Styler OT winner powers Rebels past Nelson Leafs
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Castlegar Rebels continue to work magic without their head coach.
Logan Styler scored the winner in the second overtime to give the visiting Rebels a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Nelson Leafs in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Murdoch Division action Friday night at the NDCC Arena.
The win was the third straight for the Sunflower City franchise, and second in as many games against the Leafs.
Castlegar moves to within a point of Murdoch-leading Beaver Valley after the Nitehawks lost to Grand Forks 5-2 in the Boundary City.
Trailing 2-0 after one period, Castlegar, playing without head coach Bill Rotheisier who was suspended for 45 days for tampering by the KIJHL, outscored the Leafs 4-2 in the final 40 minutes to force overtime.
Jacob Boston and Luke Madge scored in the second period before Styler and Everett Hicks notched goals in the third to give the visitors a 4-3 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
Austin Steger tied the game for Nelson to send the contest into overtime before Styler scored his second of the game to give the Castlegar the victory.
Dale Howell, Eamonn Miller and Ryan Piva completed the scoring for the Leafs.
Nelson, which held period leads of 2-0 and 3-2, outshot the Rebels 39-34.
Jason Mailhoit registered his second win in as many games against the Leafs while Jason Sandhu took the loss for Nelson.
The Leafs return to action Saturday in Fruitvale to face the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
The Hawks saw the Bruins score four times in the second period to defeat the defending Murdoch Champs.
Sunday Nelson travels to Grand Forks to meet the Border Bruins for the first time this season.
Castlegar is idle until Friday when the Rebels host Grand Forks.
