The Ghostriders did not get off to a good start in their first two games of the 2024-25 season. They lost 5-4 in a shootout in Kimberley then lost 6-4 to the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
Bright spots
They don’t give up. In Kimberley the Riders scored two goals in the third (Peigan-Enns) to get to overtime and a point in the standings .At home vs 100 Mile they were down 3-0 in the first but fought back and outshot the Wranglers 14-7 in the 2nd and 18-9 in the 3rd and made a game of it (4-4 mid third). G Ivan Tolsma was the difference.
Captain Taylor Haggerty actually scored 2 goals in Kimbo (credited for 1) and had 2 assists at home and Nathan Flanagan is the first rookie to score a goal, it was the 1st G in the 100 Mile game. Full scoring stats
But Why
In the Wrangler game both 100 and the Riders had goals disallowed. 100’s goal would have had them up 4-0 in the second, then late in the third the Riders scored a goal that would have tied the game at five, but it was disallowed. Both times the 790 people who pay the freight (the fans) were never told why the goals didn’t count !!!…and both goals looked legit.
The first time
Regarding the Fernie disallowed goal… I haven’t seen this in probably 15 years, a referee actually asked a goal judge, who had turned the red light on, if it was in…the subtle clue the young detectives missed was …he turned the red light on ! … anyway, no goal.
Bite your nose to spite your face
A guy at the game from Alberta asked, all our junior games have two referees, why not here? The answer, in AB the refs can do both outlaw (BCHL JPHL) games and sanctioned games (AJHL minor hockey etc)… in BC they can’t…thus the shortage of officials…cause it’s the best way to develop refs and help young minor hockey players…
Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This
In the pre season Golden was in Chase and much to the amusement of the Chase fans the goalies had a very spirited centre ice fight. They got four game suspensions and the fans a lifetime of hockey stories to tell their grandkids…or something like that.
Lets Cut His Ear Off
Half of the Kimberley arena remains roped off because years ago someone painted the inside with a lead based paint. Then last summer some flake found (one of his friends?) a few paint chips (flakes) on the floor. Now they say October 18th is the new date to open that side of the rink…wonder how much $ in lost attendance that’s costing the KD.
The Best
Best goal Friday night was off the stick of Malachai North Peigan who skated end to end and right through most of the Dynamiters to score the Riders third goal.
Best goal Saturday was 100’s Luke McFarlane’s game winning short handed end to end goal, but there was a sort of who’s on first D coverage.
Next Games
Only one game next week. The Ghostriders are headed to Beaver Valley next Saturday to play the always tough Hawks who lost 8-2 in Grand Forks Friday but beat Kelowna 5-1. They won’t be a pushover.The Riders are in Creston on the 11th and Spokane is in Fernie Saturday October 12th.
More Next Week RN
