After a hard fought seven game series that needed overtime against the Border Bruins to decide a winner, the Nitehawk for the third time in four years have advanced to the Kootenay Conference Finals, where they will face off against the Kimberley Dynamiters for a right to play for a KIJHL Championship.
Series Schedule against Kimberley:
Game 1 | April 3rd @ 7pm – Beaver Valley Arena
Game 2 | April 4th @ 7pm – Beaver Valley Arena
Game 3 | April 6th @ 7pm (MDT) – Kimberley Civic Centre
Game 4 | April 7th @ 7pm (MDT) – Kimberley Civic Centre
*Game 5 | April 10th @ 7pm – Beaver Valley Arena
*Game 6 | April 11th @ 7pm (MDT) – Kimberley Civic Centre
*Game 7 | April 13th @ 7pm – Beaver Valley Arena
The Nitehawks found overtime heroics from the stick of Vance Amyotte on Monday night. The Hawks look ahead to the Dynamites who have been on standby since their round two series came to a close in five games against the Fernie Ghostriders. Beaver Valley and Kimberley have seen each other twice this season, splitting the season series. The Hawks met the Dynamiters on home ice on the opening weekend of the season and saw a 3-1 lead get turned around as the visitors won 4-3 on a late third period winner by defenceman Nathan Laforge. The Hawks would win the reverse fixture in Kimberley at the end of a three game weekend through the East Kootenays, as Brady Walker scored 1:28 into overtime with helpers from Nathan Planger and Maddox Gandha. The Hawks at the tail end of their weekend road trip were backstopped by Karsten Hugenholtz, who stopped 44/45 shots in the win. Aside from one blip in game three against the Bruins, that stellar goaltending has continued between Landan Uzeloc and Hugenholtz. That, along with the continued production the Hawks are getting throughout their lineup sets them up well against the Dynamiters, who have only allowed ten goals through nine games.
Nitehawks Leading Scorers:
Magarrell (14-3-17)
Leenders (5-7-12)
Walker (2-10-12)
Bourchier (3-6-9)
Robertson (2-7-9)
The Dynamiters come to Beaver Valley as the second seed in the Kootenay Conference, yet tied on points with the Hawks, who eclipsed the Dynamiters on wins to secure home ice through the first three rounds of the playoffs. With just 9 games played, the Dynamiters are the most rested of the four remaining KIJHL teams. In those 9 games they’ve also allowed just 10 goals and never allowing more than two goals a game. Kimberley has lost just once so far on their journey to the Kootenay Conference finals, after winning 2-1 in overtime in game three, they fell 2-1 in overtime on game four as the Fernie Ghostriders staved off elimination. Kimberley had their way with Columbia Valley in round one, outscoring them 22-3. The last three games against the Ghostriders however were repeat 2-1 scorelines as the series tightened up. The East Kootenay side is also thriving on a powerplay, operating at 27% through nine games. However like the Nitehawks, scoring 5-on-5 has been their forte all season long. Only second to the Hawks in even strength goals through the season. Kimberley, with the Hawks, were one of three teams to score more than 200 goals in the regular season.
Dynamiters Leading Scorers:
Rusznak (8-8-16)
Davies (2-9-11)
Schwartz (4-6-10)
Murphy (3-5-8)
Coutu (2-5-7)
It all gets started Friday night at the ‘Hawks Nest’ as the Beaver Valley look to punch their ticket to the KIJHL Finals, while the Dynamiters stand in their way.
