It was an emotional and energetic weekend at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena as the Columbia Valley Rockies hosted the Kimberley Dynamiters in front of a loud hometown crowd Friday night. While the scoreboard tilted 6-4 in favour of the visitors, the evening marked a new chapter for the Rockies; the official announcement of Tucker Braund as the team’s new Head Coach and General Manager.
Braund, who has been a valued part of the Rockies’ coaching staff, now steps into the top role with energy, vision, and a strong connection to both the players and the Columbia Valley community. We’re confident he will continue to guide the team with the same pride and commitment that define the Rockies program.
The game itself was a rollercoaster of momentum and heart. Kimberley jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before Daniel Betcher notched his second of the season to get the Rockies on the board, assisted by Johnny Lozeman and Jack Miller. The Dynamiters added one more to end the first period up 4-1.
The second period saw both teams trade goals, with Isaac Sommer, scoring against his former club finding the back of the net for Columbia Valley with help from Karson Schick. The Dynamiters responded again, and the middle frame ended 5-2 for the visitors.
The Rockies came out flying in the third, showing the kind of fight and determination that Coach Braund has been preaching. Peter Godley struck early at the 2:55 mark, assisted by Ethan Cerone, to pull the home team closer. Then, on the power play, Lukas Masters lit the lamp, with Cerone and Carter Hensch collecting helpers. Despite the late surge, the Dynamiters were able to take a 6-4 win.
After the game, Coach Braund reflected on his first weekend at the helm, “I was really happy with our effort after a long week. The guys gave it their all. Confidence right now is a little low, and we’re working on building that back up and having better starts to games. We’re confident in our group; we just need to focus on some small details and start to see the bounces go our way.”
The Rockies faithful have a lot to look forward to as Braund takes the reins. With his leadership and the team’s continued determination, the Rockies are ready to climb higher as they move deeper into the season.
The Rockies hit the road for a three-game swing starting Friday, October 31, with stops in Spokane, Grand Forks, and Castlegar. Fans can catch all the action live on FloHockey.
