The Kimberley Dynamiters will have a familiar face on their blue line this season, as Brock Leavins has signed with them for his over-age year.

After collecting 23 points and 44 penalty minutes in 36 games with the Nitros a couple of years ago, Leavins hurt his knee prior to camp last summer.

After having the joint surgically mended, Leavins stayed at his home in Brooks, Alta. and played senior hockey.

“With his ability before he left when he was just starting to come into his own, I would think he’s going to be a power play guy and be one of the leaders on the team,” said Nitros’ general manager and head coach Garry Jacklin.

Leavins has TNT in his blood, since his father Glen played for the senior Dynamiters; he was also a teammate of Jacklin’s on the then-SJHL Swift Current Broncos about 30 years ago.

“His family is familiar for sure, and we’ve seen Brock throughout the bantam and pee wee years,” said Jacklin. “He’s always been one of Brooks’ better players in his age group. I think he’s going to bring a lot to the table and he feels confident he’s quite a bit better than he was two years ago.”

Jacklin also announced that the club has signed Calgary forward Brendan Tyrel for the upcoming season. The 1992-born forward isn’t large but plays with feistiness and is a good playmaker, according to the coach.

He had seen Tyrel skate a couple of times when Jacklin was scouting for the Trail Smoke Eaters.

“He wasn’t junior A material so we didn’t approach him then. As soon as I got the job (with Kimberley), there were a couple of kids that I thought were junior B guys, and I gave him a call.”

Tyrel is a top-flight box lacrosse player, and his team won the national championship last year.

“He had a couple of chances to do some junior A camps and he just decided he would come here. He was like (recent signee Clayton) Tilleman: somebody liked him and he wanted to go somewhere where he’d get a chance to play.”

HOUSEWORK

In an important and long-awaited bit of housecleaning, Tory Caldwell’s trade from Fernie has finally been consummated.

The goaltender was acquired two years ago for future considerations (emphasis on ‘future’), and the Ghostriders finally got their compensation when the Dynamiters recently sent forward Mason Spear their way.

Jacklin said Spear wasn’t going to return to the Nitros next season.

“Two years is a long time to wait for something to happen,” said the general manager. “To me, if a kid doesn’t want to come back I’m not going to beg him to come back here. There’s lots of young talent coming in so I’m hoping we’ll be fine.”

Then-general manager Wayne Keiver originally acquired Caldwell in November 2008, becoming Kimberley’s fifth goaltender 15 games into the season.

Coincidentally, Leavins first joined the Nitros that same week.

FUNDRAISERS

The Dynamiters have been busy on the fundraising front, so much so Jacklin reports they’re basically out of the debt that threatened their continued operation.

“That’s Kimberley: they usually get behind their team when they’re in trouble,” he said.

They recently received a $1,000 donation from the Knights of Columbus, and the team will run the beer gardens for the upcoming Music on the Mary festival.

And after embarking on a couple of fundraising turkey pie sales in the spring, the Nitros are planning a third for September.

It seems that fans of the savoury morsels have come to expect the Dynamiters to produce them.

“Everybody is starting to order them, and we haven’t even started thinking about making them,” said Jacklin.

“It’s a home-made recipe, so everybody likes them,” said Jacklin, who hasn’t partaken himself.

“I will definitely get one this time — and a few probably for lunches.”

The club is also selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one of five golf packages.

To order some pies or purchase raffle tickets, contact the team office at 427-1931.

Season ticket packages are currently available at Black Bear Books in the Platzl.

DOOR-TO-DOOR

The Dynamiters will try out a new volunteer bus service next season that will allow seniors easier access to their games.

A patron simply has to phone the Dynamiter office the Monday before a game and the club will arrange for pickup.

“We just think there are probably 20 to 30 people out there that would like to come out to hockey games but can’t get out there,” said Jacklin. “It’s something we’re going to give a whirl this year and see how it works. I think it’s a neat idea to get some of the older people back into the rink.”