Notes and playoff notes

 The Ghostriders lost both road games in Invermere last weekend. On Saturday the score was 4-1  Dayton Nelson scored the lone goal and Casey Thomson was named as the first star.

On Sunday AM the score was 5-3  

Kort Kissinger was the first star with two goals and an assist and Ethan MacDuff pitched in with a single.

A few notes

The KIJHL Coaches ( and lots of em) have been getting in on the league mayhem lately... click on the bad boy list to see all the felons LIST HERE

Three games in a row is tough enough without having a short bench due to suspensions and it probably cost the team at least a point or two. I can almost hear the KIJHL discipline committee snickering from here  

No rest for the wicked though... they are about to have another three game weekend with a home game against the first place Nelson Leafs Friday (you don't want to miss that game) a trip to Golden Saturday then back home to play the Border Bruins at 4:00 Sunday. (rescheduled game)

It’s January 31st so it’s time to  take the standings a little more seriously... remembering that Tuesday the Rockies are in Creston so the standings will be changing.

The Rockies knew they could get first and took advantage of the shorthanded Riders by winning both games. Add to that Kimbo going 1-1 on the weekend and the Rockies are now in first place... but for how long

 Kimberley has a pretty good schedule

But so do the Rockies They only play each other one time in Invermere Feb 11.

The Riders don’t get to relax with Creston sneaking up the back steps... and they could climb in the window

Both teams have eight games left... But two of the games are Rider home games against Creston. 

The odds favour Fernie and so does their schedule with 6 home games... but you gotta win em   

Plus our friends (shut up it’s just a joke) in Kimberley play Creston three times in their battle for first place. Go Ki... So I can’t actually say it whatever

Fernie 4 Golden 1

 Ghostriders 4 Golden 1 

The Riders were off their game quite a bit in the first period but took over  in the second with two goals and added another two in the third for the W

Just a few Notes

Dayton Nelson scored his 14th goal in the second and it turned out to be the game winner. So he scored another one in the third ... I’m not sure anyone tries quite as hard as that kid.

Liam Samyica pronounced... well I can barely pronounce my own name. Anyway the  Fernie local scored the first goal and the empty netter to ice the game Friday ... He has had a few big hits and nice assists passing from the wing to the centre for goals in the last few weeks... Great job by GM Valin and his group identifying this guy at the start of the season betting that given time he would turn into a KIJHL regular

Also a nice job picking up new goalie Casey Thomson who gave the Riders a chance to win in Kimberley (even GM Stuart admitted that, and he doesn’t usually say anything good about other players) and he shut  Golden out in the first period while the boys figured a few things out between periods.

Kaden Slobodian was back in the lineup Friday and just in time with all the suspensions, still they only had 15 skaters

And I suspect a short bench tonight on the road against the Rockies. They will also have have to play a third (rescheduled) road game at 10:30 Sunday AM in Invermere but will get Fournier and Oviatt and the aforementioned Valin back from suspension.

The Rockies will be hunting for two wins especially after Kimberley lost 5-4 in Nelson (see, the suspensions weren’t all bad) The Rockies could potentially get first place by Sunday afternoon... but probably won’t... there did I pissoff enough people yet.. 

Fernie Kimbo coaches in a no win situation

 So both Fernie’s Coach Ty Valin and Kimberley Coach Derek Stuart each got two games when their players had a little set to at the end of the game in Kimberley.

I get the player suspensions except for Ben Couvier who got 8 games for a spear, that was a little excessive.

But the coaches were in a no win situation, If either coach tried to stop his players from defending one and other and just stand back and watch their team mates get pummelled, how much respect would the coach have after that... they HAD to let em go... or as they say lose the room

The suspension is an automatic one per Hockey Canada rule 9.5(1) 

I can just imagine some  Star Trek watchin thirty year old in his mother’s basement with a cage on makin up these rules between episodes... but that’s just me...

Riders have a wild weekend and a few other things

The Ghostriders only played one game this week and that was in Kimberley against the first place Dynamiters.

The Riders lost that game 3-2 when  Nitro Carter Spring scored with just 15 seconds left in the game.

Kimberley’s Cash Regan  scored in the first then Kyle Klein (3) scored in the second only to have Connor Klassen score to regain the one goal lead.

In the third Ethan MacDuff scored his 14th tying the game up a 2-2 but as we said earlier Kimberley scored late for the win.

The Rider’s were outplayed and outshot 45-26 in that game but new goalie Casey Thomson gave them a chance to win and was named as the first star, he stopped 42 of the 45 shots he faced.

