A week’s layoff didn’t do the Creston Valley Thunder Cats any favours. The first place team in the Eddie Mountain Division’s regular season play took a 3-2 loss at home in the opening game of their series on Tuesday against the Kimberley Dynamiters.
After sweeping Columbia Valley Rockies in four straight games, the Thunder Cats had to sit back and wait for the Dynamiters to defeat the Fernie Ghostriders by a 4-2 margin.
Kimberley opened the scoring 5:55 into the game on a goal by Nolan Kurylo, but Thomas Cankovic continued his strong post-season play by scoring a couple minutes later, with an assist from Sebastian Kilcommons.
Creston’s Cole Arcuri (Justen James and Paxton Malone) gave his team the lead midway through the second period, but James Farmer, the KIJHL’s top playoff scorer to date, tied the game with a power play effort.
Creston outshot Kimberley 17-8 in the final frame, but it was Kimberley that managed the only goal. George Bertola put one past Brock Lefebvre for the game winner after 14:11 of play. The Thunder Cats didn’t help themselves by taking two late penalties, which made it difficult to mount a comeback.
The series resumes tonight with another game at the John Bucyk Arena.