Kootenay Conference Final - Games 1 & 2

(series tied 1-1)

Game 1: Ghostriders 2 - Nitehawks 5
Game 2: Ghostriders 6 - Nitehawks 3

After watching an action packed exciting series like the Division final, so far this has been almost tedious. Neither team were out to play in game 1, but several lucky bounces and perhaps some distracted play by Solecki, allowed BV to jump out to a 5-0 lead before Fernie battled back to make it a 5-2 final. Game 2 saw BV with the same sloppy passing and general lack of urgency while the Ghostriders found their legs and outplayed the Hawks.

Game 1: With only one really potent shift that had dominant control through 20 minutes, it was truly surprising to see BV with a 2-0 lead on goals from Chris Derochie and Arie Postmus. Period 2 wasnt a whole lot better as BV was out-shot 14-9, but scored 3 goals on those 9 shots. A pair from Craig Martin and a solo bid from Mason Spear gave BV a highly misleading 5-0 lead before Connor McLaughlin finally poked one home on the power play to ruin the shut-out for Zach Perehudoff. Stefen Seel got the only goal of the third in the first minute and despite their efforts, were unable to pull any closer allowing BV to escape with the win.

Game Stars:

BV - Chris Derochie 1G 2A
BV - Craig Martin 2G 1A
FG - Connor McLaughlin 1G 1A

Game 2: To no-ones surprise, Fernie got their act together and finally started playing. For the second  game in a row, BV looked like a tired, non-commited team. FG took advantage and opened the scoring 7 minutes in on a goal by Connor McLaughlin. Dallas Calvin answered on the power play with under 5 to go in period one to keep BV even. Fernie took the lead once again very shortly into the second on a great patience play by Brendan Burge only to have that lead evaporate on the ensuing face-off when Max Flanagan took just 8 seconds to tie it up. Then, the point shot started getting through. Marty Wicks potted two slappers in just over 3 minutes as Fernie edged out to a 4-2 lead before Dallas Calvin got one back for BV. Patrick Webb restored the two goal Fernie lead on another point shot before the period was out. Once again, BV was unable to score in the third period even though the out-shot FG 14-5 and McLaughlin nets his 2nd into the empty net to seal the 6-3 win for Fernie and a 1-1 tie in the series heading back to Fernie on Tues., and Wed. nights.

Game Stars:

FG - Marty Wicks 2G
FG - Connor McLaughlin 2G
FG - Brendan Burge 1G

This series could very well have been 2-0 for Fernie due to the play of BV on both nights. Had FG been playing in game one like they did in game two, then this is a different series. As it stands, BV has their work cut out for them to pick it up and play like they know how to and not like a team that looks indifferent. Fernie will not lay down and give this up easily.

The officiating in both games was not bad actually. Sure stuff got missed, some stuff was a bit suspect, but in all reality, neither team played well enough to have the officials be a mitigating factor in either game. And aside from a pre-game conversation with Maniago(see 'The Official Response'), he was surprisingly neutral.