In the last seconds of the game the Riders had a chance to score but couldn’t beat Trystan Self. Just after their chance one of the Nitros knocked Ben Couvier down from behind in front of the net and when he got up he speared the first player he saw.

Anyway after that the fists were flyin and Couvier was mobbed by several Nitros and the Riders joined in as well  

The results of that little team building exercise :

Fernie Ghostriders head coach Ty Valin is suspended 2 games for failing to control the bench at the end of a period 
 Ben Couvier is suspended 8 games as the result of being assessed a Match Penalty for Spearing 
Jock Michael is suspended 5 games as the result of participating in a post-game altercation and being assessed a Major Penalty for Fighting 
Cole Fournier is suspended 2 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation
Jake Oviatt is suspended 2 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation 

Kimberley Dynamiters head coach Derek Stuart is suspended 2 games for failing to control the bench at the end of a period
Conner Furukawa is suspended 6 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation and being assessed a Major Penalty for Fighting 
Ty Smith is suspended 3 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation
Tyler Russell is suspended 3 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation
Kasey Miller is suspended 2 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation
Adam Kennedy is suspended 2 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation 
Matthew Fleet is suspended 2 games as the result of leaving the bench to participate in a post-game altercation

In other news... on Saturday the hometown Rockies beat the aforementioned Nitros by the same 3-2 score keeping them in the race for first place, Scott Tompson had the W in net but Trystan Self had to be the first star in the KD net... but they were a little shorthanded...

The Rockies will now have a great chance to capture first place...

In Creston the Cats beat Castlegar 6-1 and in Golden the Nelson Leafs won 4-0 virtually assuring themselves a date with the Rockets in the first round. Nelson will lose John Carmichael for three with a Gross Misconduct in that game.

We still don’t know who Fernie will play in the first round ... the teams play a 42 game schedule here are the standings.. there will still be some movement

The KIJHL asked the coaches who their unsung heroes were and Ty Valin picked Jock Michael

The guys respect him for the way he plays on the ice,” said Head Coach and GM Ty Valin. “He plays an honest game. He blocks shots, wins faceoffs, and he doesn’t care what we ask for him to do, he will go out there and do it. That is something that is huge on the team. Everything that he does – the way he practices, plays, is wearing off our dressing room – it’s contagious.”

Terry Cryderman was named as the winner of George Majic Spiritus Award.

Cryderman is a former Minor Hockey and KIJHL referee... he used to sit down and smoke a pipe between periods... and us linesmen never thought anything of it... it was a nice change from the cigarettes... it was a long time ago in a different era

Now A History Lesson

The late George Majic, who the award was named after was one of the founding fathers of the Ghostriders and he was the first ever President of the team back in 1991.

Some other winners with ties to the Ghostriders are

Former Treasurer Anita Palmer  (2011)

 Anita’s money juggling and President Phil Iddon's stern hold on the wheel  kept the team afloat at the end of Fernie’s Jr A days in the crazy expensive AWHL and NAHL allowing the Ghostriders to survive until they joined the much cheaper to play in KIJHL 

Gerry Pang  

(2018) "The Panger”  was a former Assistant Coach with Barry Wolff, Craig Mohr and Will Verner

And the first ever recipient of the award was the late Benny Mangone (2006) Benny was a great fundraiser for the Riders and many other causes for decades 

The Fernie Ghostriders Certified Athletic Therapists and Trainers

Last week when the LosAngeles Kings had members of their support staff enter Covid protocol they brought in Aisha Visram who according to the NHL website is the Head Trainer for the Kings AHL team in Ontario California. 

Visram worked for Adironadack of the ECHL from 2017-20, while also serving on the league's Trainers Advisory Committee. From 2012-17 she was trainer for the NCAA Division I St. Lawrence University men's and women's ice hockey teams.

Well I thought this was just another nice story but was set straight by Heather Lewis of Fernie Athletic Therapy and Rehabilitation  and one of two Fernie Ghostriders “Certifed Athletic Therapists” who in no uncertain terms said  “It's about time"

Rider News - Heather what do think about  Visram getting a shot at the NHL and how that news story went viral on social media ?

Lewis - "I am positively speechless about Aisha Visram. There are no proper words in my mind to describe how I feel. When I first saw the news I posted it and I LOVE that almost everyone I shared the post with shared it and thank everyone for this post going viral in the sport world.

 

 

Rider News- So Heather you think this is long overdue ?

