So below we have a few thoughts on the first half of the season from the Coaches and our Team Captain, but first we have some business to take care of.
Well that was two good teams battling hard, the Bruins are in a fight with BV for 1st place and the Riders are just one point behind Kimberley for 1st, so they needed the points.
Both goalies had to be pretty sharp to keep the score in check, Jasper Tait made 39 saves and Nick Kunyk stopped 31. Kunyk for the record stopped a couple of seemingly sure goals in the OT that got the Riders to a shootout where Coden Fournier (2nd Star) and Lucas De La Salle scored to get the extra point.
The 1st star Nash Wassing scored both BB goals and got away with a pretty good mid ice shot to the face of De La Salle…just one of several cheap shots on the night. Lucas Desjarlais and Sawyer Samycia scored the Rider goals, they were both hard workin lunchpail goals.
The two # 25’s are top KIJHL scorers, but both Taylor Haggerty and Levi Astill didn’t figure in the scoring… but had chances. At the end of the game Astill tried to skate into the celebrating Riders but the referees intercepted him then had to go off the ice to keep the crowd away from the exiting players. They should get an extra $50 bucks.
After Alex Edwards crosschecked a Rider hard in the numbers away from the play with no call Jack Lambert fought him but his helmet came of and he hit his head on the ice and didn’t finish the game. You can’t see everything…this league really needs two refs.
Saturday night this was on the KI site Grand Forks Border Bruins forward Alex Edwards is suspended 2 games as the result of being assessed a Game Misconduct (WCDM Rule 89.4)
Grand Forks Border Bruins forward Theo Naidu is suspended 1 game as the result of being assessed a Game Misconduct (HC Rule 11). Of course there is no explanation on the site
So far the Riders have won or at least got a point in their games against top opponents and the next couple of months will be interesting. By January 10th teams will have picked up players from various leagues and will be at their vicious best, then we’ll get some hot action as teams start fighting for their playoff lives.
In Other News Rider defenseman Eric Martin was one of the KIJHL Three Stars of the Week (Dec 15th) read that here.
And Finally, on behalf of the Board, I apologize to the players that live hundreds of miles away from here. Because of the schedule you only get six days off. Next year our players first GM will be involved in scheduling. For the record, Kimberley only has five days off before they show up here in Fernie on the 27th and we play there on the 28th…those are well attended big money games so you can see the importance of playing this close to Christmas.
Answer…When Santa had a hangover one of the Elves grabbed his beard and said where do you want me to put this Angel.
Question… Why do they put an Angel on top of a Christmas tree.
Now we turn it over to the Coaches and Captain for their thoughts on the first half of the season.
Dante Raposo
For me I think this first half is a statement on how resilient our group is, how close we are off & on the ice. We have played in almost 20 one goal games & come out on top of most of them. This is one of the best groups I’ve had the pleasure of working with in terms of types of people. Although we do have some stuff to clean up we really do just find a way to win games & this experience will 100% help us come March.
Chad Scharff
For me I think the first half of the season has been a big learning curve for our group. New staff, new players, daily challenges and our group has shown the type of character we will need to be successful. When Dante and I got here we wanted a group that was willing to learn and grow throughout the season. I think this group of young men starts with their off ice personalities and the pure love they have for one another. This is by far one of the best group of men I have ever coached. The ability to persevere in tight hockey games and find a way to win is exceptional. I look forward to what the second half has in store for us.
Taylor Haggerty
Great first half for our group. A lot of character and learning games for us and all the 1 goal games will help us by playing playoff like games early. Proud of our group, but we have lots to work on and clean up. I’m looking forward to the second half and seeing what we can do.
