Photo Sawyer Samycia
After losing 6-1 in Kimberley last Tuesday the Ghostriders went on a gruelling three games in three nights road trip to Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House and won all three games. But first, they made some changes… GM’s get antsy when they have a 3-8-1-1record .
So, one of the changes was Walker Overwater was moved to Revelstoke for Carter Singleton then Dylan Konschuh was acquired from Osoyoos, he did time in Kamloops and Sicamous so probably knows Hayden Evans.
Then newly acquired Parker Cutts was moved to the Rockies for 6’1” 190 pound Easton Doan . Doan was on a 3 game suspension from his Rockies days and is eligible to play this weekend.
The Riders also got two D men back from the infirmary. Nate Turton and Koa Percival both returned for the weekend but Liam Breakenridge is still out. Turton showed some real offensive ability before getting hurt in just his fourth game of the season and Percival, who GM Scharff terms an “elite skater”, got hurt in his first game after coming over from Merritt. The Cents will be here on Nov 22.
For the record Turton had a goal and an assist in the first two games and Percival scored his first as a Rider in 100 Mile.
Chad Scharff had this to say after the three games in three days meat grinder.
“We came up north with our backs against the wall and knew something had to change. We had some honest conversations with everyone and made sure we are all on the same page heading into the weekend. Credit to the boys for having a clear mindset and winning 3 tight games against 3 good teams up north”.
“The addition of Singleton and Konschuh has added a different look to our team which has helped our depth and all four lines have balance”.
“den Besten was great all weekend playing in all 3 games. He allowed us to settle into games when we weren’t at our best and chip away for the full game coming away with wins in three close games.”
“Proud of the group for sure but we still have to continue to grow as we’ve dug ourselves in a hole and have to continue to find ways to climb out of a slow start to the season”.
“Overall very good weekend for our boys and good feeling heading home.”
Happy Bus
Fernie 1 @ Kimberley 6,
Ben Skarsen (Buchanan- Piper) scored the only goal in that debacle.
Carter Singleton (Turton- Logan) scored his first goal as a Rider in the first period then Ben Skarsen (Evans-Fournier) scored the game winner halfway through the third period after Isiah Bagri tied the game on the PP.
Leo den Besten got back on track and stopped 31 of 32 shots for the win in net.
Ethan Watkins (Turton- Buchanan) and Nate Turton (Logan) each scored on the power play and Carter Singleton scored the game winning goal. Dylan Konschuh scored his first as a FGR into the empty net to seal the win. Leo den Besten stopped 21 of 23 shots in net and was named as a game star.
Former Rider Trent Thiessen helped the cause by taking three penalties thus helping the Riders score one of their two PP goals.
Both WL goals were from JP Desabrais on the power play.
Koa Percival scored his first Rider goal from (Skarsen-Fornier) on the power play and Ben Skarsen (Fournier) scored the game winner in the third period. Carter Singleton was injured when he was pushed from behind headfirst into the boards…both refs missed it. Leo den Besten got his third win in a row stopping 29 of 30. 100’s Jaden Rusznak scored shorthanded by 2, one of the few bad mistakes the Riders made. Dawson Green stopped 46 of 48 shots for 100 and was the HTS. Garrett Buchanan did not dress.
Former Fernie Sabers star (yes the Riders once were called the Sabers) Robbie Poupart wrote a letter to the editor about how the City of Fernie was trying to get rid of the outdoor arena… see his letter here… Well you’re not alone Robbie, the COF are quietly chipping away at the Ghostriders financial viability as we speak… I wonder what the skiers will do when they get their wish.
The Riders are in Columbia Valley this Friday then on Saturday the first place overall Princeton Posse are here in Fernie for their one and only visit.
