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Creston Valley Thunder Cats face third consecutive loss

The team has two more games before 2025

The Christmas season might be a little less cheery for the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, as the team faced its third loss in a row. 

After victory against Spokane in the last home game of November, the Thunder Cats went on to lose 5-3 to the Columbia Valley Rockies on Dec. 6. Liam Munro led the team with two assists, while goalie Brendan Smith stopped 40 shots against the net. 

The following evening, Dec. 7, the Thunder Cats were crushed 4-1 by the Castlegar Rebels. Jayden Spence, with his first goal for the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), scored the winner for the Rebels. Sanjay Chalupiak scored the sole goal for the Thunder Cats. Goalie Jacob Burnside took the loss after stopping 29 of 33 shots in 31:23 of action. Smith stopped all 15 shots he faced in 28:37 of playing time from the second period on.

A week later on Dec. 14, the Thunder Cats had a second chance against the Rockies but were disappointed once more, with a final result of 3-1. After giving up the opening goal to Munro, Ethan Cerone of the Rockies scored the winner. The opposing team sealed the win with Noah Asmundson’s empty net goal. Smith, star Thunder Cats goalie, stopped 41. He is currently ranked 13th goalie in the league with a 2.89 goals against average and 0.925 save percentage. 

The Thunder Cats will face the Rockies twice more before the end of the year, on Dec. 20 and Dec. 31.

To change things up, forward Taylor Schmideder of the Thunder Cats has recently shifted from wing to centre.

“I think I’ve been doing alright so far," said Schmideder, who played on the wing his entire career. "I’m trying to work on my 200-foot game and be solid in the defensive zone, but also trying to capitalize in the offensive zone. It’s been good as I like to use my speed and being a centre gives me freedom to open up the ice a little bit and make some plays. It helps a lot that I have some great linemates in Sanjay Chalupiak and Daniel O’Handley.”

In what's sure to be an exciting final home game of the season, fans are encouraged to come out and cheer on the Thunder Cats at the Johnny Bucyk Arena on New Year's Eve at 7:30 p.m.



Kelsey Yates

About the Author: Kelsey Yates

Kelsey Yates has had a lifelong passion for newspapers and storytelling. Originally from Alberta, she graduated from SAIT Polytechnic's journalism program in 2016. Now she calls the Kootenays home.
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