Leafs streaks ends at 11, Rebels close gap in Murdoch with 5-3 win over Storm
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The streak is over for the Nelson Leafs.
Jacob Bergeron scored a power play goal with one second remaining in the first overtime sparking the Golden Rockets to a 3-2 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the Nelson Leafs Saturday night in the North Columbia City.
The loss halts the Leafs winning streak at 11. However, Nelson still skates away with a single point, which is good enough to keep the Leafs in top spot in the Murdoch Division a point in front of the surging Castlegar Rebels.
The Sunflower City squad increased its winning streak to nine by outlasting the Kamloops Storm 5-3 in Spoolmak Country.
Trailing 2-1 after 40 minutes, Nelson forced the extra frame when Carsen Willans scored his sixth of the season with just over six minutes in the third period.
But the fortunes of the Leafs took a hit with one minute remaining in the overtime frame when defenceman J.J. Beitel was whistled for a hooking penalty allowing the Rockets to crank up the power play and score the winning goal.
Bryce Nielsen scored the other goal for Nelson in the second period.
Brent DeFrias and Connor Beauchemin replied for the Rockets.
Cody Boeckman took the loss in goal for Nelson.
The win for Golden avenges a 5-3 loss last week in Nelson to the Leafs.
The Leafs, out shooting the Rockets 38-30, conclude the three-game road swing through the Eddie Mountain Division Sunday in Invermere with a game against the Columbia Valley Rockies.
Vlanich sparks Rebels past Storm
In Kamloops a goal by Jamie Vlanich with three minutes left in the second period stood up as the winner sparking the Rebels to the two-goal victory over the Storm.
The goal by Vlanich was sweet music to the Rebels who squandered a 3-0 lead.
Brenden Heinrich, Aaron Petten and Kody Disher on the power play had given the Rebels the early lead before the Kamloops stormed back.
Diego Bartlett added an empty net goal in the third period to secure the win.
The Rebels conclude the three-game road swing through the Okanagan Conference Sunday against North Okanagan Knights.
