With the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) season just underway, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. Next in the Quick Shift series are the Kimberley Dynamiters.

The Dynamiters won the Eddie Mountain regular season championship last season with a record of 32-9-3. They lost in the Kootenay Conference championship to the Grand Forks Border Bruins in five games.

Heading into this season, head coach-general manager Derek Stuart said he really likes where they’re at as a team.

“We have a lot of good returning players and the rookies have seemed to fit right in and they’re starting to figure out how things work,” said Stuart. “I’ve liked our work ethic and compete and how they are moving the puck.”

Returning Players: F – Luke Davies (41-29-27-56 ), Danik Reeves (43-17-28-45) Nolan Kelly (36-8-17-25), Nate Tillmanns (30-8-16-24\ 10-4-6-10 with Dynamiters), Nate Murdoch (39-10-9-19) D- Jackson Murphy (33-3-20-23), Nathan Scott (31-4-9-13), Connor Grainger (40-2-10-12), Nathan Laforge (32-2-8-10), Callan Valstar (26-2-7-9), Aiden McDonald (28-1-6-7).

Acquisitions: F- Maguire Nicholson (via trade with Sicamous Eagles (32-10-19-29), Carter Coutu (signed from Canmore Eagles – AJHL (30-2-7-9 ), G- Ethan Beattie (signed from Kenora Islands – SIJHL -15 GP | .867 SP).

Rookies: F – Matthew Lenz – St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA (37-2-13-15), Jake Murdoch – U18 East Kootenay Avalanche (33-26-46-72- AP with Dynamiters 2GP – 5 PTS), Ethan Cameron-McGregor – Calgary Rockies U18 –  JPHL (305-13-18), Parker Stephenson – Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA – (38-8-7-15 ), Cohen Bell – U18 East Kootenay Avalanche (32-15-20-35 – AP with Dynamiters), Spencer Bates – Airdrie Lightning U18 AA (33-37-25-62), Talan Pappas – Calgary Rockies U18 – JPHL (28-9-8-17), Christian Revel – Burnaby Winter Club U18 Prep (33-10-24-34), D- Avery Lynch – U18 East Kootenay Avalanche (29-18-15-33 – AP with Dynamiters), Nix Anderson – Lloydminster Athletics U18 – JPHL (29-6-9-15), G- Jack Fairhead – Calgary Rockies U18 – JPHL (16 GP | 8-4-0 | 3.34 GAA | .899 SP).)

Team Outlook: The returnees are hungry following their loss against the Border Bruins.

“We felt like we probably deserved a better fate in that series, especially near the end,” said Stuart. “We got a little bit of a taste from getting close to the KIJHL final. I know the staff and all the returning players are determined to get back there and take the next step to get to the finals.”

Some veterans who have stood out to Stuart, who he has expectations for strong seasons from are Davies, Reeves, Tillmanns, and added that Kelly has looked really good early on. He’s also excited about their blueline.

“We have six returning defencemen and all of them look better than they did at the end of last year.”

KIJHL

Article Share