Rebels spoil the party, snap Leafs seven-game winning streak with 5-1 victory
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs seven-game Kootenay International Junior Hockey League winning streak came to a crashing end Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.
The Castlegar Rebels scored three unanswered goals in the second period to crush the Green and White 5-1.
With the game tied at 1-1, John Moeller, Chris Breese and Jordan Wood scored to give Castlegar a commanding 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Moeller, adding an insurance marker in the third period to finish with a pair of goals, and Everett Hicks had three points as the Rebels beat up on the Murdoch Division leaders to pull into second spot within 10 points of the Leafs.
Rebel captain Vince Bitonit and Nicholas Wihak for the Leafs exchanged first period goals as Castlegar outshot Nelson 12-7.
Nelson Minor Hockey product Curt Doyle registered the win in goal for the Rebels.
Sam Burford, winner of four consecutive games to begin his KIJHL career, suffered the loss in goal for Nelson.
Nelson, 19-4-1-0-1, heads back out on the road to face the Rebels Saturday in the Sunflower City.
The next home game for the Leafs is Saturday, December 9 against the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
ICE CHIPS: Before the game started, there was a ceremony at center ice for the Nelson and Area Friends of the Family Foundation. The foundation was started in 2000 as a result of local families wanting to give back to the community that helped them during their own time of crisis. The Foundation’s purpose quickly led to helping families with emergency financial need due to childhood illness or accidental injuries. . . . Despite the loss, Nelson concludes the month of November with a 7-1 record and remains the top team overall in the KIJHL, four points ahead of Kimberley Dynamiters and five in front of Summerland Steam. During the November run Nelson outscored the opposition by a 27-14 margin. . . .Ryan Cooper and Leaf captain Sawyer Hunt remain tied for top spot in team scoring, each with 25 points. Cooper leads the team in goals with 13. . . .Josh Williams remains the top goalie in the KIJHL witih 1.48 goals against average and a .951 save average.
