Round 2 — ding, ding.
The KIJHL Championship resumes tonight. Here’s a look at each series.
Eddie Mountain Division Championship
Kimberley Dynamiters (1) vs. Fernie Ghostriders (2)
The Dynamiters won the regular season series, taking four of six games. Jake Murdoch led Kimberley with six points against Fernie, while Adam Kisilevich earned three wins with a 2.06 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
Jaden Rusznak enters Round 2 leading the Dynamiters with nine points, and Kisilevich has posted a .959 save percentage.
“Our focus is playing style, using our team speed and physicality to our advantage,” said Dynamiters head coach-GM Derek Stuart. “Jake has been great all season. His line with Rusznak and Luke Davies had a strong start in Round 1 and we expect them to keep contributing.”
Carter Velker, who joined the Ghostriders late in the season, had eight points against Kimberley in the regular season. Goalie Kael Svenson won two of three games against Golden with a .932 save percentage. Fernie also saw balanced production, with Liam Breakenridge, Carter Singleton, Coden Fournier and Boston Logan all recording seven points in Round 1.
Ghostriders head coach-GM Chad Scharff said the focus is simple against “a really good hockey club.”
“We’re going to have to be at our best and continue to roll with how we’ve been playing throughout the playoffs,” he said. “Our ability to stick with it and bounce back has been crucial.”
On Breakenridge:
“If you look at the last 10 to 12 games of the regular season and into the playoffs, he’s started to find his touch. He dealt with an injury earlier in the year, but since returning, he’s been our best player. We need guys like him to continue to be good and step up in key situations.”
Neil Murdoch Division Championship
Beaver Valley Nitehawks (1) vs. Grand Forks Border Bruins (2)
The Nitehawks will be looking for payback after last year’s second-round loss to the defending KIJHL champions. Beaver Valley won four of six regular season meetings, with the teams combining for 47 goals. The lone low-scoring game was a 1-0 Border Bruins win.
Nitehawks head coach-GM Terry Jones expects a tight series backed by strong goaltending.
Brady Magarrell enters the matchup with eight goals and nine points, leading the league in goals.
“Mags has been hot, but I’m hoping different players step up and rise to the occasion,” said Jones. “Connor Drake was outstanding in the Spokane series.”
Drake recorded four assists and now has eight points in 22 career playoff games.
Border Bruins head coach-GM Dave Hnatiuk noted the high-scoring regular season meetings were heavily influenced by special teams.
“I think scoring will reflect power plays,” he said.
Devon Boyle leads Grand Forks with seven playoff points, while Austin Tellefson has five goals and six points.
“I expect his play to continue—he’s been consistent all year and had a solid first round,” said Hnatiuk of Tellefson.
The Border Bruins will also get a boost with the return of Brandon Gray, who had 14 points during last season’s championship run.
Bill Ohlhausen Division Championship
Revelstoke Grizzlies (1) vs. Princeton Posse (2)
The Grizzlies won four of five regular season meetings and Jake Neufeld led the way with five goals and seven points, while Austin Seibel went 4-0 with a .930 save percentage.
Neufeld enters Round 2 with eight points, while Walker Overwater has five goals and seven points. Seibel posted a .936 save percentage in the opening round against Merritt.
Grizzlies head coach Jiri Novak is expecting a strong test.
“They’re a really good team with a lot of skilled, offensive players,” he said. “Against Merritt, we learned how to respond in different situations, and I believe we’re prepared. It should be a great series.”
Novak praised Neufeld and Overwater, but emphasized team play.
“We don’t rely on individuals—we want a complete team effort and play the right way.”
For Princeton, division MVP and top scorer Will Bell had six points against Revelstoke in the regular season. He put up 11 points in a seven-game series against Kelowna.
“Will elevates his game in big moments,” said Posse head coach-GM Colin Minardi. “He’s a smart player who makes plays in tight spaces. He’s very comfortable under pressure.”
Minardi expects another challenge.
“We’ll need to play a responsible game, manage pucks at the lines and limit turnovers. Getting to the dirty areas for second and third chances will be key.”
Doug Birks Division Championship
Kamloops Storm (1) vs. Williams Lake Mustangs (2)
Williams Lake won four of five regular season meetings. JP Desabrais and Blake Collison each had eight points in the season series, while Luca D’Amore led Kamloops with five goals and six points.
“We’re looking forward to the series after a hard-fought matchup with Quesnel,” said Mustangs head coach-GM Tyrel Lucas. “I’m proud of how our group battled through adversity, injuries and come-from-behind wins.”
In a tightly contested matchup against Quesnel, Lucas said both goaltenders were strong.
“Dikur gives us a chance to win every game, and we’re confident he’ll continue that.”
Against Quesnel, Dikur recorded a 2.44 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
Storm head coach Andrew Fisher is expecting a battle.
“They’re a well-coached, skilled and structured team. They just came through a tight, exciting series—we expect more of the same.”
Fisher added that while D’Amore led the team in goals against Williams Lake, success will require a full team effort. Nicholas Clark leads the Storm with seven playoff points, while Brenner Fyfe has posted a 1.75 GAA and .925 save percentage.
