Taylor Rocca
The Kimberley Dynamiters dropped a physical 4-3 decision to the Creston Valley Thunder Cats in double overtime Wednesday night at Johnny Bucyk Memorial Arena.
Thunder Cats forward Mason Mazur buried the winner with 3:04 remaining in the three-on-three overtime period, crashing into the crease of Kimberley Dynamiters goaltender Tyson Brouwer.
As the Thunder Cats celebrated their sixth win of the KIJHL season, Brouwer was tended to by team officials before requiring the assistance of two others in order to leave the ice. While the overtime defeat to a divisional opponent could weigh heavily down the stretch, the potential loss of Brouwer could be even worse.
According to Dynamiters head coach Jerry Bancks, Brouwer suffered a suspected MCL injury. He was being sent to hospital for further examination.
To make matters worse, Nitros backup goaltender Liam McBain is battling strep throat and isn’t expected to be available in time for Friday’s contest with the Osoyoos Coyotes.
Brouwer wasn’t the only Dynamiter to go down in a heap over the course of Wednesday’s contest.
Forward Coy Prevost tallied two assists in the first period before getting bowled over along the boards late in the third. He remained motionless on the ice before needing assistance to get to the visitors bench.
Defenceman Jordan Busch came into the fray in defence of Prevost. After getting tagged with a fighting major during the final 10 minutes of the third period, it is expected Busch will be suspended for the next two games.
The Nitros built a 3-0 lead late in the first period before surrounding four consecutive goals to the Thunder Cats.
Connor Ward knotted the game for Creston Valley with a little more than five minutes remaining in the second period.
Brouwer was once again stellar between the pipes for the Dynamiters, turning aside 40 shots. At the other end of the rink, Brock Lefebvre grabbed the overtime win with a 27-save performance.
Lost in everything was another three-point performance from forward Tyson Klingspohn (2G, 1A), who now leads the KIJHL with 17 goals in 16 games.