Thunder comes down hard on Nelson Leafs; Nitehawks return to winning ways
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs concluded a five-game road trip on a downer Friday night in Creston as the Thunder Cats scored three times in the opening period to dump the Heritage City club 5-1 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action.
Jayden Smith, former Nelson Leaf Alec Wilkinson and Carson Cartwright in the final minute of the opening frame scored to give the Thunder Cats the insurmountable lead.
Sebastian Kilcommons increased the lead to 4-0 with a second period marker before Jackson Bruce-Fuoco made it 5-0 with a third-period power play tally.
The Leafs, struggling to find the net of late, got its only goal from captain Rayce Miller in the third period.
Ironically, Nelson out shot the Cats 33-31 as Creston netminder Brock Lefebvre out duelled Joseph Barton in the battle of the goalies.
Nelson, slipping to 12-8 on the season, returns to action Saturday when the new-and-improved Grand Forks Border Bruins visit the NDCC Arena at 7 p.m.
Murdoch-leading Hawks back on winning track
Five players each tallied two points as Beaver Valley dumped Castlegar Rebels 5-1 in Murdoch Division action Friday in Fruitvale.
Michael and Allan Pruss, Tyler Hartman, Blake Sidoni and Jace Weegar each finished the game with two points as the Hawks held period leads of 1-0 and 3-1.
Jake Yuris, Jaxon Joseph, Brett Roberts, Devin Nemes and Weegar scored for the Nitehawks.
Tayden Woods replied for Castlegar.
Beaver Valley, 15-4-1 on the season, increased its Murdoch Diviison lead to three points over Castlegar and eight over Nelson.
The win also snapped a two-game losing streak for the Murdoch Division leaders.
