The Columbia Valley Rockies delivered a weekend packed with drama, grit and playoff implications as they grabbed four of a possible six points in a crucial three game stretch in the Eddie Mountain Division.
OT Heroics in Golden
The week kicked off Tuesday night in Golden against the Golden Rockets and the Rockies wasted no time setting the tone. Phoenix Flett opened the scoring, finishing a slick setup from Trae Lees to quiet the home crowd early. The Rockets answered back before the intermission sending the teams to the room deadlocked after one.
The second period turned into a special teams showcase. Peter Godley struck first for the Rockies, wiring one home from Evin Bossel and Luke Lawford. Then the power play went to work. Lawford buried a man advantage marker from Bossel and Lachlan Hanton as the Rockies flexed their offensive depth.
Golden clawed back to force overtime but the extra frame belonged to Columbia Valley. Lachlan Hanton played hero cashing in to silence the building and seal a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory. Two big points in the bank.
Tough Night in Kimberley
Friday night in Kimberley proved to be a sterner test as the Rockies faced the first place Kimberley Dynamiters on home ice.
The Dynamiters opened the scoring in the first and carried a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Things got tougher in the second when the home side struck shorthanded and then piled on three more unanswered goals.
The Rockies showed flashes of pushback. Carter Hensch converted on the power play from Josh Larson and Trae Lees. In the third Peter Godley added another with the man advantage from Ethan Cerone. Parker Cutts followed suit on yet another power play finishing a feed from Cerone and Godley. But Kimberley’s firepower proved too much and the Rockies fell 7-3.
Saturday Night Statement at the Eddie
Saturday night back at Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena was a different story entirely. Starting with recognizing Parker Cutts as the Syndicate Boardshop Player of the month for January.
With the fourth and final playoff spot on the line the Rockies hosted the Creston Valley Thunder Cats in a must win showdown. Creston came out buzzing and struck early but the Rockies answered quickly. Peter Godley evened things up from Ethan Cerone and Parker Cutts.
After the visitors regained the lead Columbia Valley flipped the switch. Phoenix Flett found twine off a feed from Cole King and Harrison Todd. Godley then buried his second of the night from Todd and Cutts, sending the Rockies into the intermission up 3-2.
The second period saw Josh Larson extend the lead finishing a beauty from Godley to ignite a roaring capacity crowd. The Rockies carried a 4-2 edge into the third.
Creston pushed hard in the final frame, narrowing the gap, but the Rockies would not be denied. Backstopped by First Star goaltender Piet Mierau and a committed defensive effort, Columbia Valley locked it down to secure a massive 4–3 victory.
Coach’s Take
Head Coach Tucker Braund summed up the weekend:
“Three games this week; happy to take four out of six possible points. Lots to work on though. We can be happy with the wins but we can also see that there are some things we need to tidy up if we want to have success in the playoffs. Our power play has been clicking which is good to see. Our top players are leading the way and some of our young players are seeing success as well. It’s been a full team effort these last few weeks and I have been overall very happy with how they have played.”
With the dust settled the Rockies now have a stranglehold on fourth place and need just one point in their final three games to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Next up: a return trip to Kimberley on Saturday, February 21 for a rematch with the Dynamiters and another opportunity to prove they’re playoff ready.
Picture submitted by Sarah Rae Murray – Official Photographer Columbia Valley Rockies Junior A Hockey Club. @serra.studio.cv
