Sara MoultonFree Press Staff
The Fernie Ghostriders showed why they’re a top contender for the league championship, cruising to an easy 7-1 victory in Game 1 of their semifinal series against the Golden Rockets Wednesday night.
The festivities began with a presentation by Phil Iddon, vice-president of the KIJHL Eddie Mountain Division, awarding the regular season divisional title to the Ghostriders. Team captain Dylan Robertson accepted the banner, and with the ceremonial duties complete, the game was underway.
It took less than 90 seconds for Sam Plaquin to score the first marker of the tilt, which was soon followed by another from Joel Burgess and a celebratory launch of a live rooster onto the ice. Cole Keebler, Justin Peers and Spencer Bender followed suit to add three more to the scoreboard before the first buzzer. The Rockets swapped starting goaltender Magnus Viberg for backup Mark Becica less than 13 minutes in, then finally found the twine on a power play with three seconds left in the first period.
After skating through a blank second period, a late push during the final minutes of the third resulted in Plaquin and Bender both capitalizing on power plays to shore up a resounding victory for the series favourites.
The two sides meet again in Golden on Friday, Feb. 20 for Game 2 in the best-of-seven series to decide who will make it to the second round of the playoffs, before returning to the Fernie Memorial Arena for Game 3 on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the special time of 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20, 8:00 p.m. Fernie Ghostriders at Golden RocketsSunday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. Golden Rockets at Fernie GhostridersMonday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. Fernie Ghostriders at Golden RocketsWednesday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. Golden Rockets at Fernie Ghostriders (if necessary)Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. Fernie Ghostriders at Golden Rockets (if necessary)Saturday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. Golden Rockets at Fernie Ghostriders (if necessary)