The Kimberley Dynamiters were on the road yet again this past weekend, and returned home with one win and one loss.
They started the weekend out in Grand Forks and their 5-2 loss to the Border Bruins was their fourth in a row. Their opponent netted a goal before a minute had passed in the first and eight minutes later they were down 2-0. Remy Spooner was just added to the roster the week before and this was his first game with the Dynamiters. He would score his first and second goal in his first game with the team, and they would wind up being the Nitros' only two goals of the night.
"We played four very good periods this weekend, but to beat a team like Grand Forks you can’t have an off period like we did in the third," Stuart said.
The Dynamiters acquired Spooner, a 20-year-old forward from the Hawkesbury Hawks of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), in exchange for future considerations.
Originally from Kelowna, Spooner has also played with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL and the Powell River Kings and Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL.
"Remy has valuable experience playing full seasons in both the BCHL and AJHL," said Dynamiters head coach Derek Stuart. "He is a good skater and is very skilled. We're counting on him to contribute to our primary scoring and also provide some veteran leadership."
Their other new acquisition, Marcus Cyr, also made valuable contributions this past weekend, this time during the Nitros' win against the Spokane Braves, who currently sit at the bottom of the KIJHL standings.
Cyr started off his time with the team with a bang, scoring his first goal as a Dynamiter and fifth of his total season, early in the first period. Luke Davies continued his hot streak and made it 2-0 a little later.
Cyr tacked on another one early in the second period before the Braves got themselves on the board. Spooner then got his third goal with the team in on a third-period power play. A late goal from the Braves would make for a 4-2 final score and a much-needed win for the Dynamiters.
Cyr, a 2006-born forward, was added to the team by way of a trade for Ethan Bloomquist.
“Ethan was a big part of our 2023 Teck Cup champions team and was a great teammate during his time here," the team said on social media. "We wish Ethan all the best with BV."
Unfortunately, the addition of 20-year-old Spooner meant the team had to trade out another of their 20-year-olds, not something Stuart was very happy about.
"Acquiring Remy Spooner forced us to move out a 20 year old as we are only allowed seven," he explained. "It’s a terrible rule and it has cost many kids their final year of junior hockey so I am just glad we were able to find Ethan somewhere to continue playing."
The Dynamiters will finally be back on home ice on Tuesday, Dec. 10, after a gruelling stretch of away games, when they will look to get another win against the Golden Rockets.
"Five straight road games with four in a row versus elite teams was tough, especially with the injuries we have," Stuart said.
We are excited to finish December with four of six at home."
