It was almost an underdog’s weekend for the East Kootenay area Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) teams during this past weekend’s first round playoff action.

Thanks to two road victories in Fernie against the second place Ghostriders, the third place Columbia Valley Rockies head home with a firm series lead for tonight’s (March 2) game three at Invermere’s Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Rockies edged the ‘Riders 4-3 on Friday and 3-1 Saturday (Feb. 29) at Fernie’s Memorial Arena, with goaltender Bretton Park leading the way, stopping 41 of 42 Fernie shots in game two.

Game four runs Tuesday, March 3 at the Eddie (7 p.m.) Game five, if necessary, is Thursday, March 5 in Fernie (7:30 p.m.)

The league best Kimberley Dynamiters stumbled in the opening game against the fourth place Creston Valley Thunder Cats at the Civic Centre Friday, Feb. 28.

Creston slipped by the Nitros 3-2 in overtime but couldn’t solve netminder Adam Anderson on Saturday, falling 4-0 to the reigning champs.

With the Eddie Mountain Division semi final knotted one each, Kimberley heads to Creston’s Johnny Bucyk Arena for games three and four, Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3. Both games start at 7:30 p.m. Creston time.

See the KIJHL schedule

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