Tuesday, Dec.13th, 2022 Kimberley 4 Rockets 3
A hometown Dynamiter crowd of just under 500 were anticipating a repeat of last Saturday’s Nitro’s win, but a gritty Rockets third period comeback forced overtime before a winner was decided.
Kimberley held most of the play through the first two periods of this contest. They nearly tripled the shots-on-goal in that span, outshooting Golden 36-13 over forty minutes. Needless to say, Rockets sparkling netminder Levi Hall was kept very busy.
No scoring in the opening frame, however the Nitros (as they did in Saturday’s game) moved into a 3-0 lead, and looked to be rolling to the win after forty minutes. But then the Rockets caught fire.
It didn’t take long for Golden to get on the scoreboard in the third period as, at the :45 second mark, Kade Cochlan and Dominic Fiorentino combined to put good pressure deep in the Kimberley end, and Zac Siudy pulled the trigger with a drive that fooled the Dynamiter netminder.
At 4:44 just as a Kimberley penalty was expiring, the Rockets powerplay closed the margin further with Liam Furlong finishing off a fine play from Evan Tsadilas and Zac Siudy. Less than five minutes later, the Goldenites found the equalizer off the stick of fiery forward Austin Angus with Brydon Foster and Liam Furlong picking up helpers on the goal.
The Rockets continued to press over the remainder of regulation, and both clubs tightened defensively. In the final minute of the period, Golden was assessed a minor penalty for boarding as the game was sent into overtime with the score deadlocked at 3-3.
The Dynamiters made the most of their man-advantage, with a Christian Mealey powerplay tally just :23 seconds into the extra session. Despite the loss, the Rockets pulled out a valuable single point in the standings, and remain solidly in the race for top spot in the Division.
Final score was 4-3. Kimberley outshot Golden 49-23.
This weekend, and prior to the Christmas Holiday Break, the team will have a home-and-home series against valley rival Columbia Valley Rockies starting Friday night in Invermere, and finishing up Saturday at the Plywood Palace.
