
“If we play this way in the playoffs, it’s going to be short, it doesn’t matter who you play,” said Kimberley head coach Kevin MacKay. “Even from (Creston’s) point of view, I thought it was kind of sloppy. It was good offensive hockey, but sloppy defensive play. Maybe (the Nitros) fed off scoring six goals in the third the night before by coming back with seven goals (Saturday).”
Centre Brennan Romanovitch led the way against Creston with his first hat trick of the season, and linemate Matt Foster had one goal and five points.
The wins give Kimberley (24-18-1-4) a shot at second place in the Eddie Mountain division.
Creston still occupies that spot with 56 points to Kimberley’s 53. The Golden Rockets have 52. All three teams have three games left.
With a loss against Creston, Kimberley would have had only third to fight for.
“If we didn’t get it, it was over. Now we’re back in the race,” said MacKay. “We’ve got to have a good weekend next weekend with the three games, and I expect we will. It depends what (the Thundercats) do as well. They’re still up on us but it’s going to come down to the last weekend.”
Romanovitch got things rolling four minutes in on Saturday, firing a long shot on Sunny Gill. The Creston goalie tried to blocker it aside, only to have the puck roll over him and in.
Trevor Whalley got Creston on even terms just over a minute and a half later.
Midway through the first, Brett Luker deflected a clearing attempt to Corey Allen in the slot. The captain held up, allowing a defenceman to slide past before rifling the puck into the net.
Kevin Cann and Sean Maktaak (power play) scored within a minute and a half of Allen’s offering to give Creston a lead.
With 12 seconds left in the frame, Kieran Spice fired through a crowded slot to tie things up.
Romanovitch opened scoring in the second too, shooting from a tough angle and banking a shot off the inside of goalie Chad Katunar’s pad and in.
Creston tied it for the last time on a power play, courtesy Joel James.
Matt Foster put the home side back on top with a shorthanded goal at 16:06, firing top corner.
The Nitros scored the game’s 10th goal with a minute left in the second: Mike Nelson passed out from the corner to Taylor McDowell, who one-timed in his seventh of the season.
After pummeling each other on the scoreboard for the first two periods, MacKay and his coaches sent the players a message during the intermission.
“We got away from our team identity; all of a sudden we thought we were a much more skilled team than we are,” he said. “We were just playing a run-and-gun for the first two periods, the last goal wins. I thought we really did a great job in the third period of getting back to Dynamiter hockey; just simplifying things, get the puck moving, get the D-men turning and forecheck hard on them.”
Romanovitch scored the period’s only goal, while Michael Smith closed the door at the other end. The Kimberley goalie made several big saves before Romanovitch salted the game away with nine minutes remaining.
Smith made 25 saves for the win. Katunar took the loss, stopping 26 of 30 shots after replacing Gill, who was 3-for-6 in the first.
Batter Border Bruins
On Friday night, the Nitros fell into bad habits after failing to score despite hemming the Border Bruins in their own end for the first half period.
Thierry Martine opened scoring on a second-period power play, but the Bruins (5-40-1-1) got goals from Kevin Wong, Grant Mills and Zachary Thompson (the latter two on back-to-back man advantages).
Romanovitch had played 19 games with Grand Forks this season, and knew what it would take to bridge the 3-1 gap.
“In the dressing room after the second period, playing in Grand Forks, I knew it better than anyone,” said Romanovitch. “I said to the team, ‘One goal here, and they’re going to fold their tent so let’s crack one.’ What do you know? We got a goal first shift, and five after that. It turned out pretty well.”
Allen, Spice (another former Bruin), and Mason Spear conspired to put the visitors on top. Randy Tosoff tied the game at 10:23, but Ryan Georgopoulos, Foster (shorthanded) and Logan Gutfriend cemented the win.
“Coming into this time of year, points in every game are crucial,” said Romanovitch. “Those two points were big, and we were getting pretty worried going into the third.”
Nitros News
Open Tickets - Dynamiter Home Games
A reminder to all of you with "Open Tickets" for the 2009 - 2010 Kimberley Dynamiters KIJHL Regular Season home games, these tickets "MUST" be used at the last regular season game at the Civic Centre this Sunday (Feb. 14th)
Sunday, February 14th vs. the Golden Rockets - Special Start Time - 6:00 p.m.
Please use your "Open Tickets" for this game. They WILL NOT be accepted for the 2009 - 2010 KIJHL Playoffs.
The Big Bang Progressive 50 / 50 DRAW!
Only a few days left to purchase your tickets!
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 vs. the Golden Rockets.
*Special Start Time - Sunday, February 14th - 6:00 PM
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
