Nitros fall short at Cyclone Taylor Cup, drop 6-5 decision to Storm in Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Kimberley Dynamiters came within one game, within one goal of capturing a BC Junior B Hockey Championship.
Gage Colpron had three assists to spark the Campbell River Storm to a 6-5 victory over Kimberley in the Junior B Hockey Final of the Cyclone Taylor Cup Monday in Mission City.
The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League Champs, which defeated Kimberley for the second time in the tournament, now represent BC at the Keystone Cup April 16-19 at Cold Lake, Alta.
Host Mission City Outlaws blasted North Vancouver Wolfpack 7-0 in the Bronze Medal Game earlier in the day.
The difference for the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League reps was a shaky defence that had been the cornerstone of the team’s success throughout the post season.
Leading 3-2 after 40 minutes, the Storm scored three times in a span of 10 minutes to take a 6-3 lead with six minutes remaining in the third period.
Trent Johnson, Michael Olson and Trevor Bottomley scored to blow the game open.
Jason Richter, named the tournament MVP, cut the lead to 6-4 with two minutes remaining before Jordan Busch made it a one-goal game in the final minute.
However, Kimberley could not get the equalizer past Jesse Michel in the Storm nets.
Dawson Frank, Dane Feeney and Nathan Browne also scored for Campbell River, who went undefeated in the tournament.
Jordan Roy, Keenan Haase also scored for the Nitros.
Richter finished the game with three points for Kimberley while Braden Saretsky, Alex Rosolowsky and Haase all had two points in the game for Kimberley.
Kimberley outshot Campbell River 25-22 as Tyson Brouwer, named Most Inspirational Player of the Tournament, took the loss in goal.
TOURNAMENT NOTES: Campbell River brought the Cyclone Taylor Cup back to the Island for the first time since the Peninsula Panthers won the title in 2011. . . .This is the sixth Cyclone title for the VIJHL and second for the Campbell River Storm. The last BC Championship was one by the Storm in 1999. . . .Gage Colpron of the Storm won the tournament scoring title with four goals and four assists. Bryce Pislak of Mission City was second with seven points while Jason Richter of Kimberley finished in a six-way tie for third with five points. . . . Kimberley opened with a 2-1 win over Mission City before dropping a 6-5 OT decision to Campbell River. The Dynamiters advanced to the final by defeating North Van 5-4 in overtime. Richter scored the winner at 4:54 of the second extra time period. . . . Nelson’s Sawyer Hunt finished the tournament with a goal in three games.
