The Columbia Valley Rockies hit the road Friday night for a key in-division showdown against the second place Creston Valley Thunder Cats and returned home with a statement victory.
The Rockies set the tone early when Johnny Lozeman buried the game’s opening goal in the first period, finishing a crisp setup from Carter Velker and Harrison Todd. Creston pushed back in the second, capitalizing on a power play to even the score as the teams skated into the third locked at 1–1.
The final frame turned into a late offensive surge one the Rockies controlled. At 15:44, Luke Masters broke the deadlock on the power play, converting a feed from Velker and Daniel Betcher to put Columbia Valley ahead 2-1. From there, the Rockies executed perfectly with the Creston net empty.
First, Cole King found the back of the net on a heads-up play assisted by Peter Godley, and moments later Evin Bossel added another empty-netter to stretch the lead to 4-1. Creston managed a late goal with 34 seconds remaining, but the Rockies slammed the door 13 seconds later when Isaac Sommer scored to seal a commanding 5-2 victory.
Back home at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena on Saturday, the Rockies hosted the Castlegar Rebels in a spirited matchup. Lozeman continued his standout weekend, striking on the power play in the first period off a setup from Todd and Parker Cutts.
Just 58 seconds into the second, Lozeman struck again, another power-play marker this time assisted by Todd and Betcher, giving the Rockies a 2-0 cushion. Castlegar clawed one back late in the period and after a tight checking third in which the Rebels scored the lone goal, the teams headed to overtime tied 2-2.
In the extra frame, it was Castlegar who found the winner, handing the Rockies a tough 3-2 OT loss, but not before Columbia Valley showed grit, structure, and resilience in a back-and-forth contest. The Rockies also celebrated major achievements this week, recognizing Ethan Cerone, Carter Velker, Carter Hensch, and Johnny Lozeman for reaching the 100 game mark in the KIJHL.
Ethan Cerone also earned a league spotlight of his own, being named the Syndicate Player of the month for October – a testament to his consistency, work ethic, and impact at both ends of the ice.
Lozeman who not only hit the milestone but delivered a three goal weekend reflected on both the team’s progress and his personal accomplishment, “Thought we played two pretty good games, the better of the two against Creston. But I feel like we are trending in the right direction.” On reaching 100 games in the league Lozeman added, “It really flys by, feels like yesterday I was playing my first game. But just grateful to have been able to spend this much time in the league and in Invermere.”
The Rockies return to home ice on Friday December 5, when they host the Merritt Centennials and this one is more than just hockey.
The game will be held in partnership with the Christmas Bureau of the Columbia Valley. Fans are encouraged to bring socks, mittens, or cash donations to support local families in need. Everyone who donates will be entered to win a Rockies Prize Pack.
Puck drop is 7 p.m.come out, pack the Eddie and support your Columbia Valley Rockies while helping support the community this holiday season!
Picture submitted by Sarah Rae Murray – Official Photographer Columbia Valley Rockies Junior A Hockey Club. @serra.studio.cv
