KIJHL Championship Final Games 1 & 2

(BV leads series 2-0)

Game 1: Chiefs 2 - Nitehawks 4
Game 2: Chiefs 1 - Nitehawks 7

Well, who saw this coming?...we did of course!! After a somewhat slow game 1, the Nitehawks gave the Chiefs something to think about in game 2.

Game 1:

 After being idle-ish for the better part of a week, it was evident that both teams had some rust to work out. It took until the 16 minute mark of the first period to finally get a goal from either team. Craig Martin was the recipient of a play that was a thing of beauty.  Chris Derochie and Dallas Calvin gained the offensive zone on the power play with Martin in tow. It happened so fast that every one was in awe as Derochie passed to Calvin who one-timed to Martin who, in turn, one-timed it into the back of the net. Both teams had a goal disallowed and BV took that lead into the intermission with spirits high. Second period proved to be faster and more exciting. Kelowna started the frame on the power play and they took no time to make it count. Dane Rupert tipped a TJ Dumonceaux shot from literally 2 feet out, or less, and it went up...FAST slipping in just under the bar. So, tied 1-1, the two teams played catch with the puck for a while until the 7 minute mark when the CCR line kicked in to retake the lead on a goal by Ryan Edwards. Merely :59 later, Tyler Collins buried a Justin Niminiken feed to make it 3-1 BV before the period is 9 minutes old. With :21 left in the period, Rupert gets his 2nd of the game on an absolutely perfect shot that beat Vlanich high glove and then lodged in the net just under the bar. Celebrations were delayed as the ref hadnt made a call until he finally caught up and found the puck. BV took the 3-2 lead into the 3rd that was nothing short of dull. As I said, they needed to grind off some rust and it was clear the first 2 periods took a lot out of both sides as things slowed way down. It wasnt until the last minute with the Kelowna net empty before we finally decided things as Derochie backhanded a clearing pass and aimed just right as it hit the back of the Chiefs net to give BV the 4-2 win and take a 1-0 series advantage.

In his very first shift of the game, Dallas Calvin suffered an injury that lit his fire for the remainder of the game. He caught his hand on of the stanchions and dislocated a finger. If you are the least bit squeemish, I dont recommend you look, but you can view the carnage here.

Game Stars: 

BV - Dallas Calvin - 2A
BV - Mike Vlanich - 31/33
KC - Tyler O'Donnell - 30/33


Game 2:

Kelowna came out with a lot more jump for game 2, but so did the Nitehawks. BV held pressure for the first 5 mins until a lost face-off in the Hawks zone lead to Kelowna opening the scoring on a point shot from Tre Mason that beat a very screened Zach Perehudoff. It would turn out to be the only rubber to see the Nitehawks net as BV rattled off 7 unanswered, starting with Dallas Calvin, who with a tonne of patience, out-waited the statue of David before dishing off to Tyler Collins who had nothing but cage to shoot at. Minutes later, 6 to be exact, Calvin again goes to work. This time on the power play, and with a rocket that Sami Salo would give the ol' smiling nod to, gives the Nitehawks the lead they wouldn't relinquish. Nick Perez would get one of his own before the period ended and BV took the 3-1 lead into the second.

Despite the speed of Kelowna, they couldnt manage to crack the Hawks defense. On the rare occasion that they managed to get to the net, Perehudoff was there to stymy them. Just past the mid point of the period, Perez would get his 2nd of the game on the power play and with 6:12 remaining, Jake Lucchini would step out of the box to accept a Ryan Edwards pass and deked out Wilkinson for a 5-1 BV lead after 2. ODonnell was replaced by Wilkinson to start the second, but oddly the change went unnoticed by myself until partway through the 3rd....ooops.

The third was a more even period with BV falling into a defensive position. That didnt stop Calvin. With fire still burning from the owee the night before, he was a dominant figure throughout the majority of the game but really lit it up in the third scoring 2 more goals and making it look...well... easy! BV wins it in a wash, 7-1.


Game Stars:

BV - Dallas Calvin - 3G 2A
BV - Jake Lucchini - 1G 1A
BV - Zach Perehudoff - 24/25

With the hat-trick and 2 assists, Dallas Calvin was once again the prominant figure on the KIJHL websites "Who's Hot in the KI" section and the games first star for the second game in a row. The line of Martin, Derochie , and Edwards (CCR) have combined for 10 points in the 2 games so far. While they have not been the forefront attention getters, they are doing what they have been doing all year, and that's putting points on the board!

I actually have nothing bad to say about either ref so far, as Dasti did his job in game 1 even though that rarely called "closing hand on the puck" in the last minute against BV was a bit ridiculous even if it was a valid penalty. Game 2 say Maniago and while we all cringe, I was impressed with the fact that nothing was called that really shouldnt have been. Ya, he missed a bunch against BV, but the one ref system doesnt allow them to see all the ice all the time. No, I am not sucking up...lol... I call it as I see it, and I saw a decent game.

Games 3 and 4 are in Kelowna on Saturday and Sunday. I'm torn between a sweep and one final game here so I get to see the boys win it. I wont be able to travel due to work commitments so will be wholly dependent on updates from those that ARE going!! Good luck boys, bring home that banner!!

14 wins down, only 2 to go......lets book that trip to CTC 2012!!!