Second place in the Eddie Mountain Division is still in sight for the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, who sit five points behind the Kimberley Dynamiters with one game in hand.
With 65 points, the Dynamiters are six points behind the division-leading Fernie Ghostriders. With 49 points, the Golden Rockets have secured a spot in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoffs, while the Columbia Valley Rockies, with 28 points, have no chance.
But the Thunder Cats still have to play better than they did Feb. 3 visiting the Kimberley Dynamiters, said head coach Jeff Dubois.
“One team showed up and we didn’t,” he said. “The work ethic and the level of attention to detail in the defensive zone just wasn’t there.”
The Dynamiters scored three goals in the first period, and the Thunder Cats responded with two power-play goals by Connor Ward early in the second. The Dynamiters added another goal in the second period and three power-play goals in the third for a 7-2 win.
“We identified some areas we wanted to work on in preparation, and in breaking things down afterward, we realized we broke down in all of those areas.”
Friday’s visit to the Columbia Valley Rockies was a different story, with the Thunder Cats earning a 5-1 win.
“We got back to doing some of the things that we focused on in the offensive zone and defensive zone,” said Dubois. “The effort was better, but at the same time, you can’t pick and choose when you find that effort.”
Connor Kidd scored twice in the first period, including a power-play goal, with Alec Wilkinson adding a third at 2:06. Nicholas Kovacik scored a fourth Creston goal in the mid-second period before the Rockies responded at 1:27. At 6:57 in the third period, Mason Mazur scored the final Creston goal.
On Saturday, the Thunder Cats played their final regular-season away game against the Golden Rockets, coming home with a 7-4 win. Despite the score, Dubois wasn’t happy with the first 45 minutes.
“We let Golden dictate the play and were heavily outshot through two periods,” he said.
Lien Miller-Jeannotte scored the game’s first goal early in the first period, and Golden’s 13 shots resulted in a goal at 2:35. Austin Steger and Kidd (power play) each scored in the second period for a 3-3 tie going into the third.
After a Golden goal early in the third, the Thunder Cats bounced back with four goals, two by Kidd (one an empty-netter), and one each from Kyle Richter and Kovacik.
“At the end of the day, you aren’t going to win too many games where you wait until the third period to show up.”
Following tomorrow's game against the Fernie Ghostriders, Creston will play its final regular season games against Golden, hosting the Rockets Friday and Saturday.
“We certainly want to use those as opportunities to be prepared for the first playoff games,” said Dubois.
He also hopes to give the team’s four 20-year-olds, who will age out of the KIJHL, a proper sendoff.
“We’ve been battling to find a consistent level in terms of focus and work habits,” he said. “You want to go into playoffs on a high note, coming off a couple of wins.”