Friday night hockey returned to the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena with all the noise, speed, and grit that Columbia Valley fans could ask for, as the Junior A Rockies continued their November homestand against the always dangerous Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
And while the final score tilted 6-3 in favour of the visitors, the Rockies delivered a spirited effort that had the home crowd on its feet from puck drop to the last whistle.
Beaver Valley struck first capitalizing early to quiet the building but not for long. The response from Columbia Valley was immediate and electric. Evin Bossel buried the equalizer after a slick sequence from Peter Godley and Reid Slugoski, sending a roar through the rink. Bossel wasn’t done either. Five minutes later he wired home his second of the night, this time set up by Carter Hensch and Slugoski to give the Rockies a well earned 2-1 lead after a commanding, high pressure first period.
But hockey can turn fast and the second period proved treacherous. The Nitehawks struck four times during a stretch where the Rockies struggled to manage the defensive zone suddenly flipping the game to 5-2. Columbia Valley clawed back late in the frame when Pheonix Flett snapped one home from Caden Williams and Godley cutting the deficit to two heading into the third.
Despite a strong push and several prime scoring chances the Rockies couldn’t beat the red hot Beaver Valley goaltender in the final period. With the home net empty in the dying minutes, the Nitehawks sealed the result with an insurance marker to make it 6-3.
After the game, Head Coach Tucker Braund offered a clear-eyed assessment of the night:
“We started the game how we wanted to play the first period jumped on them, played great, had lots of shots and lots of opportunities. We have to learn how to play with a lead. Took too many chances in period two looking for offence and we need to defend better. It’s something we are working at; our group is solid. We have a good goalie duo and good older players. Some of our young guys are learning how the D-zone works in junior hockey and that you have to play 60 minutes. You can’t take a shift off.
I thought we battled hard in the third period and had our chances to make it a one goal game and even could have tied it if we converted some chances. Beaver Valley is a good team and we can learn how they never take a shift off. Some bounces go our way early and it’s a different game. Our effort was there and it was way better than the weekend before. But we aren’t looking for sympathy wins, we’re looking for the two points and it starts with winning each line’s shift and going from there.”
The Rockies now shift focus to a key divisional test on the road Friday, November 28, when they visit the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
Then it’s back home for another big night at the Eddie Mountain Memorial arena Saturday, November 29 at 7 p.m., when the Rockies host the Castlegar Rebels. Fans are encouraged to pack the barn, bring the energy and help push the home team toward two crucial points as the season heats up.
