The Fernie Ghostriders made it eight wins in a row this weekend after winning all three of their games.
The Riders were coming off a two-week break because of the All-Star and Prospects games, and associate head coach, Rick Hillier said the break made it hard for the Riders to get going.
“We didn’t play that well Thursday and Friday,” said Hillier, “Saturday we played better.”
The Riders faced the Columbia Valley Rockies on Thursday night at Fernie Memorial Arena. They won the game 5 – 3.
“Luke Richardson has really found his stride now. He had six goals in three games,” said Hillier.
Richardson has been playing with Scott Morisseau and Cale Wright, which is proving to be a high scoring line for the Riders.
Hillier said that the Riders went into the weekend with three regular defencemen. The Riders were down seven players for Thursday’s game.
“Ty Morton really stepped up and is really developing his game,” said Hillier about Morgan playing defence in the weekend’s games.
He said that Jordan Hirano also did a great job stepping in to play defence.
On Friday, the Riders began two back-to-back games with the Golden Rockets. They played the first game in Golden and beat them 5 – 4.
The Riders big scorers Morisseau, Wright and Richardson helped score four of the game’s goals. Johnny Park with an assist from Thomas Abenante scored the fifth goal.
Saturday, the Riders headed back to Fernie to face Golden on home ice.
“I felt like we had good control of the play. We had a few break downs, but when we play Golden we know what their game plan is,” said Hillier about Saturday’s game.
Fernie beat the Rockies 7-2, despite a close game for much of the second period.
The Riders scored their first two goals early in the first period. Richardson scored the first goal 45 seconds into the game followed by a goal 15 seconds later by Thomas Abernante.
“Golden is a good team,” said Hillier, “They are really good offensively and we gave away a couple goals.”
The Rockets tied up the game in the second period with two goals.
“We knew going into the game that they would use their faceoffs and their power plays to try and win,” said Hillier.
The Riders play the Rockets again on Friday night in Fernie.
“Golden’s going to be much the same thing,” he said about the upcoming game, “They’re going to try all the same things.”
“They have a really good power play, and we’re going to have to step it up this week and make sure we can defend,” he said.
Fernie will play one of their big rivals, the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, on Saturday night in Creston.
“We won the last meeting but they’re playing pretty well right now,” said Hillier.
Creston is currently behind the Riders by 23 points in the Eddie Mountain Division standings. Golden is behind the Thunder Cats at 40 points.