If a 3-2 Creston win last weekend and a 2-2 tie in Kimberley Tuesday night are any indications, KIJHL hockey fans are in for a treat whenever the traditional rivals play this season.
“It’s going to be an exciting season series against that team and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Thunder Cat coach Brad Tobin said on Wednesday. “I really felt that we had the game in hand but we only played the first 50 minutes — the last 10 they took advantage and ended up salvaging a point.”
Kimberley’s Brock Palmer opened the game’s scoring with a power-play goal 16 minutes into the first period. The Dynamiters skated off the ice with a 1-0 lead at intermission despite being outshot 14-5.
“We carried the play in the first period, even though we were down 1-0 we still felt confident that we could get the job done,” Tobin said.
Creston scored twice in the middle frame with power-play goals of their own by Liam Plunkett (Ronnie Wilkie and Tyler Witzke) and Bryce Sturm (Mitchell Wolfe).
The 2-1 lead held up until there was 5:33 left in regulation when Brand Bertoia score at even strength. Kimberley outshot the T-Cats 13-7 in the third, a rare period in recent games where Creston hasn’t had the edge in shots.
“We took our foot off the gas pedal halfway through the third period and the Dynamiters found their opening to tie the game late,” Tobin said.
The Thunder Cats are back on the ice on Friday night in Grand Forks, where they take on the Border Bruins, who are in fourth place in the Neil Murdoch Division.
The club returns home on Saturday to host the Spokane Braves, who sit in fifth place in the Neil Murdoch Division, with only 13 points in 23 games. The Braves have given up 49 more goals than they have scored.