April 7/26
Beaver Valley Nitehawks (4) at Kimberley Dynamiters (5) OT
Dynamiters win series 4-0
Toren Fron scored the series clinching goal with his third of the playoffs 3:59 into overtime. The Dynamiters advance to the KIJHL Championship, which they last competed for in the 2022-23 season.
“Fronner made up for that penalty late in the third period by going to the net hard,” said Dynamiters head coach-general manager Derek Stuart.
Fron had also assisted on the 3-3 goal by Nathan Laforge. Johnny Lozeman had two assists, including on Fron’s winner, while Adam Kisilevich made 24 saves on 28 shots.
Brady Magarrell had two goals and four points for the Nitehawks, setting up Ryan Neufeld’s late tying goal to force overtime. Karsten Hugenholtz made 25 saves for Beaver Valley.
“It was an incredible game,” he said. “Two exhausted teams battling for the fourth time in five days. It’s exciting to be back in the finals, but we’re going to enjoy being Kootenay Conference champions for a few days first.”
Princeton Posse (4) at Williams Lake Mustangs (1)
Posse win series 4-0
Paul Vanden Elzen had two key assists for the Posse as he set up the equalizing goal by Justice Loewen and the winner by Bryton Morrow at 8:19 of the second period.
“Paul was great for us,” said Posse head coach-general manager Colin Minardi. “He’s so steady and calm on the back end. Sometimes he goes under appreciated for us, so it’s awesome to see him get on the scoresheet.”
The Posse’s top offensive trio went to work on the insurance goal as Loewen and Morrow set up Will Bell for his 10th of the playoffs. Gibson Horne made 14 saves, allowing a goal to Keenan Holland early into the first period. Alex Jessey stopped 27 of 30 shots for Williams Lake.
“I thought once we got our forecheck going, we were able to generate offence,” said Minardi. “We kept them to the outside for the most part and really limited their chances.”
The win advances the Posse to the KIJHL Championship to face the Dynamiters in a rematch of the 2023 championship, which the Dynamiters won.
April 6/26
Beaver Valley Nitehawks (1) at Kimberley Dynamiters (3)
Dynamiters lead series 3-0
Thanks to a two-goal effort by Jaden Rusznak (10), the Dynamiters are a win away from advancing to the KIJHL championship. Adam Kisilevich stopped 25 of 26 shots, allowing a goal to Brady Walker (5) at 13:43 of the second period, while Luke Davies set up the winner, then scored the empty-net goal to secure the win. Landan Uzeloc made 32 saves for Beaver Valley.
“We battled hard and limited our mistakes and were able to lock it down in the third period,” Dynamiters head coach-general manager Derek Stuart after allowing six shots. “Davies is a warrior. His effort and compete level was excellent.”
Attendance was 1,138 at the Kimberley Civic Centre.
Princeton Posse (4) at Williams Lake Mustangs (2)
Posse lead the series 3-0
Gibson Horne made 24 saves and has the Posse a win away from advancing to its second KIJHL championship. Will Bell had a goal and an assist for Princeton – he set up Bryton Morrow’s winner 32 seconds into the third period for his 11th of the playoffs. JP Desabrais scored his eighth of the playoffs for Williams Lake.
“I thought our forecheck was extremely impactful. We were able to create a lot from it,” said Posse head coach-general manager Colin Minardi.
On Horne:
“He’s tracking pucks so well. He’s battling on everything. He has been exceptional all playoffs and has made some huge saves early and kept us in it when we had a bit of a lull in the second period.”
The Mustangs had a crowd of 1,265 at the Cariboo Memorial Rec Complex.
April 4/26
Kimberley Dynamiters (4) at Beaver Valley Nitehawks (3)
Dynamiters lead series 2-0
Carter Coutu led the Dynamiters with two goals (4) and three points in their win over the Nitehawks. He set up Nate Tillmanns winner with four minutes remaining in the third period. Adam Kisilevich stopped 25 of 28 shots for Kimberley. Brady Walker led the Nitehawks with two goals (4) and Karsten Hugenholtz made 32 saves for Beaver Valley.
“We battled hard,” said Dynamiters head coach-general manager Derek Stuart. “Carter was a force out there tonight. He was the best player on the ice.”
Williams Lake Mustangs (3) at Princeton Posse (4)
Posse lead the series 2-0
Jace Shuttleworth had another big performance for the Posse helping them take a 2-0 series lead over the Mustangs with a goal and three points. He set up the winner short-handed by Jalen McRae at 5:49 of the third period.
“Jace was big again for us,” said Posse head coach-general manager Colin Minardi. “He ended up forcing a turnover on the penalty-kill and showed a ton of poise behind their goal to set up Jalen.”
Gibson Horne was strong, making 26 saves for Princeton. JP Desabrais scored his seventh of the playoffs and set up Chaz Lucas for his seventh goal, while Asher Lucas had two assists. Jaxson Dikur made 31 saves for the Mustangs.
“Give Williams Lake credit tonight, I thought they were the better team,” he said. “We found ways to capitalize, but we can’t play like that and expect to win a series.”
April 3/26
Kimberley Dynamiters (4) at Beaver Valley Nitehawks (1)
Dynamiters lead series 1-0
After allowing the opening goal to Maddox Gandha of the Nitehawks six minutes into the game, the Dynamiters responded with the equalizer midway through the first, then the deciding goal short-handed in the second period. That goal was scored by Brayden Schwartz (5) 3:16 into the period. The Dynamiters then beat Karsten Hugenholtz with the insurance goal on the power-play by Toren Fron (2) at 11:45 of the third period. Hugenholtz finished with 24 saves, while Adam Kisilevich made 33 for Kimberley.
Dynamiters head coach-general manager Derek Stuart said they weren’t very good.
“Our penalty-kill (6-for-6) was great and we were able to steal one,” he said.
Williams Lake Mustangs (1) at Princeton Posse (4)
Posse lead the series 1-0
Asher Lucas opened the scoring for the Mustangs late in the first period on the power-play, then the Posse scored four straight goals. Jace Shuttleworth assisted on the tying goal, then started the play to set up Will Bell’s winner.
“Shuttleworth is a leader for us every night, but I thought he was really dialed in a lot of ways,” said Posse head coach-general manager Colin Minardi. “He’s one of those guys that drags others into the fight and he was doing that again tonight.”
Justice Loewen gave the Posse a 4-1 lead with a short-handed goal eight seconds into the third period with his 11th of the playoffs. Gibson Horne made 29 saves for the Posse, while Jaxson Dikur made 33 saves for Willams Lake.
Minardi felt his team played fairly well.
“There were moments where our execution wasn’t where we’d like it to be, but I’m proud of our group for the way they competed,” he said.
