Dynamos face tough stretch without two key players

By David McIver

The Dinsmore Dynamos go into possibly the toughest part of the Sask Valley Hockey League schedule while missing two players.

The Dynamos, with 17 points last Friday for fifth place, were to host the first-place Kenaston Blizzards last Saturday.

They play in Davidson on Wednesday and Loreburn on Friday before they host the Craik Warriors on Saturday.

Going by standings on Friday afternoon (press time), the Davidson Cyclones were in third place, the Loreburn 19ers in fourth and the Warriors, two points back for sixth in the 10-team league.

The Blizzards had 12 wins in 12 games, 12 points up on the second-place Kyle Elks.

The Dynamos have been without Brayden Atkinson due to “knee issues,” said manager Kurt Jones.

Import Troy Doell had also been out of the lineup in December with a shoulder problem, but he’s expected to be back by the end of the January, said Jones.

The Dynamos split their last two games, losing 7-4 in Kenaston on Dec. 19 and beating the Loreburn 19ers 10-4 in Dinsmore on the 13th.

Import Justin Ball scored twice for the Dynamos and Josh Atkinson and Chad Westman got their other markers in Kenaston.

Declan Hobbs made 27 saves in the Dynamo net.

Jaimen Yakubowsk and Kade Kehoe each got two Blizzard goals. Logan McVeigh, Brodie Ringdal and Levi Cable also tallied.

Blizzard netminder Connor George stopped 29 Dynamo shots.

Ball scored four goals and Atkinson and Daven Smith scored two goals each against the 19ers. Otto Lammers and Matthew Jones also “put the biscuit in the basket” for Dinsmore.

Hobbs made 37 saves and Loreburn counterpart Greg Moir stopped 28 Dynamo drives.