Hawks dump Leafs 6-2 to take over Murdoch Division lead
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs are no longer the top dogs in the Murdoch Division.
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks, winners of eight straight games, assumed the penthouse in the division by spanking the Leafs 6-2 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Sunday evening in Fruitvale.
Beaver Valley, 26-6-1-2, lead Nelson by one point after stopping the Leafs in the first of a two-game, home-and-home series.
The second game of the set goes at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the NDCC Arena.
Three unanswered second-period goals sealed the deal for the Hawks.
The goals by Archie McKinnon, Russell Mortlock and Mitch Foyle snapped a 1-1 first period tie.
Brandon Fuller, with a pair, and Dallas Calvin, finishing the game with three points, also scored for the Hawks.
Taylor Stafford also had three assists to spark the Hawks.
Beaver Valley won the special teams battle, scoring twice on the power play and once shorthanded.
Carsen Willans and Robson Cramer, on the power play, replied for Nelson.
Beaver Valley outshot the Leafs 49-34 in the game, including a 22-8 margin in the second.
ICE CHIPS: The Hawks completed a three-game sweep of Murdoch opposition, outscoring Castlegar and Nelson 20-10 en route to the wins. . . . Beaver Valley has not lost since Spokane defeated the Hawks 3-2 in overtime December 6. . . . Nelson is 4-3 in December. . . . The season series between Nelson and Beaver Valley is now tied 2-2. . . . Nelson welcomed two new players to the lineup. Adam Hodge and Arizona native Rayce Miller were additions to the roster. Sam Weber of BCMMHL affiliate Kootenay Ice was also in the lineup for Nelson.
