The Columbia Valley Rockies gained a 1-0 lead against the Kimberley Dynamiters during the first period when Harrison Davies scored a goal with assists from Colton Sandboe and Luke Bellerose at the Kimberley Civic Centre on Friday, January 15th.
“Kimberley came out ready to play,” said Wade Dubielewicz, Rockies’ head coach. “We were fortunate to get some really solid goaltending to weather the storm. We settled down into the second half of the game and were fortunate enough to hold on for the win.”
During the second period, the Dynamiters tied up the game 1-1 after James Farmer scored with assists from George Bertoia and Franco Colapaolo. The Rockies pushed back into the lead before the end of the second during a power play goal scored by Kellen Marchand. He had assists from Ryan St. Jean and Micheal Cardinal.
During the third, the Rockies continued with a 3-1 lead thanks to Davin Burton’s goal. However, the Dynamiters tried to make a comeback when Jared Marchi scored during a power play — bringing the score 3-2.
But Cardinal quickly countered for the Rockies, scoring a powerplay goal with help from his teammates, Doan Smith and Nick Hoobanoff.
The Rockies eventually won the game 5-2 against the Dynamiters when Davies, with assists from Will Reynish and Colby Sherlock, scored the Junior B team’s final and winning goal on an empty net.
Rockies eke out win against Thunder Cats
The Rockies won a nail biter 5-4 against the Creston Thunder Cats during a Saturday, January 16th game at the Johnny Bucyk Arena thanks to a last minute goal that secured the Junior B team’s victory.
“Saturday in Creston was similar to Friday’s game,” said Dubielewicz. “Goaltending got us through the first period, as we settled in, we controlled the pace of the game.”
Liam Plunkett, with an assist form Sebastian Kilcommons, scored a goal to mark the start of the game, pushing the Thunder Cats into a 1-0 lead. Nigel Swab tied the game 1-1 for the Rockies before the end of the first period with assists from Donoven Quinten and Micheal Cardinal.
During the second, Nick Hoobanoff help the Rockies break the tie and put then in a 2-1 lead.
The Thunder Cats promptly retaliated and pushed the puck down the ice, scoring two goals.
Rockies player Colton Sandboe and his teammates ensured there was a 3-3 tie before the end of the period.
During the third, Luke Bellerose scored an unassisted goal for the Rockies, bringing his team into a 4-3 lead. In less than 10 seconds, the Thunder Cats had tied 4-4 against the Rockies.
With five minutes left in the game, Bellerose scored the Rockies’ winning goal.
“We are happy with our effort and the way we controlled the second and third period,” said Dubielewicz. “Anytime that you can hand a team their second home loss (Kimberley) and the following night, hand Creston their third at home loss, we have to be happy with the outcome and the effort.”