It was a special weekend in Invermere as the Columbia Valley Rockies hosted their annual Parents Weekend, a cherished event that celebrates the families behind the players who lace up every night for Junior A hockey.
Before Friday night’s puck drop the crowd rose to its feet as each player’s parents took to the ice wearing their sons’ jerseys; sharing a proud and emotional moment under the arena lights. Cameras flashed, cheers echoed, and it was clear this weekend was about more than hockey; it was about family, community, and the journey that makes it all possible.
Once the puck dropped the action was fast and furious. The Rockies squared off against the Fernie Ghostriders, outshooting and outplaying their rivals all night but coming up just short in heartbreaking fashion.
After a scoreless first period, the Rockies broke through midway through the second with a powerplay goal by Johnny Lozeman, assisted by Harrison Todd and Parker Cutts. The crowd roared, sensing momentum on the home side. Early in the third, however, Fernie found the equalizer before Ethan Cerone restored the Rockies’ lead, finishing a slick setup from Carter Velker and Peter Godley.
The drama peaked in the final minute when Fernie, with their goalie pulled, capitalized on a bad bounce to tie the game. In overtime a turnover at the blue line sent the Ghostriders in alone and they buried the game winner to steal a 3-2 victory. Despite the result, the Rockies dominated the stat sheet, outshooting Fernie 47-25 and controlling play throughout.
Before the puck drop on Saturday, the Rockies also held a Remembrance Day ceremony to honour those who served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice. Veterans, members, and Cadets from the Royal Canadian Legion Windermere District Branch 71 were present as honour guard, presenting the colours of Canada and British Columbia on the red carpet to centre ice in a moving tribute.
Saturday night saw the Rockies back in action against the Golden Rockets, determined to turn the tide. The energy carried over from the previous night, and the home squad came out flying. Daniel Betcher opened the scoring in the first period, converting a crisp feed from Evin Bossel and Carter Hensch. The Rockies owned the opening frame, dictating pace and play.
But the tone changed in the second as the game turned physical and chippy. Both sides took frequent trips to the penalty box, and Golden used the chaos to their advantage, clawing back and pulling away to secure a 4–1 win.
After the weekend, Head Coach Tucker Braund reflected on both the highs and lessons learned: “We had a nice time with our families and it was good to have everyone out here to see their kids playing Junior A hockey a lot of them for the first time,” said Braund. “We have a group that needs to learn how to win and how important that is to this organization. I really liked our game Friday night. It didn’t go our way and that sucked a lot but we need to figure out how to get the job done in the end. Saturday’s game started really well and some bad penalties ended up being the difference. We showed our inexperience there with the discipline, but we know what we need to be better at.”
Despite the tough results the weekend was a memorable success off the ice highlighted by the Rockies’ growing family atmosphere and community spirit.
The club also proudly announced Sarah Rae Murray as the team’s official photographer. Sarah, the creative force behind Serra Studio, brings a deep love of storytelling and an artistic eye to capturing the Rockies’ season. Her work celebrates the beauty of the Columbia Valley — from wildlife and nature to the everyday magic of life in the community. When she’s not behind the lens, Sarah co-founded Valley Shiners, a local premium window-cleaning crew. Fans can follow her work on Instagram at @serra.studio.cv
Though the scoreboard didn’t reflect their effort, the Rockies’ Parents Weekend was a powerful reminder of the heart that drives this team a mix of pride, perseverance, and community that will carry them forward as the season rolls on.
Come out and support the Rockies as the homestand continues next weekend!
The team is back in action Friday night, November 14, against the Fernie Ghostriders, and again Saturday, November 15, versus the Sicamous Eagles. Both games start at 7:00p.m. at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena. Let’s pack the barn and cheer on your Columbia Valley Rockies!
