Riders stay alive in Kootenay Final with 4-2 victory
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It took the Castlegar Rebels two periods to solve former teammate Andrew Walton.
By that time it was too late.
The Fernie Ghostriders built up a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-2 KIJHL victory in game five of the Kootenay Conference Final Monday in the East Kootenay City.
The win brings the Riders to within a game, 3-2, in the best-of-seven Conference Final. Game six is Tuesday in Castlegar. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
First period goals by Luke Richardson and Thomas Abenante gave Fernie a 2-0 lead after one period.
Connor Morgan increased the lead to 3-0 after 40 minutes before the Rebels scored a pair of power play goals in the third — by Taylor Anderson and Darren Tarasoff.
Josh Garneau restored the two-goal advantage for Fernie as Castlegar could get no closer.
Rebel coach Steve Junker said the key to Castlegar’s lead in the series was keeping the likes of Thomas Abenante and Scott Morriseau off the score sheet.
Abenante finished with three points while Morriseau, along with Richardson, each added a pair of points.
Fernie out shot the Rebels 30-23 making Walton a winner in the Ghostrider goal.
The winner of the Kootenay Conference Final meets the Osoyoos Coyotes in the KIJHL Final. The Dogs ousted the defending KIJHL, Cyclone Taylor and Keystone Cup champ, Revelstoke Grizzlies in six games in the Okanagan Finale.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
