In what could very well figure as a prelude to the first round of the KIJHL post-season, the Golden Rockets and the Fernie Ghostriders met head-on last weekend, in a key home-and-home divisional series.
Statistically, these two clubs are virtually identical, and the two squads have been fighting hard for second-place positioning within the Eddie Mountain Division for the last month. The resulting action on the ice reflected that parity. Close checking, crisp passing and a high-tempo of speed were present throughout the games.
Last Friday evening, in what was perhaps their best defensive work of the season, the Rockets came away with a solid, impressive victory, prevailing on home ice with a strong 2-0 win. Hayden Iron Shirt got his club on the board at 5:48 of the opening period on the power play, when his hard wristshot from 15 feet out deflected off the Fernie goaltender’s glove and into the net.
The second frame went scoreless before Iron Shirt went to work midway through the third period.
Once again on the powerplay, the talented rookie worked his way down the left wing, and his drive from a sharp angle found its way just inside the post. That proved to be all the scoring in this contest, as the local stars recorded the 2-0 win. Golden netminder Beck Boiteau was solid in goal, turning aside all 26 Ghostrider drives in recording the shutout.
Saturday night, the rematch in Fernie was met by a large, loud Rider crowd. Golden managed to jump into a 2-0 lead on the strength of tallies from lanky Jackson Roberts and the versatile Hayden Iron Shirt. But the Ghostriders would tie things up before the period ended with a pair of goals in just :13 seconds.
From then on, it was the Fernie specialty teams which took over the play, as the southern club hit for a pair of powerplay goals, along with a pair of shorthanded markers and a singleton, to take the contest by a score of 7-2. Liam Breakenridge led the attack with three goals and an assist. Fernie would outshoot Golden on this night, 44-32.
The win pushed the Ghostriders back into second place in the division, a single point ahead of the Rockets.
Just a single contest for the KickingHorse crew this weekend, as they play host to the visiting Kelowna Chiefs on Saturday night at the Plywood Palace.
