Nelson outlasts Castlegar 7-6 in Bantam Rep Tournament thriller Sunday in Sunflower City
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Sawyer Hunt’s third period goal proved to be the winner as Nelson edged Castlegar 7-6 in the final of the Sunflower City Minor Hockey Bantam Rep Tournament Sunday at the Community Complex Arena.
Hunt, giving Nelson a 7-4 advantage, took a pass from Nolan Percival and Jacob Shukin before burying the puck into the Castlegar goal.
“Our boys worked very hard in the final game,” Hunt said following the game. “We played with a lot of determination. Our first year players battled hard.”
“Castlegar surprised us in the third period with a comeback and we fought right to the last minute of the game,” Hunt added.
Despite trailing by a three-goal margin late in the game, the host squad made it close on goals by Alex Molnar and team captain Eddie Lindsay 24 seconds apart.
The goal by Lindsay was the captain’s third of the game.
Castlegar finished the first period leading 2-1 before Nelson took the lead for good with three second-period markers by defenceman Micah May, Justin Podgorenko and Hunt.
In the third Shukin, Percival and Hunt scored for Nelson. Nolan Renwick opened the scoring for Nelson in the first.
Nelson had an easy time advancing to the playoff round with lopsided wins over Cranbook, 7-1, Elk Valley, 7-4 and Invermere, 7-1.
The overall winners then blasted South Okanagan 6-0 in the semi final to qualify for the championship game.
Amit Bhabra, Matthew Brind’Amour, Keaton Roch, Jayden Maida and Percival with a pair scored for Nelson.
Greg Markholm was in goal to earn the shutout.
“I think the team played really great and I had a lot of fun,” said Nelson netminder Jesse Beauvais, picking up the final victory.
The tournament victory is the second of the season for the Nelson Bantam Reps. The squad claimed victory in the South Okanagan tourney earlier this season.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
