Hawks outlast Leafs 7-6, can wrap up Murdoch Semi Friday in Nelson
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Two goals 17 seconds apart in the third period lifted the Beaver Valley Nitehawks to a 7-6 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the Nelson Leafs in playoff action Thursday night in Fruitvale.
The Hawks lead the best-of-seven Murdoch Division Semi Final 3-2 with Game six Friday at the NDCC Arena.
With the score deadlocked at 5-5, Beaver Valley captain Archie McKinnon scored on the power play giving the Hawks the 6-5 lead.
Seconds later Ryan Edwards caught the Leafs napping to give the hosts a two-goal margin.
Bryce Neilsen with his second of the game in the final minute pulled Nelson to within a goal of the Hawks.
But Beaver Valley was able to withstand the late Nelson push to secure the win and the series lead.
Dallas Calvin led all scorers with three goals with McKinnon finishing with a pair.
Arie Postmus had the other Beaver Valley goal.
Carsen Willans, Seth Schmidt, Robson Cramer and Colton Schell replied for Nelson.
Neilsen and Aaron Dunlap each had three points for Nelson.
Each team finished the game with three power play goals.
Beaver Valley out shot the Leafs 39-31.
Jarrod Schamerhorn and Zach Perehudoff split the netminding for the Hawks while Brett Soles took the loss for Nelson.
Rebels dust off Braves in five games
Quinn Kimchuk scored unassisted at 17:05 of the second overtime period to give Castlegar a 3-2 win over Spokane in Game five of the Murdoch Division Semi Final Thursday in the Sunflower City.
The Rebels win the best-of-seven series 4-1 and now await the winner of the Nelson/Beaver Valley set in the Murdoch Division Final.
Each team scored twice on the power play with Erik Alden tying up the game early in the third period with his second special teams marker of the game.
Sean Collins and Alex Peltram replied for Spokane.
Jordan Gluck out dueled Matt Zenzola in the nets to register the win.
Castlegar out shot the Braves 45-29.
