Lynch scores four, Schwartz nets hat trick as Dynamiters skate past Princeton

Avery Lynch scored four goals and Brayden Schwartz added a hat trick to lead the Kimberley Dynamiters to a 10-2 win over the Princeton Posse in a finals rematch Sunday (Nov. 8) at the Kimberley Civic Centre.

Schwartz opened the scoring 1:34 into the first period, extending his point streak to 10 games.

Lynch doubled the lead in the ninth minute off a pass from Nathan Laforge.

Jaden Rusznak made it 3-0 with a power play goal 1:53 into the second period, with Schwartz drawing an assist.

Lynch scored his second goal on the power play at 8:19 of the second period, with Miller Tedseco picking up an assist.

A fight broke out in the 12th minute. Kimberley’s Noah Kelly and Princeton’s Seth Scutt each received a 10-minute game misconduct and a five-minute fighting major.

Ethan Dimand put Princeton on the board with a power play goal at 14:15 of the second period, cutting Kimberley’s lead to 4-1.

Princeton’s Caleb Leischner received a 10-minute game misconduct and a five-minute charging penalty at 18:36.

Kimberley scored three goals in 68 seconds early in the third period. Lynch completed his hat trick on the power play at 1:30, followed by goals from Reid Wilkson and Carter Allan.

Karter Kurpjuqweit answered for Princeton in the fourth minute to make it 7-2.

Schwartz scored at 8:27, and Lynch added his fourth goal 45 seconds later.

Schwartz completed his hat trick in the final minute off a pass from Cohen Bell.

Kimberley goalie Sam Lai stopped 16 of 18 shots. Princeton’s Charlie Peppinck made 24 saves on 30 shots, while relief goaltender Brady Carr stopped seven of 11.

Dynamiters head coach Derek Stuart said the team built on its performance after a slow start against Osoyoos on Saturday (Nov. 7).

“I mentioned yesterday our first period, we were a little slow, but after that I thought we picked it up,” said Derek Stuart, Head Coach, Kimberley Dynamiters.

“Today we just kept plugging away and wore down the team. We were obviously tired in the beginning.”

Stuart praised the team’s offensive effort Sunday.

“Really good. I thought we got a lot of pucks towards their net, made some nice plays, made some nice finishes,” he added.

“Schwartz and Lynch are going to take advantage when they get offensive opportunities, and I thought everyone did good. I thought we generated a lot of offensive chances today.”

Stuart said the home crowd helps “boost” the team’s energy.

“The crowd’s awesome. They’re engaged, they’re knowledgeable. They give the guys a boost,” he said.

The Dynamiters will spend the rest of November on the road before returning home Dec. 6.

“This team, I know we like to go on the road too. We kind of like to be the villain or whatever you want to call it on the road, but we really like playing on the road,” Stuart emphasised.

“It’ll be good to get some team bonding in, but yeah, it’s going to be a while until we’re back here.”

The Dynamiters also hosted family weekend, with players’ parents attending the homestand.

“It was great. You know, they don’t have too many opportunities to go home until Christmas time, once the season starts, so it’s good to see their family,” said Stuart.

“We had a little get-together after the game last night, and I think it was really important, especially for the kids that were away from home for the first time.

“They’ve been away from their families for three months now, so it was great.”

The Dynamiters currently sit in first position of the Kootenay Division with a record of 14-2-1.

The Nitros next travel to Fernie to face division rival the Ghostriders on Tuesday (Nov. 10).

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.