It’s an exciting time for hockey in the Kootenays.
The Kimberley Dynamiters have started to announce newly-signed players for the coming season and three so far have come from the East Kootenay Avalanche — a AA U18 team that was last season’s provincial champions and coached by former Nitros asst. coach, general manager Mike Reid.
READ MORE: East Kootenay U18 Avalanche are 2023 U18 Tier 1 Champions
“With [Dynamiters head coach] Derek’s program it’s great to have three local kids from our area that can play here,” Reid said. “That’s the whole goal of the program is to give parents an affordable place to play that their kids can still attain the goals that they want to and move on to Junior hockey and then on to higher levels.”
Last year, Reid said they had 17 players from their team affiliated with teams in the KIJHL.
“Obviously the Dynamiters being the organization they are and you can look around the Eddie Mountain division now and every team is really improving their programs and are all recruiting the same kids now. It’s also nice as local kids you have that affiliation process where you can get your practice and see what it’s all about.
“The affiliate program is great for the kids, it’s great for the teams, it’s great for the local communities, because you’ve got local kids playing it brings out more fans in friends and family.”
Reid has a well-rounded perspective on the efficacy of the affiliate program, speaking not only as a former coach of the Dynamiters and a current minor hockey coach, but also as the parent of a player. His son Cam Reid — who was one of the star players on the Dynamiters the past few seasons and has now moved on to college hockey in Vermont — played his first affiliate game with the team at 15.
“Cameron grew up when I was coaching with Jerry Bancks, he grew up in that dressing room and that’s all he ever wanted to be was a Dynamiter,” Reid said.
“The affiliation was great because it allows these kids to get their feet wet and then they see what they need to do to get there and then when they get there they know what they’ve got to do to get to the next level if they want to or they stay with the Dynamiters and win a championship and build lifelong friendships like Cameron did.”
READ MORE: Cam Reid receives 2020 Jerry Bancks Award
Recently, the East Kootenay Avalanche were accepted to the South Central Alberta Hockey League (SCAHL). Reid said this is a great thing for their program, as it is a very competitive league that plays in communities such as Calgary, Taber, Red Deer, Leduc and Lethbridge. They will also have some crossover and play games in the Calgary city league.
Reid said it’s widely considered to be “one of the better U18 leagues in western Canada” and this marks a big step forward for his program.
“The Dynamiters just signed three players out of that league last week, so that’s a good thing for our program moving forward,” Reid said. “It’s well respected among the hockey circles as a very competitive U18 league. We know our schedule for the whole year so families can plan around it, it’s very cost effective and it’s less travel for us.
“Last year was about rebuilding and getting it to the level it needed to be. Obviously we won the provincial championship which was a great accomplishment for these kids, now we get to play in a better league with another chance to repeat next year as B.C. champions which is our goal.”
Stuart also said this move to the SCAHL is “very important” as it gives local players the opportunity to play in “one of the best U18 AA leagues in western Canada.”
“That’s a big step up for them from the previous couple seasons when they were kind of stuck in a league that wasn’t that good to be honest with you, but Mike’s done a great job with that team, they’re back to being not only respectable, but very, very good,” Stuart said. “They won the provincials last year and now they’re going into one of the best leagues. It’s a good step for them and hopefully will attract more local kids to stay home.”
So far the Dynamiters have signed Conner Grainger, Nate Murdoch and Lukas Carlson from the Avalanche. Murdoch and Carlson are from Kimberley and Grainger is from Cranbrook.
“All three of them can step in and contribute right away … all three are going to be good additions to the Dynamiters in my opinion,” Reid said.
Reid said Carlson has a “pro-level shot” and with his large size is a “punishing” force on the ice, adding that for Dynamiters fans, he would fit the role of a player like Justin Sommer.
“I think it’s good for him to move onto minor hockey because he might have been suspended most of the year because he just hits so hard, he’s a big heavy body,” Reid said with a laugh. “He’s one of my favourite kids I’ve ever coached, he’s a phenomenal kid and so he’s going to fit in well.”
Murdoch, Reid said, is a 200-foot player whose engine never stops and really found his scoring touch this past season, as well as an ability to lead.
“He was the best player at provincials by a mile and he’s a kid too that’s — he’s going to start a little bit lower down the depth chart, but I think by Christmas he’s going to be a an outstanding Dynamiter just because he embodies what the Dynamiters are all about, the hard work and the work ethic.”
Reid described Grainger as a “big, strong right-handed defenceman” who moves the puck well and has a great shot.
“And he’s got a mean streak that’s hard to find nowadays in kids and I think he’s going to be a great addition to the back end, bring a real physical presence but also be able to move that puck out of the defensive zone.”
In total, the Dynamiters have signed six or seven players, Stuart said.
“Really happy to get three elite scorers at the AA level and three very good local players who were all affiliates with us last year,” he said. “Two of them came to the Cyclone Taylor Cup and Conner Grainger would have come with us as well if he wasn’t injured so we’re very excited. Not too many holes to fill, so we’re looking pretty good right now.”
Dynamiters main camp will be Sept. 1-3, followed by two weeks of exhibition before the 2023/24 season officially begins on Sept. 22.
READ MORE: Kimberley Dynamiters win Teck Cup in game 7 OT win over Princeton Posse
paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
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