Lewis - Firstly, the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association and PHATS/SPHEM have updated the news identifying Jody van Rees as the 1st Assistant Athletic Trainer (she was a Canadian Certifed Athletic Therapist) working for the Montreal Canadiens form 2000-2006...

 

 

“Now I will tell you a bit of an anonymous story and this is where the medical terminology for the term "Trainer" often gets used and abused...I will do my best to explain properly..." When I was in university I worked for a Jr Football club and for many varsity athletic teams. I knew a guy who was "training" for a CFL football team at the time. I have to say "training" as I cannot remember if he was a "Canadian Athletic Therapists Certification Candidate" or a "Fully Certified Athletic Therapist" therefore we will call him a "Trainer" as that is what many people use as catch all term for "medics on the sidelines" (unless it is Rugby and then everyone is a "Physio”).

 

I thought my 5 years spent with the Jr Football team was a good resume builder to maybe make the move to the CFL. This guy told me some news about a female...let's call her a "Trainer" as well as I am unsure what her qualifications were at the time. All I will say is that for every woman working with male sports teams, you are under the microscope at all times...For every negative, it takes a lot of positives to rewind that negative. At that time I thought wanted to work for this CFL team, but apparently I had the wrong "chromosomes".

Rider News, you must have been disappointed after hearing that.

Lewis "No actually it's all good! It takes "very special" Athletic Therapists to work Pro Sport”. “ I think this discussion for me was a blessing in disguise. I was meant to meet and follow my unknown to me at the time "future" boyfriend, Simon to Fernie BC and now we have a family of two wonderful young girls. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Rider News How long have you worked as a Certified Athletic Therapist

Lewis “ So last year my Athletic Therapy Status on my members login on the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association/ CATA website said “You are eligible for retired status"

Rider News You didn’t agree

Lewis emphatically -  "No  I’m  just warming up! 21 years Certified and I learn something new every day from my "patients". Athletic Therapy is for Everyone! It's my pleasure to volunteer my time for the Ghostriders team and give back to this amazing community".

Rider News - Is there a difference between a Trainer and an Athletic Therapist 

Lewis-  my colleague Kayla Boger and I are Certified Athletic Therapists not Athletic Trainers. "Athletic Trainer" is the equivalent American term to the Certified Athletic Therapist in Canada and often wrongly used intermingled.

 

 

Heather Lewis and Kayla Boger 

If someone introduces themselves to you as the "Trainer" as they are the one on the sidelines or bench they may or may not have any medical qualifications! They could be the weightlifting coach, or waterperson, or ankle taper or first aider! I hope that makes sense. We are also not Physiotherapists or Physical Therapists. Those are protected terms. We can get in big trouble if we refer to ourselves as physios. We have high respect for physios! Please take the time to learn and use the proper medical profession terminology.

 

Sportsnet referred to Aisha as an Athletic Trainer. She is Canadian and a Certified Athletic Therapist. She works in the states and therefore refers to herself as an Athletic Trainer. She may actually be dual certified with the CATA and NATA. People of this world...be the change! and remember... "60% of the time, I am right everytime"

Rider News, Heather, on the Ghostriders program they list you and Kayla Boger as Athletic Therapists along with Nicholle Auger and Tatium Doering as Trainers.

Heather: Nicholle Auger joined the medical team this season as a "Trainer". She has taken all of the Hockey Canada required courses to "be on the bench" and has also taken 1st Aid, CPR and the Sport Medicine Council of Alberta's Athletic First Aid and Athletic Taping and Strapping courses. She brings a lifetime of "common sense" and level headedness...she is also madly organized! 

Taitum Doering was hired last season as a "Trainer". Taitum is currently in her 4th year of her Bachelors of Kinesiology at University of Lethbridge. She too has taken all Hockey Canada required courses etc. and is currently applying for Physiotherapy and Athletic Therapy schools (and maybe others) for more post-secondary education. 

The Fernie Ghostriders, Kayla and I are forever thankful for these 2 very knowledgeable and educated women taking on the "Trainer" role this season!!

Three games 15 skaters 2W's

 The Ghostriders played three games last week they lost 4-3 to the Rockies then won 4-1 against Golden and  6-5 in OT in Beaver Valley

But first it was the busy trade deadline

Game Notes

The Riders played all three games with only 15 skaters due to injuries etc. Maybe covid quarantine ?

Leading 3-2 in the third against the Rockies the Riders were called for a match penalty and the Rockies responded with two PP goals and a 4-3 win... Fernie literally stole a defeat from the jaws of victory.

