Martin scores twice as Hawks outlast Rebels 4-1, Posse, Riders, Storm also win on opening night of Conference semi finals
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It took the Beaver Valley Nitehawks a littte bit of time to solve the stingy Castlegar Rebel defence.
But once the home team found its offence there was no stopping the Murdoch regular season champs.
Craig Martin scored twice snapping a 1-1 tie to spark the Hawks to a hard-fought 4-1 decision in the opening game of the Murdoch Division Finals Tuesday in Fruitvale.
Beaver Valley leads the best-of-seven Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Kootenay Confernece semi final 1-0.
Game two is Wednesday in Fruitvale.
The teams traded goals throught the first 40 minutes with Brantley Schapansky and Rebel captain Erik Alden scoring in the first and second periods, respectively.
In the third Martin finally solved Castlegar netminder Jordan Gluck with a pair of goals 10 minutes apart.
Justin Nimiminken added an empty net marker.
Beaver Valley out shot the Rebels 33-32 making a winner out of goalie Mike Vlanich.
The three-headed monster of Ryan Edwards, Chris Derochie and Martin finished the game with six points.
Riders open with win against Nitros
Branden Burge scored twice and former Nelson Leaf Connor McLaughlin had two assists to lead the Ghostriders past Kimberley 5-2 in Fernie.
The Riders lead the best-of-seven Eddie Mountain Final 1-0 with game two tonight in Fernie.
Fernie scored three times in the first period to take complete control of the Nitros.
Kamloops Storm and Princeton Posse opened with wins in the Okanagan Conference semi finals.
Kamloops doubled Sicamous Eagles 4-2 while the Posse bounced Dane Rupert and the Kelowna Chiefs 5-1.
All teams play game two of their best-of-seven series Wednesday.
