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KIMBERLEY DYNAMITERS
Nitros heat up, beat Rockies 4-1 TRE VOR CR AWLEY Sports Editor
After the flu decimated the Dynamiters over their weekend road trip, the team got enough healthy bodies back in the lineup to grind out a 4-1 win over the Columbia Valley Rockies on Tuesday night on home ice. Jason Richter, Darren Martin, Bryce Perpelitz and Eric Buckley provided offence for the Nitros, while Stephen Pratt scored the lone goal for the Rockies.
“In the first period, we kind of had tired legs, but as the game wore on, I thought, definitely, our conditioning outmatched CV’s for sure,” said Martin, the Dynamiters captain. In the second half of the first period, Buckley struck first on a breakaway, beating Rockies goaltender Stewart Pratt up high on the glove side with a shot. Heading into the second period, the Nitros were the first to kick off the parade to the penalty box. Tyler Kinnon was hit with a four-minute double
minor and Jared Marchi got tagged for goaltender interference, and the Rockies were gifted with a two-man advantage for just over three minutes. Stephen Pratt made good on the ensuing powerplay, scoring Columbia Valley’s lone goal to even it up at 1-1. However, the tide began to change and soon it was the Rockies who were heading to the box and the Nitros made them pay when Perpelitz teed up from the blue line and blasted a slap shot home. A few minutes later, Columbia Valley’s goaltender Stewart Pratt went down with a Nitro player on top of him. The goalie landed a couple blows with his blocker before getting hit with a match penalty and game misconduct. Martin quarterbacked the powerplay and was rewarded with a goal when he unloaded on the net at the blue line. “I think our puck retrieval was good and we had some good shots,” said Dynamiters head coach Jerry Bancks, on the effectiveness of the powerplay. “Perp’s goal was just a rocket, Marty’s was a rocket. “We need to do more of that—score from the point on the powerplay. We’re afraid to shoot, I
TREVOR CRAWLEY PHOTO
The Nitros celebrate a goal scored by Bryce Perpelitz during a 4-1 win over the Columbia Valley Rockies on Tuesday night. don’t know why, so it was good that it happened and hopefully we can learn from it.” More shenanigans came in the third period, in the form of more game ejections, as a pair of Rockies players got tossed for head contact. Richter scored on another Nitro man-advantage for a three goal lead with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
Tyson Brouwer stood in goal for the Dynamiters, making 31 saves for the win, while Pratt and Brody Nelson shared netminding duties, with 27 collective saves. Having a mostly healthy roster was a welcome change for the team after hitting the road this past weekend with a busload of sick players. “It meant a lot to have most of our play-
ers back, we still have a couple out—and we still had some playing, they’re not 100 per cent,” said Bancks. “…It’s going to be nice to get everybody healthy. We need to get through this weekend, then we’re back to our normal schedule. “You can tell we’ve only practiced twice since Christmas. We were pretty sloppy. It was an ugly win, but we’ll take it.”
Five Ice players crack NHL scouting rankings TRE VOR CR AWLEY Sports Editor
Five members of the Kootenay Ice made the mid-season NHL Central Scouting rankings released on Monday, with Sam Reinhart occupying the highest spot at fourth overall of the North American skaters category. The Kootenay Ice captain was surpassed only by Sam Bennett (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL), Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL) and Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts, OHL). Reinhart is currently in Calgary, where he will showcase his skills in front of NHL brass at the CHL BMO Top Prospects game on Wednesday evening. Reinhart was named captain of Team Cherry while Ekblad will
lead Team Orr in a game that features the best talent across the CHL. While it’s no surprise that Reinhart is in the top of the Central Scouting rankings, other Kootenay Ice players have also made the scouts sit up and take notice. Import defenceman Rinat Valiev, who cracked the same lists last season, was ranked 106th, while Jaedon Descheneau and Luke Philp were separated by only three at 122nd and 125th, respectively. Despite his long-term injury, Tanner Faith still has some NHL interest under the Limited Viewing category, joining other injured players such as Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals) and Taylor Vickerman (TriCity Americans).
Valiev has been a solid addition to the blue line since his arrival in October, where he’s contributed three goals and collected 13 assists. Valiev, who attended an NHL camp with the Dallas Stars in September, adds some size to the blue line and has settled into a steady role with the team. Descheneau leads the Ice in goal production at 28, and sits in sixth place in the WHL scoring race with 57 points. “Yesterday morning, I didn’t even know the rankings were coming out,” said Descheneau. “It’s nice and an honour, now I just have to play well and move myself up in the rankings.” Philp agreed, noting it was the first time he’s cracked the Central Scouting lists.
He has had a solid season, stepping up to the top line while Reinhart left for the World Junior Championship. Philp has tallied 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points this season, needing only one more to surpass his 2012-13 total. “All in all, I’m just happy to see that my name was on the list and happy for the other guys who where named, too,” Philp said. Even though they’re all happy to see themselves individually ranked, there is still a lot of work to be done as a team leading up and into playoffs. “I’m just worried about the team here and going far in the playoffs and whatever happens on draft day, happens,” said Descheneau.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
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Sports News? Call Trevor 250-426-5201, ext. 212 trevor@dailytownsman.com
Raonic advances to second round at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia - Milos Raonic began his Australian Open with a 7-6 (2), 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 defeat of Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver on Tuesday to reach the second round in sweltering temperatures. Raonic, the 11th seed from Thornhill, Ont., was tested for nearly two and a half hours in the demanding heat that hovered just above 40 C. The heat was even too much for one of the ball kids, who had to leave the court in the middle of the match. Raonic finally put away the victory on his fifth match point against an opponent ranked 77th in a first-time meeting. Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic felt the heat as he was treated on court trailing 4-2 in the second set before eventually going down to France’s Benoit Paire 7-6 (14-12), 6-3, 6-4. Dancevic said he started feeling faint and was stretched out on court with a doctor, trainers and ambulance personnel in attendance. But the Niagara Falls, Ont., native recovered and soldiered on, wisely donning a white cap and finishing the match. Raonic took the victory with 21 aces, striking 48 winners and breaking on 7-of-20 chances. The 23-year-old was frustrated as he tried to close out the contest but finally got the job done when he broke the Spaniard’s serve. He’ll join compatriots Eugenie Bouchard, from Montreal, and Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil, who won their first-round matches on Monday. Canadian Press
Canada’s cross-country skiers on track to make the podium at Sochi Games
CALGARY - Canada’s cross-country ski team is poised to make Olympic history next month. While Canadian women have stood on the Olympic podium in the sport, a Canadian man never has. Led by Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., and Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., that drought could end on the Psekhako Ridge in Sochi, Russia. The hard goal of Canada’s cross-country team is to claim at least two medals in Sochi. It’s the men who have the best chance at winning them this time. The 11 skiers who’ll represent Canada in Sochi were introduced Tuesday at an elementary school with six being present for the announcement. Harvey, Kershaw, Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., Daria Gaiazova of Banff, Alta., and Perianne Jones of Almonte, Ont., were in Europe and en route to a World Cup event in Poland. Chandra Crawford and Jesse Cockney of Canmore, Toronto’s Lenny Valjas, Graeme Killick of Fort McMurray, Alta., Heidi Widmer of Banff and Emily Nishikawa of Whitehorse will join their teammates in Italy next week for pre-Games training. Canadian Press
DATE CORRECTION
Notice of Annual General Meeting January 28th, 7:00 pm 160 Deer Park Avenue Election of Officers and Society Name Change. Those members who are in good standing wishing to attend are asked to please contact 250.427.4080 Refreshments will be served.