Last Friday, the Kimberley Dynamiters lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Spokane Braves.

The game was tight all the way through - in fact there was no score until the 8:35 minute mark of the third period when Nitro forward Leo Keefer scored on a great centering pass by Andrew Green.

The Dynamiters looked to have sealed the game when a nice snap shot from Corey Lester found the back of the net with just over two minutes left.

Down 2-0 late in the third, the Braves pulled the goalie in hopes of getting back in the game. Kimberley had a chance to go up 3-0 but missed. Spokane came back down the ice and a blistering slap shot from Ryan Maul brought the Braves to within one.

Spokane pulled the goalie again, looking for the equalizer. When all looked lost for the Braves - Alex Lelwica threaded the needle from inside Spokane's own blueline to a streaking Tyler Mort near Kimberley's blueline. Mort scored on the breakaway to tie the game at 2-2 with 10 seconds left.

A five minute overtime solved nothing so the teams went to a shootout. Spokane took the lead for good when Chase Wharton snapped the puck into the right corner of the net during his attempt.

The first star of the game went to Spokane's Alex Lelwica, Kimberley's Andrew Green was second star, and Spokane's Ryan Maul was the third star.

Dynamiter's head coach Wayne Keiver thought the team played well. "We looked pretty good overall. We just had a few mental lapses towards the end. Guys were working hard on forechecking and cycling well but the defensemen got caught flatfooted," Keiver said, "In this league you pay for mental lapses."

It was trial by fire for new Kimberley goaltender Ian Perrier, who came to the Nitros from the Melville, Saskatchewan, Millionaires a week ago. "It was a heartbreaker," Perrier said, "I thought the last two minutes we'd hold the goose egg. But it's not the first time a team has blown a late lead, and it won't be the last."

Perrier admitted some nerves going into the shootout, "But now I know what to work on and I'm only going to get better."

Kiever was impressed with his team's new goalie, "Perrier played very well for someone who hasn't played a game and doesn't know his teammates well."

Kimberley travelled to Grand Forks the following night and lost 6-5 in yet another tough shootout. Andrew Green was named third star with a goal and three assists in the loss. Sam Olson led the Border Bruins with two goals and an assist.

The Dynamiters next action is this weekend with a game Friday at Columbia Valley and home on Saturday against Beaver Valley.