Hawks double Leafs to open up four-point lead in Murdoch; teams meet for New Year's Eve clash Wednesday
By The Nelson Daily Sports
To the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, it’s not what you do in the first three months of the season it’s what you do in the last three months.
The defending Kootenay International Junior Hockey League champions won for the ninth consecutive time by posting a 4-2 decision over Murdoch rivals Nelson Leafs Tuesday at the Hawks Nest in Fruitvale.
The win opens a four-point gap in the Murdoch Division for Beaver Valley over second-place Nelson.
Former Leaf Walker Sidoni provided the offence for Beaver Valley, scoring twice and adding two assists to lead the Hawks. Sidoni’s second marker came midway through the third period shorthanded.
Taylor Stafford, on the power play, and Spencer McLean, into an empty net, completed the Beaver Valley scoring.
Stafford and former Leaf Jacob Boycuk each had three points in the game.
Matt MacDonald scored the only goal for Nelson, which led 1-0 after the first period.
Beaver Valley out shot the Leafs 34-24 in the game to give starting goalie Connor Schamerhorn his eighth win of the season.
Leaf goalie Adam Maida took the loss.
The teams get right back at it Wednesday in Nelson in the annual New Year’s Eve Battle at the NDCC Arena.
Game time is 2:30 p.m.
Leafs New Year’s Eve meltdown
The traditional New Year’s Eve games have not been a great way for the Leafs to ring in the New Year.
Nelson has lost the last three New Year’s Eve games — twice to Beaver Valley (3-2, 2013 — 7-5, 2012) and once to Spokane Braves (3-2, 2011).
The last time Nelson won the afternoon tilt came in 2009 when Nelson double Spokane 4-2.
The win was the second straight for the Leafs, which knocked off West Kootenay rival Castlegar 6-3 in 2009.
Leafs get break in January schedule
Nelson, which enters today’s game against the Hawks with a 3-3-1 mark in the month of December, has an excellent chance to do some damage in January in the Murdoch Division as the club plays seven of its 11 scheduled games in at home in the NDCC Arena.
The Leafs started the home schedule off this coming weekend with doubleheader against Revelstoke Saturday (January 3) and 100 Mile House Wranglers Sunday (January 4).
Saturday’s game starts at 7 p.m. and Sunday, is a 2:30 p.m. puck drop.
Hawks take over Murdoch lead
Beaver Valley held a two-point lead over Nelson in Murdoch Division standings entering Tuesday’s game in Fruitvale after edging Castlegar Rebels 5-3 at home Monday.
The contest, the eighth straight win for the Hawks, was the game-in-hand the Hawks held over the Leafs following the Christmas Holiday break in the KIJHL schedule.
Castlegar, which has played three more games than both Nelson and Beaver Valley, trail the Leafs by a single point.
The eight straight wins also makes the Hawks the hottest team in the entire KIJHL.
Assistant Sean Dooley takes over from McLellan
Leaf head coach Dave McLellan missed both games against Beaver Valley, deciding to remain with his family on the Lower Mainland during the break.
McLellan was a late addition to the head coaching position after accepting the post in late summer.
McLellan’s family decided to remain on the Lower Mainland this season.
