The action and energy grew exponentially at Friday night’s Ghostriders game.
The first period got off to a slow start with no goals from either the Ghostriders or their opponents, the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. The first goal came only five minutes into the second period and it triggered an exciting and fast paced hockey game from there. Although the first point of the game went to the Thunder Cats, the Riders were quick to respond.
“I really liked our response when we were down by a goal,” said head coach Jeff Wagner. “We struggled to create any sustained pressure for the first half of the game, but found another gear with about seven minutes left in the second period. Our determination in those minutes proved to be the difference in the game…When we were sloppy, [goalie] Brent Balas was there to bail us out.”
With about nine minutes left in the second period, Nolan Steer scored Fernie’s first goal of the night. That goal seemed to set off a chain reaction of energy and intensity for the Riders. Only a few minutes later Hunter Maximnuk put another one away, bringing the score to 2-1 for the Riders.
Seamus Keith used the momentum of the last two goals to score once again, outmanoeuvring four Thunder Cats with some impressive stick handling and a hard push towards the net.
Almost before the Riders could finish celebrating their last goal, Jordan Kromm put the puck in the net less than a minute later. At the end of the second period, the score stood at 4-1 for the Riders.
Although the Thunder Cats managed a second goal in the third period, it wasn’t enough to catch up to the Riders, who at this point had built up their momentum to an unstoppable pace.
Greg Susinski scored the fifth goal for the Riders with nine minutes left in the game. In a last ditch effort to even the score, the Thunder Cats pulled their goalie with only a few minutes left in the game.
The Riders were able to take advantage of the empty net and Alaister Standen made a shot from around centre ice, bringing the score to 6-2. Both teams played with intensity until the buzzer sounded but in the end, it was the Ghostriders who came away victorious.
This is the eight consecutive win for the Ghostriders, who will face off in both a home and an away game against rivals the Kimberley Dynamiters this coming week.
“After Friday’s game, we will regroup and focus on Kimberley,” said Wagner. “It’s a quick turn around and we know we will need to be at our best to continue this winning streak against the first place team in the league.”
editor@thefreepress.ca
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