Monday 16 March 2015

Kimberley Dynamiters lose in double overtime

Photo by Jonathan Righton
In what was called "cliche city" for the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, they either had to win to play another game this season, or lose and be done for the season. Kimberley Dynamiters had a tall order of sweeping the series on their agenda.

Game Notes
  • Tyson Brouwer faced off against Carson Schamerhorn (had a one game break)
  • I've seriously be questioning fatigue for both teams. Since February 15th for the Dynamiters, they have played 16 games. That's an average four games per week.
  • Attendance at home games have been awesome. Typically hovering around 950-1,000 in attendance. Amazing when you think that Cranbrook, a much larger town where the WHL's Kootenay Ice play, is averaging about 2,000-2,250 at their games.
  • Injuries/Scratches: Dagostin, Mallard, Campanella
  • Jordan Roy (not W-ah!) returned from injury.
1st
In a moment of deja vu, the Nitehawks opened the scoring, not even two minutes into the game. Just over a minute later, the ever so hot Saretsky tied the game up. The Nitehawks regained their lead with a goal at the midway point of the game. They took a 2-1 lead to the dressing room, and led in shots 11-8.

2nd
In terms of highlights, there were not many... however, this period was desperate by both teams. Beaver Valley wanted to secure their lead, and Kimberley wanted to tie the game and get a lead of their own. Meier timed a snap shot that tied the game with three minutes remaining. Which created a stellar finish to the period where both teams traded multiple quality chances. The period ended in a draw, and Kimberley outshot Beaver Valley 12-10, but trailed still in total shots 21-20.

3rd
Again, Nitehawks capitalized early and scored to take a 3-2 lead. Later Kimberley was able to capitalize on the PP (not noted in the boxscore, despite the penalty there) as Haase tucked in a rebound. After the 10 minute mark, it felt like overtime and both teams were being much more calculated in their plays, with a couple of risks. Neither team could get the upper hand, and for the third game this series, we were headed to OT! Kimberley led in shots 11-9.

OT1
There was a brief moment in this period where the Dynamiters led Beaver Valley in shots, but it didn't last. There was one scary moment, from my perspective, when the game turned into ricochet-puck; the puck was laying in front of a yawning cage, neither team really knew that the puck had halted there, but luckily the Nitro's were able to swat the puck away. There were some very ugly hits, take downs, runs at the net, and stick use, but the refs put away their whistles. After then 10 minute OT, the game was still a draw.

I raced home quickly to drop off a sleeping child.

OT2
I seriously questioned, and tweeted it, that I didn't know how much longer the refs would let those ugly plays happen for. Well, after 10 minutes of solid OT play, the refs finally blew the whistle. In comparison with what was let go earlier in OT, it was a pretty tame play (IMO) to call down. The Nitehawks did have a moment where they thought they scored, even their scratches/injured players who were standing behind the net because of lack of seating, called it a goal. However, the goal light did not go on, and the referee waved off the goal and play continued. Beaver Valley got another PP chance and made it count.

The series now shifts to Fruitvale where the Beaver Valley hopes to extend the series and go for a reverse sweep. When I hear "reverse sweep" I always think of this moment in cricket history. Kimberley now has another chance, and a day to rest, to finish the series.

Dynamite Player of the Game
Tyler Kinnon - He delivered the games hardest hit, he also blocked so many shots, that I am sure he's hurtin' all over, but he just endured.

Honourable Mentions
Coy Prevost - KI Player of the game, 1A
Braden Saretsky - 1G 1A, including this game, he has 8pts in past 4 games.
Tyson Brouwer - 38 saves

Further Reading
Boxscore
Taylor Rocca write up

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