Ghostriders trample Rockies

Rockies update from November 23 game – by Steve Mantyka.

The Fernie Ghostriders are the cream of the crop in the KIJHL and they proved it again last night, scoring three power play goals en route to an 8-2 win in Invermere over the Columbia Valley Rockies. James Werner started the scoring from Scott Anderson, at 15:14 while Kalen Bird sat in the box, serving a minor that ended with just three seconds left to serve. [Read more]

Rockies weekend update

by Steve Mantyka.

Ghostriders haunt Rockies.

The Columbia Valley Rockies were bested Friday night by the Division leading Fernie Ghostriders, 7-1 in a game that was dominated by the Ghostriders from the drop of the puck.

Coming out guns ablazing, the Ghostriders fired away at will, directing 30 shots in the first period at the Rockies Netminder Jeff Magee. Magee was the story as he kept his team in the game, keeping Fernie off the scoresheet until 19:06 of the second period when Brendan Hawryluk finally put the puck past him. Mitch Board then tallied three straight times for the Ghostriders to stake a 4-0 lead after two periods. [Read more]

Rockies split games on weekend

by Steve Mantyka.

Beaver Valley Nitehawks soared into Invermere Friday the 13th and although the game started slowly, the pace kept building as the teams traded scoring chances like golfers trading shots on the driving range. It was the Nitehawks who made the last shot, though – leaving town with a 6-3 win after filling an empty net.

Kalen Bird scored his first of the year to put the Rockies ahead, from Boldon and Anderson. A great individual effort from Sookro tied the game just over a minute later. The Rockies power play beat the clock with under one second left in the period to give them a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission, Boldon from Fraser and Anderson. [Read more]

Rockies clash with Ghostriders

by Steve Mantyka.

The Columbia Valley Rockies hosted the Fernie Ghostriders last Friday and began the game with a barn storming attitude, only to be pushed aside in the final minutes of periods two and three, culminating in a 12-5 final for the Fernie team, who sit atop the Eddie Mountain Division, with the Rockies perched on the bottom rung of the ladder.

Optimism flowed in the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena as the Rockies started the scoring early, leading point scorer, Darrell Boldon driving the net and pushing the puck in for a score just 41 seconds into the game. Newly crowned captain Sean Menton with the assist. The Fernie team answered back with their leading scorer tying the game, Jesse Niemi from Matt MacDonald and Scott Anderson. [Read more]

Rockies chased by Chiefs, knock off Knights

by Steve Mantyka.

The Columbia Valley Rockies took the pilgrimage to the Okanagan this past weekend and lost 9-0 to the Chase Chiefs in a blowout on Friday night, then played a little overtime and eked out a 4-3 win in North Okanagan on Saturday night.

Halloween weekend provided a look into the ghosts of this year’s Columbia Valley Rockies. At Art Holding Memorial Arena in Chase on Friday, the Rockies came out flat and the Chiefs fired away at Rockies netminder Jeff Magee. Chiefs’ Brock Balson cashed in two goals in the first period to give Chase all they would need on this night, but they were up to more tricks as the game wore on. Shots after one period were 24-6, Chiefs going to the dressing room with a 2-0 lead. [Read more]

Rockies outworked by Division leaders

by Steve Mantyka.

The Columbia Valley Rockies faced the cream of the crop in the Eddie Mountain Division last weekend and came up short, routed by Fernie 8-0 and dropping a three goal decision, 5-2 in Golden.

The road to yet another loss started much the same, outworked and outhustled, the Ghostriders counted two goals one minute and sixteen seconds apart to open a two-lead five minutes into the game, and added two more in the second against Rockies goalie Jeff Magee to take a 4-0 lead into the second intermission. [Read more]

Rockies rebuilding year continues

by Steve Mantyka.

Turning the ship around may take awhile – that’s the mantra these days. The executive knew coming into the season it would be a tough sell to players, sponsors and our fans. So far the community support is up but the on-ice product is down.

The Rockies have struggled much of this early campaign. A depleted roster, injuries and bad breaks have added up to just one win against 16 losses. It is common knowledge that when a team returns so few veterans, it can take some time to define the team and that is certainly the case in Columbia Valley. Having 17 rookies on the squad has made for patient times at the rink. Poor decision making and a lack of communication have attributed to the woes of our team so far. That’s what you get with a younger, inexperienced team. [Read more]

Thankgiving dressing for the Lakers

by Steve Mantyka.

The Columbia Valley Rockies were hoping to feast on the Penticton Lakers Sunday, but instead ended up coming to the table to find out there wasn’t enough left on the plate.

The Rockies started a little tentative and the Lakers took advantage, counting goals just over 30 seconds apart and made the score 2-0 just six minutes into the game. The Lakers added one more in the period, taking a 3-0 lead into intermission. Shots were 14-10 in favour of Penticton, the bounces went their way too, especially on the third goal.

The Lakers held the Rockies in their own end a number of times, the Rockies had their chances too, but couldn’t beat Lakers goalie Kenny Quinn. [Read more]

Rockies build lead, Rockets blast back

The Columbia Valley Rockies had three new faces in the lineup and one familiar face in the stands as they came out looking for their first win of the season, but ended the night with a loss. The Rockies started a new goalie, Delaney Minichiello, giving Cam Dagg a deserved rest and welcomed injured Scott Ismond to the rink on his release from Cranbrook hospital with spleen and lung injuries. Great to see Scott up and about. He is a great kid and the team missed him as much as he missed them.

The Golden Rockets tested Minichiello early and often, but the steady netminder held his ground, allowing the Rockies to skate into intermission on an even keel, with neither team scoring, shots were in favour of Golden, 16-3 although the play seemed much closer than that. [Read more]

Rockies growing pains hurting a bit

The Columbia Valley Rockies continue to get some bad luck, with an undisclosed injury to goalie Scott Ismond, the sudden departure of defenceman Travis Francoeur and more carding issues, the Rockies went into the third weekend of the season with a shortened roster once again.

The Golden Rockets blasted into the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena Friday night and were met with a hard forechecking, aggressive style that had fans on the edge of their seat – The Rockies counted the first goal of the night, Darrell Boldon from Kevin Dunlop and newest addition to the lineup, Kevin Anderson at 10:38. The home fans saw strong skating and puck movement as players are starting to become comfortable with our systems and each other. The Rockies took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission, shots were 13-12 Golden. [Read more]