The Fernie Ghostriders are set to open their playoff campaign against the Columbia Valley Rockies, with Game 1 and Game 2 scheduled for Friday, February 28th, and Saturday, March 1st, at the Fernie Memorial Arena. With a strong regular season behind them, the Ghostriders are ready to bring the heat to the postseason and make a deep run.
Head coach Chad Scharff is confident in his team’s ability to rise to the challenge.
“As coaches coming into this season, we knew the foundation that was here, and we were excited to come into Fernie and have the opportunity to build a team,” said Scharff. “We couldn’t have asked for a better first regular season. The commitment and effort the players put in every day and night have been remarkable.”
With the postseason here, Scharff and his coaching staff are eager to see the team take the next step. “We are looking forward to starting a playoff run and seeing exactly how special this group is. We are excited to get to work this week and prepare for a good Columbia Valley team.”
Final Regular Season Recap
The Ghostriders closed out their regular season with a hard-fought week of hockey, finishing strong and securing their playoff spot in front of passionate home crowds. Tuesday’s 5-4 win over the Golden Rockets officially ended Golden’s playoff hopes. On Friday, with key players scratched for rest, the Ghostriders fell 4-1 to Columbia Valley. Saturday saw Fernie return to form, dominating Creston 6-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 1,140 fans.
Eric Martin and Taylor Haggerty
Key Players to Watch in the Playoffs
Taylor Haggerty (30G, 33A, 63 points): Finished 3rd in KIJHL scoring and is primed for a dominant playoff performance. “Great regular season, lots of learning experiences that should help us in playoffs,” said Haggerty. “Looking forward to the real season starting next week. We are ready to get started and need the fans to rally to make the arena hard to play in for other teams like they have done all year.”
Eric Martin (11G, 47A, 58 points): Led all KIJHL defensemen in scoring, making him a key offensive weapon from the blue line.
Lucas Desjarlais (112 PIM): A physical force, Desjarlais adds grit and toughness to the lineup. His recent scrap with Columbia Valley’s Jaxon Sperling shows he’s more than ready for playoff intensity.
Andrew Morris: The deadline acquisition from Chase is back from injury and skating strong at just the right time. Having extra depth on defense is a major asset heading into the postseason.
Fernie’s Home Ice Advantage
With Fernie Memorial Arena expected to be packed, the Ghostriders will be feeding off the energy of their dedicated fans. If the sellout crowd from the Creston game was any indication, home ice will be a nightmare for visiting teams.
As the first round against the Rockies approaches, the team is calling on the Ghostrider faithful to bring the noise and make the Fernie barn one of the most intimidating environments in the league.
Puck drops Friday night – let the playoffs begin!
Source: Fernie Ghostriders
Photos from Kevin Fowler
