Nelson rookie McCarthy lifts Nelson to 5-5 tie against Castlegar on KIJHL opening night
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Colton McCarthy’s second goal of the game in the final minute of regulation time lifted the Nelson Leafs to a 5-5 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League overtime tie against the Castlegar Rebels Friday night at the NDCC Arena.
The goal by the 16-year-old rookie from Salmon Arm came with 11 ticks left on the clock as Nelson desperately tried to salvage at least a single point on a night the Heritage City franchise honoured a Leaf hero from the past, former goalie Gus Adams.
Adams, who toiled with the Nelson Senior Maple Leafs in the days of the Western International Hockey League, recently passed away at his North Shore home.
Nelson squandered a 3-1 lead in the second period as the Rebels stormed back to take a 5-4 lead late in the third frame.
Aaron Dunlap, Carsen Willans and Matt MacDonald, with his first goal as a junior, also scored for the Leafs.
Bryan Lubin, with a pair, Stuart Walton, Peter Mingus and Braydon Horcoff replied for the Rebels.
Castlegar outshot Nelson 34-25, including a wide 12-1 margin in the third as the Sunflower City put the foot on the gas pedal looking for goals.
Connor Beachamp, for the Rebels, and Patrick Defoe, for Nelson, tended goal for both teams.
The teams play the return engagement Saturday at the Castlegar Complex. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
