Braves double Murdoch Division leading Leafs
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Bear Hughes scored twice to lift the Spokane Braves to a 4-2 victory over the Nelson Leafs in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Sunday afternoon in the Lilac City.
The win is the second in as many games for the Braves against Murdoch Division leading Leafs. Spokane defeated Nelson 6-4 October 31.
The short-staffed Leafs squad defeated Fernie Ghostriders 3-1 Saturday at home to gain a weekend split in KIJHL play.
Trailing 2-0, Nelson scored twice in the second period as Mitch Lavoie, shorthanded, and Josh Stypka scored to tie the game after 40 minutes. Paul Pierce, in the first period, and Hughes scored to give Spokane the early lead.
However, Marcel Epkey’s power play goal in the third proved to be the difference as the Braves stuck it to their Murdoch rivals and climb to within seven-points of the division leading Leafs. Hughes added a shorthanded tally into an empty net to secure the win.
The goal was the third special-teams marker for Spokane, which finished the game going 2-for-13 with the man advantage. Nelson was zero for five on the power play.
Spokane controlled most of the game on the shot clock, out shooting the Leafs 41-25 and 18-7 in the first period.
The Leafs played the game with only 15 players for the second straight game as injuries continue to plague the Green and White.
Michael LeNoury was back in the lineup for Nelson on defence. But Lenoury’s return left seven players out of the lineup after Ryan Piva was signed to play for Drayton Valley of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Piva had one assist as the Thunder won both games during the weekend.
Saturday, Nelson scored twice in third period to edge the visiting Ghostriders. Easton Jolie register the winner early in the third period. LeNoury added an insurance marker.
Nelson’s Trail Thompson and Brendan Nemes exchanged second period goals.
Fernie outshot the Leafs 26-23 in the game. Hunter Young, playing both weekend games in goal, registered the win for Nelson. Nelson was once again shutout on the power play, going zero-for-five.
The Leafs travel to face Castlegar Rebels Friday in the Sunflower City before returning home Saturday to host Grand Forks Border Bruins.
Nelson, 15-5-1-1, played the weekend without the services of goalie Caiden Kreitz, defenceman Kaleb Comishin and Dylan Rantucci and forwards Scott Lancaster and Shawn Campbell.
