Leafs rock Rockets to snap skid; Rebels move into share of Murdoch lead
By The Nelson Daily Sports
What’s the best way to put an end to a five-game losing streak?
Put the last place team in the entire Kootenay International Junior Hockey League on the schedule.
The Nelson Leafs took care of business, and at the same time halted a five-game slide, but posting a 5-0 shutout of the hometown Rockets Friday night in Golden.
The Leafs put the game out of reach with a four-goal second period against the 2-22-1-0-2 Rockets.
Tyler Garcia, Kolten Nelson, Sam Webber and Eamonn Miller, on the power power play, scored during an eight-minute span to lead the Leafs.
Jordan Davie rounded out the scoring in the third period for the Leafs, which leapfrogged into sole possession of third spot in the Murdoch Division standings past the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
Garcia finished the game with three points while Nelson, Nick Novin, Miller and Davie each had two points.
Patrick Ostermann was solid between the pipes for the Leafs, blocking all 23 shots in posting the shutout.
Nelson out shot the Rockets 29-23 in the contest.
Nelson, making the road trip with only 15 players, completes the two-game trek through the Eddie Mountain Division with a game Saturday in Invermere against the Columbia Valley Rockies.
The game will be a home coming of sort for Nelson, who came to the Leafs last week from Columbia Valley.
Nelson travels to Castlegar Wednesday and Kimberley Friday before returning home to face Columbia Valley, Saturday, December 5 at the NDCC Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.
Rebels pull into tie for Murdoch Division lead
The Castlegar Rebels won while the Beaver Valley Nitehawks lost pulling the Sunflower City squad into a tie for the lead in the Murdoch Division — each team has 37 points.
The Rebels outlasted Grand Forks Border Bruins 4-1 while the injury-riddled Hawks were hammered 10-2 by the Thunder Cats Friday in Creston.
Tayden Woods scored two of the three power play goals by the Rebels in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and power Castlegar to the victory.
Castlegar out shot the Bruins 16-4 in the third period, and 37-20 in the game making Grand Forks netminder Anthony Galliart a busy goalie.
Mike Bhatoa and Chris Breese also scored for the Rebels.
Chad Grambo scored the only goal for the Bruins.
In Creston, the Cats outscored the Hawks 9-1 in the final 40 minutes to win the in a walk.
Ten different Thunder Cats shared in the scoring.
