The Kimberley Dynamiters won both games for the second weekend in a row, taking down the Grand Forks Border Bruins in a dramatic overtime finish and then beating the Columbia Valley Rockies 2-1.
Friday’s barn-burner began with the Border Bruins taking the initial lead midway through the first period and holding on to it until a goal from Kimberley’s Nicholas Hughes on the power play four and a half minutes into the second. This was Hughes’ first goal of the night and fourth so far this season season.
Grand Forks’ Levi Astill got his second of the night five minutes later. Parker Konneke tied things back up on a power play 30 seconds into the third period of the game, but Grand Forks would reclaim the lead two minutes later, again on the power play.
A clutch face-off win from Billy Kiray set up Kade Leskosky to get the goal that would send the dramatic game to over time with just 20 seconds left on the clock, causing the crowd of nearly 1000 local fans to go wild.
Nicholas Hughes would then get his second of the night halfway through the first overtime period securing a fantastic win for the Dynamiters.
“It was a good game with two good teams — Grand Forks has a hell of a hockey team over there,” head coach, general manager Derek Stuart said. “It was two good teams playing really good.
“They had some key guys out, we had some key guys out, it was an even playing field, but I thought out guys stuck with it. We’ve dealt with adversity a lot since Christmas and had some last night with a goal disallowed and a couple questionable calls, but I thought our guys dealt with the adversity great and they didn’t quit and they worked hard until the end.”
Saturday’s game began with a very early goal from Konneke, who drove the puck into the zone, looked for a pass, and seeing none, elected to shoot instead and found the back of the net.
Columbia Valley would retake the lead and then following a scoreless second period, Kiray scored the goal that would prove to be the game-winner on a power play eight minutes into the third period.
“He’s been good, last night he had a huge face-off win in the tying goal, last night he was excellent,” Stuart said about Kiray. “Tonight he was one of the guys in the group who was a little bit fatigued and looked a little bit slow out there, but that happens sometimes, but overall in the last five or six games he’s been a huge factor in us getting some wins.”
“It was a good game, great shot from Stephenson seeing me by myself, I was able to get a tip on that,” Kiray said. “I’m having a good stretch since Christmas and just looking to make sure I carry that into playoffs.”
Kiray said he’s been pleased with his team’s play so far this year and said that they’ve been focusing on the basics, and though they didn’t have their best stuff on Saturday, their talent was able to secure them the win.
“Especially when you look at our roster, we have the talent to beat anyone as long as we’re playing the fundamentals and playing good defence, the talent will take care of the rest,” Kiray added. “We’ve got one of the best squads in the KIJHL and we just want to make sure we’re playing smart hockey and goals will come.”
Another key factor in their success on Saturday in particular was the sensational play from goaltender Matt Fleet.
“We probably lose tonight if Fleeter doesn’t play like he did and Ponto was fantastic last night too,” Stuart said. “We’ve got two of the best goalies in the league and we’re very fortunate. Matt Fleet was definitely the game star tonight.”
Kiray also gave credit to Fleet, who stopped 26 of the Rockies’ 27 shots and was named player of the game.
“Fleet’s one of the best goalies in the league, we’re lucky to have him,” Kiray said. “Tonight if he played an average game, we’re losing 4-1. So Fleet really stole us that game, we’re lucky to have him, but it was a great team effort.”
The team is feeling good heading into their last two games of the regular season, on Friday, Feb. 16 at home and on Saturday, Feb. 17 away, both games against the Fernie Ghostriders.
“Knock on wood, as far as I know we we aren’t going to have any injuries starting Monday, the two injured guys who sat out this weekend are going to be back in full practice Monday, Redlick and Weil,” Stuart said. “It’s adversity right, we’re missing our top scorer this weekend, missing some other key guys last night and they dealt with it and they just went out and played hockey.”
