The Fernie Ghostriders lost four games to the Columbia Valley Rockies in the first round of the playoffs and that ends their season.
In game one Riders had a 1-0 lead on an Alaister Standen goal in the first but got behind 3-1 in the second before fighting back to tie the game 3-3 when Levi Young and Greg Susinski scored power play goals. In the third the Rockies just plain out worked the Riders and defenceman Greg Parker scored the game winner with just 1:21 left on the clock giving the Rockies a 4-3 lead that they held on to for a game one win.
In a nutshell, the Riders had enough chances to win the game in the first 40 minutes but Bretton Park only allowed three and gave the Rockies the chance to win and they took it.
Gavin Fleck had a goal and an assist, Colby Phillips and Ben Lake scored the other CVR goals.
The Rockies played a good road game and the Riders missed star Forward Seamus Keith who is suspended one more game for a check to the head last Saturday.
The two referees called a few things that would not have been called in a one referee system game. The referees did not determine the outcome of the game.
In game two the Columbia Valley Rockies’ Bretton Park stopped 41 of 42 shots and Erik Lloyd, Tristan Lambert PP and Kyle Lawrence scored the CVR goals and the Rockies now lead the series 2-0 heading back to Invermere on Monday night.
The Riders were out of it for a while but seemed to wake up part way into the second period firing 19 shots at Park but he stoned them. In the third the only Rider goal was off a huge blunder by one of the Rockies who passed the puck out from behind his net right on the tape of Alaister Standen’s stick that was stationed in the slot.
The star of the game was 19 year old Bretton Park who made several enormous saves, he was even better than he was on Friday night.
The shots 42-27 Fernie, and the power plays were CVR 1-4 FG 0-4
Fernie’s Ethan Fitzgerald was in net Saturday and Brett Balas was in net Friday.
In game three Columbia Valley Rockies won 4-3 Monday night and now have a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Fernie Ghostriders. The Rockies led 2-1 after the first period on goals by Colby Phillips and Eric Lloyd.
In the second Hunter Rambo (PP) and Owen Hughes scored and the Rockies had a 4-2 lead.
Fernie’s Greg Susinski scored the only goal in the third and the Rockies held on for a 4-3 win and 3-0 series lead. Jordan Kromm (PP) and Nolan Steer scored the other Rider goals and Brett Balas was in net.
Rockies goalie Bretton Park was the CVR player of the game stopping 31 of 34 shots. Nolan Steer with a G and an A was the Rider POG
Fernie went 1-8 and the Rockies went 1-6 on the power play.
Shots 34-33 Fernie
In game four The Ghostriders lost 4-0 and their series 4-0 Tuesday night against the Columbia Valley Rockies. Once again Bretton Park the Rockies 19 year old goalie was the Player of the Game stopping all 31 Rider shots.
Thank you to the Fernie Ghostriders for a great season!
Source: Rider News by George Hurlbut
