Postgame: Nitehawks - 7 Rebels - 3

Game 6 of 8 between Castlegar and Beaver Valley was extremely important as CG held a 4-1 season series lead and if BV wanted to have any chance of tying the series (possibly important come playoff time), tonight was it.

In their 3rd game in 3 nights, I half expected to see slow legs to start this game. I couldnt have been further from the truth! BV came out with jump and speed from the opening faceoff, wasting no time in their assault on the Rebel goal. Justin Niminiken took just 56 seconds to quiet the home crowd and give BV the lead. As expected, it was a rough game and penalties were taken. Niminiken made CG pay for their sins just under 6 mins in, and the Nitehawks jumped out to a lead that the Rebels just havent allowed in the last 12 games. BV would take that 2-goal lead into the break.

True to his first period form, and improving on it a bit, Niminiken took just 47 seconds this time and suddenly BV has a 3 goal lead that has the Castlegar crowd dead quiet (well, their side at least). Again, Rebels take penalties, and again, Niminiken makes them pay! With his 4th goal, not just on the night, but in a row, Nims gives BV a 4-goal lead. Cue the battle! An unbelievable fight at center ice between Josh Peters and Braydon Horcoff that lasted close to a minute. This was no wrestling match, it was fist pumping action the whole time! Peters got the jump early on and was serving samiches furiously, but Horcoff hung in there and served some of his own near the end. Even though I'm biased, I still have to call this a draw as it was entertaining as hell! More CG penalties and guess who?....no, NOT Nims lol (would have been cool though eh?)...this time it was Derek Lashuk with a rocket from the point, again on the pp and Nitehawk fans are losing it in the stands with a unprecedented 5-0 lead on the Rebels still a minute and a half shy of the halfway point of the second! With a lead like that, what team doesnt slide into protect mode? BV owned the first 30 minutes of this game, but took a step back after the 5th goal and allowed CG to start pressing. 'Big" Mike Vlanich held steady turning away all shots until a squeaker got past him with 1:33 remaining in the second and the Rebels on the pp. OK, 5-1, still pretty good. No, wait, 5-2.....what? With 5 seconds left, Robinson pulled a puck wide on a rebound and wristed it past Vlanich to give CG the momentum heading into the third.

Castlegar carried that momentum and pushed. BV bent, but did not break. Vlanich made some saves are truly HON candidates! Bryan Hinchcliffe hushed the CG faithfuls with almost 8 mins to go and the Ryan Edwards shut them up completely just 34 seconds after and suddenly its 7-2 BV! Brantley Schapansky and Nolan Kinney (apologies for the mix-up on twitter) dropped gloves off the ensuing face-off and it was over before i finished tweeting the previous goal. One punch and Kinney was licking snow. Things started getting a bit chippy nearer the end, but Ref Dasti kept control and removed the culprits. Just like the end of the second, Robinson scored with only seconds remaining to make the final score 7-3 BV.

Game Stars: for some reason, they are never chosen in CG, so I will chose my own.

BV - Justin Niminiken 4G 1A
BV - Mason Spear 3A
BV - Mike Vlanich


Yesterday was Justin Niminiken's birthday, so I would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY and congratulations on your first career hat-trick (and 4-goal game)(make sure he reads this boys)!! With the win, the Nitehawks snapped a 12-game Rebel win streak, and a 4-game losing streak TO the Rebels themselves. Next game is at home on Tuesday, January 24th at 7pm when we host the ever threatening Grand Forks Border Bruins!!

I wont go into anything regarding officiating, as I believed tonight to be a very well handled affair. I do, however, believe that the KIJHL needs to look into the possibility of a 2-ref system to help eliminate the animosity that is being created with the crowds. Across the league, game attendance is dropping and many pbp guys and analysts that ive spoken with attribute it in part to poor officiating. Just some food for thought for any league officials that may happen to read this :)