Some rough stuff in that game... the results: Rockies Trevor Ebeling 2 games for CFB, Fernie’s  Owen Johnson 6 games for his match and Matt Schulmeister 2 games for a CFB (check from behind)

Dayton Nelson, Ethan MacDuff and Kort Kissinger scored the FG goals and Dylan Lacroix was in net with Fernie local Brennan Koch from the East Kootenay U 18 AA Avalanche in as a backup.

So with two more players out Friday’s game could have seen only 13 skaters... but underrated D man Sean Jacobs’ 3G suspension from the Kimberley game on the 28th was over and Ben Couvier showed up after the deadline.

On Friday against Golden  deadline Goalie Casey Thomson got his first start and his first win... but it was hard to get a good read on him, they didn’t get many great scoring chances and they even flubbed their penalty shot. A GM from another team told me he had heard Thomson was suppose to be outstanding. So there’s that...

Kort Kissinger (2G 1A) Taylor Schmideder and Ethan MacDuff scored the goals.

Ben Couvier is just what the Riders need, he can hit like a truck and has some attitude but didn’t find any takers Friday. It seemed like they kept him off the ice late in the game... maybe because they needed him for the next game...Was he born 10 years too late ?

In Beaver Valley the Riders won 6-5 in a back and forth game that team leading scorer  Kort Kisinger (1G2A) managed to tie up at 5-5 on the PP with 6 just minutes left. 

Jake Oviatt’s (2G1A) second goal of the game in overtime was the game winner. The other scorers were Dayton Nelson (1G1A) Kolby Hennessy, and Scott Sinclair. Ethan MacDuff had 3 assists and Kyle Klein had an A on the GW

Dylan Lacroix was named as the first star, he had 54 shots... 25 in the third... 15 skaters on  back to back games will do that to you

Next weekend will be a tough one, on the road in Kimberley .

BV Game

Shorthanded Riders win in Creston but drop two to Kimberley

 The Ghostriders lost both Kimberley games, 6-4 with an empty net goal  then 7-3 at home but then rebounded on the road in Creston with a 4-2 win. 

Notebook

The Riders went into Creston with just 14 skaters because of injuries, maybe (they don’t mark players as injured on the website and no one makes them) Well this "is" Jr B ... anyway they battled hard and earned a fantastic shorthanded  4-2 W. See the Rider Creston lineup here

Coaches hate a 14 player roster but players love the ice time...

Jesse Schindel got his first win in net, this is great it would be an advantage to be able to rest Dylan Lacroix once in a while

Jake Oviatt doesn’t always get to play but but when he does he always does something to make me notice him . Oviatt scored in Kimberley,  had two including the game winner in Creston and was named the first star. He’s no good at selling 50/50 anyway I never won even once 

Seventeen year old D Man Hayden Grabas scored his first of the season in Creston. That should help this first year player's confidence 

Scott Sinclair scored the other goal in Creston. Sinclair is nineteen and plays like it, solid, and is arguably FG’s best all around D

Dayton Nelson had his nine game goal scoring streak end at home vs the KD. He didn’t play in Creston...he was slashed in the hand Wednesday, injured?

The Riders exchanged power play goals with Kimberley, they scored 4 in Kimberley and K scored 4 in Fernie... they also exchanged Match Penalties. 

Sean Jacobs took a head shot match after KD Russell ran the goalie (3 game suspension) and KD Matt Saretsky was Matched after a wrestling a player down then repeatedly punching him while he was down. The suspension hasn’t been posted yet but it would be season long  if I was in charge... but Kimberley knows how to lobby the league to make it Fernie’s fault,  Stuart already blamed Fernie for everything in the newspaper. 

And finally... 

But we never thought of this

Because of Grand Forks poor record the first place team in the Neil Murdoch Division will play the last place team in our division . Right now that is Golden... imagine fighting all year for first (Nelson right now) then having to spend a fortune on travel in the playoffs when you could have played Castlegar. Beaver Valley (2nd place) is laughing all the way to the bank. 

If it comes to a Governors vote to change it I know how BV votes

Explanation

• In the Eddie Mountain division, the top four teams shall qualify with the first round consisting of series between EM1/EM4 and EM2/EM3
• In the Neil Murdoch Division, the top three teams shall qualify with the first round consisting of series between NM1/WC1 and NM2/NM3
• The team with the superior record between the fourth-placed team in the Murdoch Division and the fifth-placed team in the Mountain Division shall qualify as the Wild Card qualifier (WC1) and be assigned the fourth seed in the Neil Murdoch Division.