Photo of Sawyer Samycia, by Kevin Fowler
The Fernie Ghostriders are closing out November on a high note, picking up important wins over Creston and Merritt to move to 10-9-2-1 on the season with 23 points. Their strong 7-4-1-1 road record continues to be a bright spot, while the 3-5-1 home record comes with an asterisk: Fernie has played more games than any other KIJHL team and now finally gets a rare gap in the schedule before a heavy run of home dates in December and January.
The most significant development for Fernie this month has been the emergence of a reliable goaltending tandem.
Leo den Besten leads the way with a 7-3 record and a standout .926 save percentage. In front of nearly 950 fans at the Fernie Memorial Arena, he delivered one of the team’s best defensive performances of the year—stopping 30 of 31 shots in a composed, steady outing against Merritt. It wasn’t a game he had to “steal”; it was a game he helped the Riders control.
In Creston, Kael Svenson was equally strong, stopping 26 of 28 to earn his second win of the season. With a 2-1 record and a .919 save percentage, Svenson gives Fernie the depth it needs for the long winter grind. Having two goaltenders performing at this level is an encouraging sign as the Riders move deeper into the season.
Fernie received contributions from across the lineup in both victories.
Boston Logan scored twice in Creston, earning a game star with two skilled finishes.
Sawyer Samycia scored his first KIJHL goal in the same game—the eventual game winner—springing free after a determined diving poke check from Jaden Piper.
Piper stayed hot by opening the scoring against Merritt.
With 11 seconds left in the second period, Ben Skarsen added the game-winning goal, assisted by Fournier and Jones.
The final minute in Creston nearly left the Riders short-staffed for the Merritt game. While beating out an icing call to kill the remaining time, Ben Skarsen was driven hard into the end boards, sparking a brief skirmish between both teams.
After review, the league issued:
• Two-game suspensions to Creston’s Carter Thiessen and Logan Findlay
• No discipline to the defenceman who initiated the collision
Fernie’s staff and players expressed concern about the ongoing “race-for-icing” scenarios that frequently lead to dangerous contact.
Despite the early-season workload, the Ghostriders have positioned themselves well as December approaches. With a much-needed stretch of home games coming up and strong performances from both goaltenders, Fernie has an opportunity to continue climbing the standings.
The Ghostriders return to action on Tuesday, December 2, hosting the Golden Rockets at the Fernie Memorial Arena.
Source: Fernie Ghostriders
