The Kimberley Dynamiters have gone with a familiar foe to help strengthen a dwindling lineup.

Down to a baker’s dozen healthy skaters, the Nitros signed 20-year-old defenceman Adam Taylor this week.

After making an impression with Creston and Fernie the last four years, Taylor will make his Nitros’ debut this Saturday when Kimberley hosts the Chase Chiefs.

“I think Adam has come here and seems pretty committed to what we want to get accomplished,” said Kimberley head coach and GM Kevin MacKay. “He’s got some unfinished business in the league and he went around to a bunch of places this year. It’s an opportunity for him to set some roots here in the next month or so. He’ll give us some size and experience and hopefully help him us out that way.”

The 6-foot-1 rearguard played three seasons with the Thundercats before becoming a member of the Ghostriders last season. There, he led Fernie in penalty minutes with 230.

After starting this year with the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island league, the Sparwood native’s rights were traded to the Grand Forks Border Bruins.

From there, he was sent to the Cold Lake Ice of the Northeast Alberta junior B circuit, where he was a teammate of former Dynamiter Corey Lester.

Taylor was released by the Jan. 10 deadline as the Ice had to get down in numbers.

“He made the call to us and came in and skated for a while, so we’ll have a good look at him this weekend,” said MacKay.

The Nitros, already with a relatively short roster list, have six hurt players heading into the weekend.

In the definitely-won’t-play pile are Chad Filatoff, Corson Johnstone and Brennan Foreman.

In the day-to-day mound with various lower body ailments are Mason Spear, Keiran Spice and Trevor Grier.

“I’m thinking that two of those three will be in for sure, but hopefully all three of them can make that lineup,” said MacKay.

The Nitros play just once this weekend, but are back in action next Tuesday when they visit Creston.

Saturday’s game will be the first and only of the season between Chase and Kimberley.

MacKay was on the phone with contacts around the league yesterday, trying to get a sense of what kind of play the Chiefs like to establish.

“I know (head coach) Brad Fox a little bit from the league before. He’s always got a hard-working team. I hear they’re pretty offensive, can skate, two lines pretty good up front,” he said. “We’ll just have to make sure we establish our systems and how we want to play, just worry about ourselves and not worry about them too much.”

Devon Hobbs leads the Chase attack with 55 points, 38 of them assists. Kimberley’s top scorer is Matt Foster, who has 33 goals and 19 assists.

The Chiefs and Dynamiters are in fourth place in their respective divisions, both three points out of second.

For Kimberley, second place in the Eddie Mountain Division would mean home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

For Chase, second would mean an opening-round Okanagan bye.

Both teams have plenty to play for.

“At the end of January, every team is trying to gear up and trying to fine-tune things to take a good long run in the playoffs,” said MacKay. “I think both teams will be looking to establish some momentum, and hopefully we can take advantage of them playing Friday night in Fernie. We’ll jump on them quick in our barn.”