Rebels clinch Murdoch Division with 10-4 win over Grand Forks
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Stuart Walton had four points while Diego Bartlett and Darren Medeiros each netted three points to power the Castlegar Rebels to a convincing 10-4 win over the Grand Forks Border Bruins in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Sunday in the Sunflower City.
The win clinches the Murdoch Division for the Rebels.
The game was never in question as the Rebels scored five times in the first period to build a commanding 5-1 lead.
Medeiros finished the game with three goals while Aaron Brewer, Walton, Bartlett, Jamie Vlanich, Travis Wellman, Aaron Petten and Kane Roberts added singles.
Nathan Cory, Connor Bowen, Jackson Purvis and Nelson Minor Hockey grad Colton Dawson replied for the Bruins.
Jordan Gluck was in goal for the Rebels as the hosts outshot the Bruins 35-28.
After clinching the division, the Rebels how are looking to win the regular season title. Castlegar finishes the season with a home-and-home series against the struggling Nelson Leafs.
Game one is Friday in Castlegar at 7:30 p.m. in the Arena Complex.
Beauchamp brings Rebels closer to Murdoch title, Leafs lose to Grizz in overtime
The champagne will definnitely be on ice today when the Castlegar Rebels play host to the Grand Forks Border Bruins today in the Sunflower City.
Castlegar paved its way to a KIJHL regular season title, along with bragging rights in the Murdoch Division, by stopping the Beaver Valley Nitehawks 2-0 Saturday in Fruitvale.
Connor Beauchamp stopped all 44 shots to register the shutout, giving the Rebels a commanding four-point lead in the Murdoch Division race over the Nelson Leafs.
Jamie Vlanich in the first period and Stuart Walton in the third scored for the Rebels, which were outshot 44-25.
A win Sunday against the 8-38-0-3 Bruins clinches the Murdoch Division crown for the Rebels.
In Revelstoke the woes of the Green and White continues to grow as the Grizzlies rallied from a 4-1 deficit to edge the Leafs in overtime.
Brayden Beckley scored at 4:40 of the first overtime period to lift the home side to the thrilling comeback victory.
The loss was the fifth straight for the Leafs.
Nelson led 3-1 after one period on goals by Connor Gross, Dustin Reimer on the power play and Linden Horswill.
Colton Schell increased the margin to 4-1 with a goal late in the second frame.
But Dylan Ossman scored a power play marker with less than two minutes remaining in the middle frame to start the comeback.
Ossman with his second of the game 31 seconds in the third made the score 4-3 before Tyler Reay tied the game with a late goal.
Nelson continues to out shoot its opponent, holding a 44-35 advantage.
Aaron Brandoli registered the win in goal over Marcus Beesley of the Leafs, who continues to struggle since being brought to Nelson in a deadline deal with Kamloops Storm.
Nelson concludes the season next weekend with a home-and-home series against the Rebels.
The Leafs will try to right the ship heading into the post season, needing a good result to hold off the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the race for second in the division.
Nelson leads Beaver Valley by a slim two points margin heading into the final weekend of the season.
The Hawks wrap up the season with a home-and-home series against Spokane Braves beginning Friday in the Lilac City.
