The Golden Rockets travelled south to Fernie over the weekend for the opening pair of games in their post-season matchup with the Ghostriders.
The action at ice-level was everything it was cracked up to be, with a high-tempo featuring consistent end-to-end action from both clubs. At the end, the Ghostriders came away with a pair of victories as the series shifted to Golden for the next two games.
Friday night’s action began with Golden coming out of the blocks quickly, moving into a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the frame.
The top line of Hayden Iron Shirt, Cooper Thompson and Brayden Bissell worked their magic deep in the Fernie end, with Brayden tucking the puck to the back of the cage.
Before the period ended, however, the Ghostriders caught Golden napping on defence, and stormed back with a pair of goals off the sticks of Coden Fournier and Kellen Hale in just :17 seconds.
In the second period, Hayden Iron Shirt’s shorthanded goal early was countered by Liam Breakenridge’s marker late in the frame, to move the score to 3-2.
At 1:43 of the final stanza, Golden deadlocked the game on a slick play, as Simon Mendiola combined with line mates Dawson Butler and Jackson Roberts to find the range.
But Fernie replied just over one minute later as Carter Singleton connected. Rockets pressed hard later, but couldn’t close the gap, as the southern club added a Jaden Piper insurance goal at 13:48.
Final score was 5-3. Fernie outshot Golden 40-29.
Saturday evening, Golden was looking to get things even at a game apiece. The game went scoreless until the latter minutes of the first period, when both clubs traded power-play goals. Coden Fournier struck for Fernie at 16:43, which was quickly countered by Brock McIlwain’s tally with two minutes left.
In the second period, the teams again exchanged goals. Just one minute in, Ben Skarsen found the range, and the lead lasted until the midway mark as Rocket’s speedy forward Alexander Kwong converted a nice setup from Chaz Jaeb and Jake O’Keefe.
Two Fernie goals in the space of :27 seconds in the third frame proved to be the difference in this contest, as the Ghostriders prevailed with a 4-2 win.
The action switched to the friendly confines of the Plywood Palace last Monday and Tuesday, as the Rockets have some hard work to do, striving to get back on even terms in the series. No details were available at press time.
