Rockies find their groove again with big wins

Beyond the Blue Line

By Stephanie Stevens

The Columbia Valley Rockies have definitely got their groove back.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) Junior A team played back-to-back games last weekend, both against the Golden Rockets.

Home in Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena on Valentine’s Day, the Rockies hit the ice and played 60 minutes of fast, cohesive and determined hockey.

The Rockets battled back to keep the game close but ultimately the Rockies took the game in an overtime win.

“We played well, we had the chance to go 6-0 against a team in our division and that was important to us to achieve that,” said associate coach Tucker Braund. “We played like a team on a mission and although Friday things didn’t totally go our way, we found a way to come out with the win. Our effort was there all weekend, we stayed disciplined and we played great hockey. It was fun to watch.”

Trae Lees (assist by Carter Krause) started things off in the first period, followed in the second by Jack Hefferan (Kobe Mason and Ethan Cerone) and then Mason (Teo Fath and Cerone) in the third.

Wyatt Wurtz (Carter Velker) answered the call and potted the overtime goal to end the game 4-3. Netminder Hunter Arntsen stopped 23 of 26 shots.

The following night the boys were back at it in the Golden barn, but there was no scoring from either team until the second period.

Peter Godley (Ashton Sledz and Jaxson Sperling) got it going, followed by Sledz (Johnny Lozeman and Velker).

Third period goals were courtesy of Lees (Carter Tuplin), Velker (Noah Asmundson) and Carter Hensch (Velker) for a 5-2 victory. Arntsen was once again between the pipes and stopped 27 of 29 shots on net.

“We played really well in both games,” said head coach Tayler Sincennes. “Friday was high energy, we executed really well and found a way to win in overtime. Saturday was very much the same: we executed the way we wanted to. We lacked energy at times throughout both games but we stuck with it in both nights and were rewarded.”

The final regular season game is Friday, Feb. 21 with the Fernie Ghostriders in the Eddie. Puck drop is 7 p.m.