The Ghostriders won both road games this weekend despite a depleted lineup due to injuries, a suspension and the flu bug. The Riders played a smart defensive game to get a 3-2 win in Spokane and a 3-2 overtime win in Grand Forks.
Grand Forks has scored 192 goals so far this season, they are the top scoring team in the league and in the mix for first overall. The Bruins also have Levi Astill and Tyler Burke on board and they are number one and two in KI scoring with 80 and 62 points. The Riders were able to shut them down, so we asked coach Chad Scharff after the Grand Forks game, how they did it.

Scharff “We simplified and executed our game plan. Cooper Anderson was solid in the net. Keegan Fellows got inserted on defence and played his best game of the year. Braeden Jack was a work horse. Liam Breakenridge was scratched and came back in the lineup and scores! Our top players were our leaders. Everyone stepped up and did exactly what we needed them to do.”

Scharff added, “That is the most gutsy win of the year for our group! We are missing a number of key players from our lineup. We’ve had tough travel for the last 24 hours and our guys could have made every excuse to not show up tonight against a good team”. “Our staff is really proud of our group this weekend. A lot of adversity and we come home with 4pts”.
Rider News, You played the Bruins at home in December and won 3-2 in a shootout, but the game featured a lot of penalties.
Scharff “No secret there were some emotions from last time we played them and I was called a “rookie coach” I guess the rookie coach is 2-0 against the vet! ’’
So Bruin Head Coach and GM Dave Hnatiuk called Scharff a Rookie Coach, wow that’s a pretty stinging rebuke from a Tier 11 Coach with a Top Prospects Game on his resume… A comedian would follow that with “but seriously now folks”.
Anyway, “Cooper Anderson was solid” but while watching the game I noticed he didn’t have to be spectacular… and all you jokers know what that means.
A few Notes
Ben Skarsen had the game winner in Spokane, it was his 3rd GWG and Taylor Haggerty had the GWG in Grand Forks, his 6th. The aforementioned Braeden Jack scored in Spokane and was the guy who kept the play alive and had an assist on the second goal by Liam Breakenridge, who got a pass from Riley Enns (1G1A) in GF. Jack was in and out of the lineup earlier in the season but has worked his way into a steady spot now.

Number 1 goalie Nick Kunyk got a 6 game suspension in the Kimberley game so Cooper Anderson will get the start this week when Creston and Beaver Valley are in town (Tuesday and Friday) then again in Golden on Saturday. Seth Coward from Elkford has been filling in as a backup goaltender until Kunyk gets back.
It really is a game of inches…A few times I heard the Spokane Play By Play guys say, If that pass was on the tape, this game wouldn’t be close… or something to that effect.
With all the Canadian hate going on down in the US now, our by default politicians are talking about eliminating Provincial Borders. It would be great if that included hockey and kids could go wherever they want.
Round’ the League
The Rockies didn’t play Friday in BV because of the roads. Creston surprised the Rockies and helped us by winning 5-3 Saturday and are a point ahead of Golden for the final PO spot. Grand Forks had 656 fans at the Fernie game, one of their best crowds of the year… and they hate us, just like Kimberley… Kamloops had 1143 fans at the Merritt game that they won 3-2.
Like it or not, hate, rivalries and controversy are good for attendance and the game in spite of what I get told. In the AWHL 20+ years ago with a few teams kicking and screaming the President said, I don’t know what you are doing but keep it up, it creates interest in our league.
Creston is here in Fernie on Tuesday Feb 4th and Beaver Valley is here on Friday Feb 7.
See you at the rink !