The Summerland Steam are in Fernie Saturday night at 7:30 for their one and only visit to the Fernie Memorial this year. The Riders played their crossover game in Summerland on September 21st and lost 3-1. It was a bit of a tough schedule as it was the Riders third game in 3 days…on opening weekend.
Both Fernie and Summerland had identical 5-1 records after last weekend and both teams have scored more goals than they have allowed. Summerland is a +17 while Fernie sits at +14. The Steam won both of their games last weekend in a home and home with North Okanagan. 3-1 on the road and 6-1 at home. They are in Kimberley Friday night, knock your selves out boys.
The Ghostriders won both of their games last weekend with convincing 5-1 and 6-3 wins. The 5-1 win was on the road in Invermere where they scored four in the first then bared the door the rest of the way.
The Ghostriders defeated Golden 6-3 in their home opener last Saturday. Goalie Jeff Orser only saw 26 shots but had to be pretty sharp on a few them. The Riders led for most of the game but it was closer than it probably should have been considering some of the unfinished great chances and 37 shots they had. The Riders get to play in Golden on Friday.
Ghostrider Notebook
Although the Rockies haven’t won a game they still managed to equal the Riders in shots at 31. Is that a bit of a red flag ? Or did the Riders back off a bit when ahead 4-1 at the end of the first. I think the pressure was off… Anyway, Brandon Butler with a .950 save % got his second win of the year in the Rider net in that game.
David Kelly was the Coaches Practice Player of the Week. He’s coming along just fine this season after breaking his leg last year and missing the last half of the season.
Josh McCulloch scored 3 goals last weekend and now leads the Riders in scoring with 5 goals and 7 points in 6 games. That should help his confidence, which is a big part of the game. The next two players may have gotten some of the same last week as well.
Joel Burgess got off to a bit of a slow start this year but had 3 goals last week; he also has 24 in your face PIM.
Assistant captain Aaron Neufeld led the team in scoring last season and was the coaches pick for Player of the Week. Aaron had his first 3 points in Invermere, can he keep it up is the question all the fans are asking.
And hasn’t Zak Kutchler been a nice surprise since coming here a few games into the season, good all around D.
Quietly sneaking up the scoring list is Justin Peers who is playing at a point a game clip and was the finisher of the next story.
Cole Keebler was a point a game player last year before succumbing to a season ending injury that required surgery to fix, he had 3 points in his first 2 games since being allowed to play again and was part of the three way passing play on the Peers goal along with Cavin Tilsley (98) that was the goal of the week vs Golden. I can never see enough of goals like that !
Colby Burns was traded to Sicamous where their GM really wanted him…he should get more ice time than he was getting in Fernie. Aidan Geiger was outright released last week but moves well enough that he should show up somewhere? He’s got family in Kimbo and his father even played there at one time… but coach Bancks seems to be set at the forward position having scored 28 goals, hey wait a minute… Osoyoos has 43….
Coach Mohr says new Calgary defenseman/ forward Evan Reid could not get carded last week but should be ready for the games this weekend.
Coach Mohr also tells me that 16 yr old Kyle Haugo (above) has made the team and is here for the rest of the year now…buy a house Kyle!
The Riders had 3 unassisted goals vs Golden–they pass the puck well and don’t seem to play as individuals. Credit to coach Craig Mohr, not all coaches are so honest.
