KIJHL Power Rankings (Week 20)
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is pleased to announce its Power Rankings for Week 20.
The Grand Forks Border Bruins won both its weekend games, starting with a 6-3 win over the Golden Rockets. Nash Wassing’s goal (13) to make it 4-0 at 11:10 of the third period stood as the winner. Jace Koole scored twice (15) and Eric Kahl made 30 saves. The Border Bruins then defeated the Williams Lake Mustangs 9-4, thanks to five first-period goals. Levi Astill potted the winner with 39 seconds left in the period and Hayden Evans led with two goals (15). Thomas Samborski made 24 saves. The Border Bruins are sixth overall in the KIJHL with a record of 27-12-0-1.
The Revelstoke Grizzlies blanked the 100 Mile House Wranglers 5-0 in their lone game. William Stewart picked up his third shutout and second straight with a 33-save performance. Maddox Popke scored the winner 33 seconds into the game. Walker Overwater set up the winner and added two goals (6). The Grizzlies are third overall at 28-6-1-2.
The Kamloops Storm won their lone game of the week, 5-2 over the Merritt Centennials. In his 100th career KIJHL game, Hayden Selin helped the Storm clinch the Doug Birks division by netting the deciding goal with his 18th of the season. Brenner Fyfe made 26 saves and Quinn Ramsay led with two goals (20) and three points. The Storm are first in the KIJHL at 29-8-1-1 for 60 points.
The Kimberley Dynamiters swept their weekend series with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats in what potentially could be a first round matchup. In the first game, the Dynamiters won 4-0 with Carter Coutu (10) netting the winner with six second remaining in the first and Adam Kisilevich saving 25 shots for his third shutout. Coutu led with three points and assisted on Jaden Rusznak’s insurance goal (15). They followed that performance with a 4-1 win. Coutu netted his second straight winning goal with 29 seconds left in the second period, then added the insurance marker with eight minutes left in the third. Adam Kisilevich stopped 17 of 18 shots. The Dynamiters are tied for first at 28-7-2-2 for 60 points.
The Princeton Posse won two of their three games last week. They started the week with an 8-3 win over the Merritt Centennials. Caleb Leischner netted the deciding goal, while Sharky Nowek made 33 saves. Defenceman Paul Vanden Elzen had three assists and Carson Hebert scored his 25th goal, giving them a 6-3 lead. In the second of back-to-back home games versus the Centennials, the Posse lost 3-1. Carson Hebert snapped Tyler Picha’s shutout bid at 10:42 of the third period and Gibson Horne stopped 23 of 25 shots. The Posse earned their second win with a 3-1 victory against the Osoyoos Coyotes. Will Bell (23) potted the winner with 4:15 remaining in the opening frame. Nowek made 31 saves for Princeton. The Posse are fifth overall in the KIJHL at 27-9-0-3.