The Columbia Valley Rockies hit the highway this week with one goal in mind: stack points and stay in the playoff hunt. After two tough road tests, the Rockies delivered, coming home with 3 of a possible 4 points and plenty of momentum.
Friday night offensive explosion in Chase.
The Rockies came out flying and never took their foot off the gas. Just 1:39 into the game, Mitchell DeCoste found the back of the net to ignite the scoring surge. Chase answered six minutes later on a rare penalty shot, but that would be as close as the Heat would get early. Columbia Valley tilted the ice the rest of the period. Carter Hensch restored the lead on a feed from Lachlan Hanton and Parker Cutts followed by Phoenix Flett striking late in the frame from Trae Lees and Cole King. The Rockies carried a commanding 3-1 lead into the first intermission. Chase pulled one back midway through the second but the Rockies responded immediately and emphatically. Just 17 seconds later Peter Godley went coast to coast for an unassisted marker. Newly acquired Luke Lawford then buried one from Harrison Todd and Evin Bossel before Cerone struck again 34 seconds later, set up by Hanton and Bossel. After 40 minutes the Rockies held a dominant 6-2 advantage. The only goal of the third came on the power play with Parker Cutts finishing off a beautiful feed from Bossel to cap off a statement 7-2 victory and two crucial points.
Saturday Rockies Go Toe to Toe with Kamloops the top team in the league
Saturday night in Kamloops delivered playoff style intensity in a physical showdown with the Storm. The Rockies stunned the home crowd early as Peter Godley wired home his 10th of the season just 47 seconds into the game. Kamloops responded but Parker Cutts answered right back off a feed from Carter Hensch to put Columbia Valley ahead once again. The Storm tied it late in the period, sending both teams to the room deadlocked 2-2. Kamloops grabbed the lead on the power play in the second but the Rockies showed their resilience. Brayden Roe evened the score with a clutch goal off a Phoenix Flett setup. After two periods, it was 3-3. The third saw Kamloops strike again but the Rockies refused to go quietly. On a dynamic breakaway Evin Bossel delivered a highlight-reel moment snapping a bar down rocket to tie the game and force overtime. With nothing settled in regulation both teams secured a point. In the 3 on 3 overtime the Storm capitalized on open ice to notch the game winner handing the Rockies a hard fought 5-4 loss.
Head Coach Tucker Braund was proud of the group’s effort on the road. “Good weekend to go get 3 out of 4 points on a tough road trip,” said Braund. “We battled through some adversity with a long bus ride to Chase but jumped on them quickly and stayed true to our game for 60 minutes. It was nice to see the group score three power play goals and seven in total. “Saturday we played very well against the top team in the league. We jumped out early and battled for 60 minutes. It was a good back and forth game and we were in a position to win it. That’s a big confidence builder going forward. We’re in the hunt for the playoffs and that remains our goal.”
The Rockies hit the road again next Friday with stops in Beaver Valley and Nelson before returning home to Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena on Tuesday, January 27th, when they host the division-leading Kimberley Dynamiters. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM. With playoff hopes heating up expect another electric night at the Eddie. The push is on.
picture credit Erin Taylor
