Hawks surprise Rebels in Game one of Murdoch Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Ryan Edwards continued his hot scoring streak, scoring a power play goal midway through the third period to spark the Beaver Valley Nitehawks to a 3-2 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff victory over the Rebels Monday night in Castlegar.
The Hawks, winners of four straight, lead the best-of-seven Murdoch Final 1-0.
Game two is Tuesday in the Sunflower City.
Castlegar, entering the game the hottest team in the KIJHL with 10 wins in 11 games, opened the scoring on Beaver Valley netminder Zach Perehudoff less than two minutes into the game when Diego Bartlett combined with Brenden Heinrich and Bryan Lubin.
The goal, however, never fazed the Hawks which outshot the Rebels 10-7 in the period and tied the game on a marker from Michael Bell.
Beaver Vallley rookie Riley Brandt scored his first playoff marker with seconds remaining in the middle frame before Edwards notched the winner in the third giving the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
Darren Medeiros scored the other goal for Castlegar.
Beaver Valley out shot the Rebels 25-19 making a winner out of Perehudoff.
Netminder Jarrod Schamerhorn, injured in Game five of the Murdoch semi final against Nelson, was back on the bench as the back-up goalie for Beaver Valley.
Edwards, leading the KIJHL in playoffs scoring with 15 points, has 12 points in his last four games.
The series shifts to Fruitvale for Games three and four Thursday and Friday.
Knights need extra time to take lead on Eagles
In Armstrong, Marty Saharchuk scored in overtime to lift the North Okanagan Knights to a 6-5 win over Sicamous Eagles in Game one of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference Semi Final.
The Knights lead the series 1-0 with Game two set for Tuesday in Armstrong.
