The Columbia Valley Rockies wrapped up their regular season with a classic home and home battle against the Golden Rockets and while the standings may have already been settled, the intensity certainly wasn’t.
With a playoff berth secured and eyes firmly set on the postseason the Rockies used the weekend to balance rest and opportunity. Friday night at the “Plywood Palace” in Golden Columbia Valley showcased both its depth and its future in a 5-3 victory.
It didn’t take long for the youth movement to make noise.
Sixteen year old affiliate Mason Alexander opened the scoring with his first KIJHL goal finishing a play from Brendan Reeve to put the Rockies up early. Just 60 seconds later Caden Williams found the twine off a slick setup from Lachlan Hanton and Peter Godley stunning the home crowd and giving Columbia Valley a 2-0 lead after one.
The Rockies kept their foot on the gas in the second. At 2:47 Reeve buried one from Josh Larson and Alexander, extending the lead. Minutes later Hanton added another courtesy of Larson and Godley as Columbia Valley’s depth lines continued to roll.
Golden answered with a push of their own but the Rockies weren’t done. At 14:02 Larson finished off a play from Alexander and Chance Cole to restore the three goal cushion. The Rockets struck late in the period but the Rockies headed into the second intermission firmly in control, leading 5-2.
The home side added one more with 45 seconds remaining in regulation after pulling their goalie and pressing hard but the Rockies closed it out 5-3.
Head Coach Tucker Braund liked what he saw Friday night.
“Good game Friday, hard fought. Mason Alexander our 16 year old affiliated player scored his first KIJHL goal and had three points. He had a really strong game and it was good to see his hard work pay off. Ryan Tamelin played well, making some key saves.”
Saturday night back at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena was a different story.
In their final regular season game on home ice the Rockets came out with something to prove, scoring five unanswered goals through the first two periods. It was clear Golden hadn’t forgotten Friday’s result.
The Rockies finally found their legs in the third. Just 22 seconds in, Ethan Cerone lit the lamp from Peter Godley and Danil Timchuk to ignite the crowd. Moments later Cole King converted a setup from Cerone and Harrison Todd cutting into the deficit and giving the Eddie faithful something to cheer about.
But the comeback bid came too late and the Rockets skated away with a 5-2 win.
“Saturday was not as good,” Braund admitted. “Golden came out hard and they were pissed off. We beat them in Golden. We tried battling back in the third but a little too late for sure. We are getting geared up starting Monday for playoffs. That’s our focus now and we are excited for the challenge.”
Before puck drop Saturday Piet Mereau was recognized as the Rockies Player of the Month for January sponsored by Syndicate Boardshop and presented by Ken Hann a bright moment on a night that served as a reminder of what playoff hockey demands.
Now the real season begins.
The Rockies open their first round playoff series Friday March 6 in Kimberley against the rival Kimberley Dynamiters. Games 3 and 4 return to Invermere Monday and Tuesday March 9 and 10 at the Eddie.
Puck drops at 7 p.m., and the Rockies will need every ounce of home ice energy.
The regular season is done. The slate is clean. The intensity ramps up.
Rockies playoff hockey is here and it’s time for the valley to rise with them.
