The Kimberley Dynamiters took care of business before about 800 fans at the Civic Centre last night (March 5), dismantling the plucky Creston Valley Thunder Cats 7-3 to advance in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) playoffs.

The five-game series victory leads the Dynamiters into the Eddie Mountain Division finals against the Columbia Valley Rockies, their series pass booked thanks to a four-game sweep of the Fernie Ghostriders.

The Nitros were led Thursday night by Erik Delaire’s three goals and Beau Larson’s four assists, while Daniel Anton added two goals and Ryan Piva a goal and two assists.

While the next round of action is settled in terms of participants, the KIJHL has yet to release (at publication time) a schedule for upcoming games.

Based on the strength of finishing first in Eddie Mountain Division, with a regular season record of 40 wins, six losses and three overtime losses, compared to the Rockies’ 22-19-2-6 record (fourth overall), Kimberley will host games one and two and Invermere games three and four.

In other playoff action, the Nelson Leafs and Beaver Valley Nite Hawks begin the Neil Murdoch Division finals March 9. Beaver Valley swept Castlegar Rebels to advance, while the Leafs swept the Spokane Braves.

In Okanagan/Shuswap Conference Divisional play, defending champion Revelstoke Grizzlies swept the Kamloops Storm to advance to the Doug Birks Division finals against the 100 Mile House Wranglers, series victors over Chase Heat in five games.

Meanwhile, Kelowna Chiefs and Princeton Posse, the top two teams in the Bill Ohlhausen Division, will clash in the next round, thanks to series sweeps of the North Okanagan Knights and Summerland Steam.

Click here to see KIJHL playoff bracket.

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