The Ghostriders won one and lost one last weekend. They lost 5-3 in Invermere on Friday then won 4-1 at home against the Revelstoke Grizzlies on Saturday.
On Friday the Riders had a 2-0 and going into the third a 3-2 lead but after the first five or so minutes they were vastly out played and only the heroics of Jeff Orser, who was playing injured kept the score close. (the Rockies scored into the empty net).
On Saturday the landscape changed considerably when it was announced that goalie Jeff Orser could not go and Trail Midget AP goalie Brandon Youngson would get the start backed up by Fernie's Sawyer Ward.
Youngson (98) had played in the exhibition season and looked good but you can never really tell... anyway, he was solid against the Grizzlies stopping 38 of 39 shots and was named as the Riders Player of the Game.
He had some help as this was one of the best defensive games I've seen the Ghost play this season keeping the Grizz to the outside for many of the shots. But the Grizz still had a few big time chances especially late but Youngson didn't buckle. For the record, Brandon's father Brian played D here in Fernie in the 1999-2000 season then was an assistant coach in 2004-06... so there's the connection... if you were wondering.
Travis Thomsen scored on the power play in the first then Justin Peers and Tayler Sincennes (PP) scored in the second. Louie Federico scored for the Grizz between the Rider goals.
In the third Zach Befus scored and the Riders held on for the 4-1 lead.
Notes
1/The Riders were outshot 19-7 in the third but had to kill a 4 minute spearing penalty then a minute at the end on a roughing call. It was a great PK on the 4 minute call and Youngson came up big late when the Grizz were really pressuring.
2/ The Riders absolutely fell apart in Invermere in the 3rd allowing uncountable great chances against... but were much better Saturday. Actually they have improved considerably in their own end since the start of the season and many of the shots the Rockies and Grizz had were on giveaways or on bad decisions in their own end... like passing to guys in traffic, not shooting the puck out hard, passes up the middle etc. These are all correctable and they will be a formidable opponent when they correct some of that.
3/ Nineteen year old's Alex Cheveldave 2 games 1 G 1 A and Zach Befus 4 G 3 A in 5 games give the Riders some much needed age skill and junior "A" experience. Both are fun to watch and have an edge to them.
4/ Justin Peers (another 19 year old) had a goal and an assist in his first game back from a two game suspension and now has 2 G and 7 A in 5 games after a 40 point rookie season last year.
/5 Cole Keebler was held to 1 assist Saturday but I believe he's playing hurt.
6/ Both goaltenders Orser and Brandon Butler are out as well as Kyle Haugo, Spencer Bender and Aidan Wilson. Injuries continue to hurt the Riders early.
7/ The smooth skating Evan Reid scored his first of the season on Friday. He was a defensemen last season... Coach Mohr says he likes him up front especially on the penalty kill which was 4-0 Saturday while the power play went 2-5. Reid took a particularly big hit in the second when he held on to the puck for a second... but was ok and played the rest of the game.
8/ Eight of the Riders 25 goals this year came off the power play. Better keep practicing that...
9/ Bowling, Mack Differenz rolled a strike while heading off the ice at the end of a shift in the second when he slid into a few pins trying to get on the the ice.
10/ And yes Tayler Sincennes deserved the misconduct he got after his goal, as he was celebrating skating by his bench he took a little shot at one of the Grizz players as he was passing by their bench. I think only me and the referee saw it.
11/ Keagan Kingwell had an assist Saturday and now leads the D in scoring with 4 pts in 7 games. He is a big mobile part of the D this year.
12/ Dalton Bouvier and Jacen Richards are now AP's and will play midget. Richards is still out with a neck injury he picked up in the preseason. Rider Prue has left the team, he is looking for a place to play where he will get a bigger role. Someone will pick him up.
13/ The first 3 goals Saturday came off of point shots, Don Cherry never stops preaching that, it sure worked Sat.
14/ There was no radio broadcast last Friday from Invermere, they have no phone lines there that the radio can use. Howie Ashmore, The Drive's Account Executive and Tom Ross the PxP guy tell us they will fix that with a cell phone next time. I watched the game on the webcast but they don't know our players names and you can't see the numbers... so much for that.
15/ The Riders wore their new "Cancer Jerseys" last weekend, fans can bid on them on the Riders website or click here The Fernie Friends for Friends group will get the proceeds from the Jersey Auction.
16/ Fernie Ford's Drive One For Your Community event went well and they say we had.. about 200 drivers meaning about $4000. The Ghostrider executive thanks Fernie Ford for doing this fundraiser and thanks to the players for all their labour and cooking skills.
17/ The Riders host Grand Forks next Friday then play in Golden next Saturday before playing Golden here in Fernie next Sunday
18/ Former Ghostrider centre Sam Plaquin has taken a job as an assistant coach with the CNHA Bantam AA Canucks in Calgary. Sam was outstanding for the Rider last season and we wish him all the best as he gets his feet wet coaching this year.
19/ Photos- New Jerseys - Brandon Youngson- Alex Cheveldave- Sam Plaquin
Round the League
Well no soccer this week, meaning no more yellow cards handed out either, check September's KIJHL schedule if you don't know what I mean.
In Sicamous the Osoyoos Coyotes Rainer Glimpel scored 5 goals in a 7-4 win Saturday shooting him up in the scoring race just 2 points behind Eric Buckley in 3 less games. Osoyoos is 5-1-0-1 so far and look to be one of the better teams again this season. Unfortunately we don't get them here in Fernie this year.
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks lost their first game of the year Saturday at home as well 2-1 to Spokane who were outshot 45-23 G Blake Norman was the Brave POG --BV is 7-1 now.
Gimme that Old Tyme Religion -- Kimbo and Revy duke it out in the third Friday, Nitro's win 4-3 in OT See the PIM's here
Castlegar's Joseph Mcleod shutout Princeton 6-0 in Princeton last Friday, the Rebels have a 7-2 record.
It appears that 100, Kimberley, Creston and Fernie have the best attendance numbers so far in the league... too bad most teams don't report their #'s or their trades... Tyler Garcia was moved from 100 Mile to Nelson the other day, not unusual cept I thought for sure the solid Garcia was Duner's kinda guy, he twice played in Kimberley and now twice in Nelson See here
100 Mile shutout Golden 8-0 in 100 in front of 520 the other night and G Zane Steeves was not the player of the game. Golden hasn't won a game yet... but still a shutout....Steeves beat the Riders and Kimberley a few weeks ago as well.
AND FINALLY ---NCAA FUN TIME
MINNEAPOLIS — Former Canadian women's hockey team coach Shannon Miller and two other former University of Minnesota-Duluth female coaches have filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school saying they lost their jobs because they're female and gay.
Read the full story here
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