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Dynamiters win fifth game in a row

The Kimberley won both their games this past weekend, first in Golden on Friday, Dec. 20 and then at the Civic Centre against Grand Forks on Saturday, making for five straight wins.

The Kimberley won both their games this past weekend, first in Golden on Friday, Dec. 20 and then at the Civic Centre against Grand Forks on Saturday, making for five wins in a row.  

Friday was the third time the Dynamiters have played the Rockets this season, and they've come out victorious each time. After a 9-1 blowout in their first match-up, Golden has started to find their form and have been making Kimberley work a lot harder for their wins. 

A week prior the Nitros came ahead by two and it was a one-goal game on Friday night. Similar to their last game together, Saturday night's game was scoreless until late in the second period. The first goal of the night came with two and a half minutes left in the second period, Tristal Weill's eleventh of the season. The Rockets tied things up with 16 seconds left on the clock. 

Newly acquired Remy Spooner scored on a power play early in the third, followed up five minutes later by Golden's Brayden Bissell tying things back up. 

The game winner game from Jake Briltz with around five minutes left in the game. 

Saturday night saw nearly 1000 fans head into the Civic Centre and they were treated to a rowdy and entertaining game right from the start. Nate Murdoch scored early in the first and the first of many fights broke out soon after that. 

"That was kind of pretty close to what I was anticipating to be honest with you," head coach, general manager Derek Stuar said. "They’ll unravel pretty quickly and they did tonight and if it wasn’t for a couple of mistakes on our penalty kill I think that game would have been out of hand a lot earlier."

The Border Bruins, who beat the Dynamiters 5-2 the only other time they've played each other this season, answered right back with their first goal of the night, by way of a power-play goal from Russell Kosec. This would be a recurring theme for the night, as all three of Grand Forks' goals came on the power play.

The second period saw Kimberley get two straight goals, one from Tyler Lindal, the other from Hayden Selin, who is back on the ice after suspension and injury and has been playing very well. 

"Hayden was really good," Stuart said. "He didn’t get much ice time last night with all the power plays and stuff, but tonight I thought he was a difference maker, he was blocking shots, he was getting on the forecheck and he’s got a very good shot and he got rewarded with a goal tonight as well."

Selin said he didn't feel like the boys were at their best the last time they played Grand Forks, but they brought it on Saturday, but said the team needs to continue working on staying out of the penalty box. 

"It is clicking for me lately, I had an injury and got suspended there, but now that I’m back and going it feels great," Selin said. "Obviously we don’t want to take penalties like that, but when they happen we’ve just got to rely on the PK and rely on the goalie honestly, it just comes down to that." 

Selin is not the only Dynamiter whose been injured recently.

"We had seven guys out before last night’s game, we’re down to four or five now, I can’t keep track," Stuart said. "We’ve had a lot of injuries lately but we’re starting to get back."

Callum Valstar, Jackson Murphy, Nolan Kelly and Justin Sommers are all still injured and will be unable to play in next weekend's highly-anticipated Christmas Classic. 

After Selin's goal, Grand Forks got another power-play goal, before Tristal Weill hammered one into the back of the net to give the Nitros a two-goal lead once more. 

The Nitros did a better job avoiding penalties in the third period, but Billy Kiray was called for checking from behind with three minutes left in the game, and the Border Bruins capitalized. They then put the pressure on, but thanks to solid defence and a stellar performance from goaltender Marc Samyn, the Dynamiters' were able to secure the win.

"Marc was great tonight, he was really good," Stuart said. "And I think that rest with Drew getting the last two games against Castlegar and Golden, he did a fantastic job, I think Marc looked rested and a lot more sharp and focused tonight." 

The game had a confusing end, with the players celebrating the win too early and being called back to their positions to play out two more seconds that were left on the clock. Another fight broke out well after the final whistle as well, but in the end the Dynamiters won and are feeling good heading into the Christmas Classic. 

"I think we came out of that tough road stretch really well," Stuart said. "We’ve won five in a row now, I know Fernie’s on a bit of a streak as well, but I like the way we’re playing. Defensively we’ve been much better. I think again tonight the majority of their shots and all three goals were on the power play. Five-on-five defensively was much better and I like the way we’re coming together."

Kimberley will head to Fernie on Friday Dec. 27 and then welcome the Ghostriders on Saturday, Dec. 28 for the next instalment in this historic tradition between these two rivals. The Nitros will be looking for redemption after the Ghostriders swept the Christmas Classic last year. Be sure to get there early on Saturday as the game will sell out. 

Selin is optimistic and excited. 

"We are doing well, just trying to stay positive, there’s lots of injuries, can’t get away from it right now, but we’re battling," he said. "I’m just super excited, [the Christmas Classic] is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm just very excited."

Note: Due to holiday press schedules, our coverage of the Christmas Classic will not appear in the Jan. 31 Bulletin. Watch for it online and in the Jan. 5 East Kootenay Advertiser. 

 

 

 



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