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Former Leaf Brett Soles backstops Coyotes past Nelson 4-1

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
December 13th, 2015

You wouldn’t know the Nelson Leafs had just lost its seventh straight game after speaking with rookie defenceman Kyle Chernenkoff.

The Crescent Valley native refuses to buy into any negative chatter during the post-game interview after Nelson dropped a 4-1 decision to Osoyoos Coyotes in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.

Instead, the 6’1”, 190-pound rearguard says the Leafs are just a break or two away from, first snapping this losing streak, and second, returning to the winning ways of old.

“We just can’t buy a goal,” Chernenkoff said after the game.

“We’re playing really well and everybody is rolling . . . we’re playing phenomenal hockey we’ve just got to get that key goal to break this streak and build some momentum.”

Despite the slide that has seen the Leafs lose 14 of 16 games since October 31, Chernenkoff said he and his teammates are looking ahead and not using the review mirror to see what’s behind.

“Every day is a new day and despite losing you’ve got to come in with the right attitude,” Chernenkoff explains.

“We’re coming to the rink every day to play great hockey and that’s what we’re doing. Unfortunately, we just haven’t got that win yet.”

Case in point was the start of the game.

Nelson out shot the Coyotes 12-10 in the first period but it was the visitors from the Okanagan Conference scoring twice to grab a 2-0 lead.

Braeden Tuck and Reid Wilson did the damage, beating Nelson netminder Patrick Ostermann.

Osoyoos increased the lead to 3-0 midway through the second period when Colton Rhodes beat Ostermann.

Nelson responded when Levi Hulston scored his second goal of the season on the power play.

But Nelson could not crack the Coyotes defence for any more goals as former Leaf Brett Soles, seeing his first action back in Nelson since being dealt to Osoyoos in a surprise deal last fall, closed the door.

“Tonight was good,” Soles said, admitting it was a different feeling coming to the rink and dressing in the visitor’s room.

“We battled hard and it was nice to get the two points back in my old place.”

Tuck, into the empty net, completed the scoring for Osoyoos.

The Coyotes out shot the Leafs 37-34 in the contest.

Soles, posting a 9-1 record for Nelson before an off-ice issue ended his career in the Green and White, said he is surprised to see the once-proud Leaf franchise experience a down year that sees the Green and White trail Grand Forks, a team Nelson has dominated in the past, in the standings.

“I loved my time here, but things change pretty quick,” he said. “It’s nice to be on a winning team that doesn’t have a lot of drama going on and stuff like that.”

“It’s nice to be away from it all,” he adds. “We’re going to keep winning and focus on getting better.”

Osoyoos, which lost 4-3 in Castlegar Friday, improves to 21-8-0-0-3 and a six-point lead over Summerland in the Okanagan Division.

Nelson, dropping to 13-18-0-0-1, is back on the ice Tuesday when the club hosts Grand Forks Border Bruins at 7 p.m. at the NDCC Arena.

Wednesday the Leafs travel to Spokane to conclude the unofficial first half of the season before the Christmas break.

Chernenkoff said a pair of wins would go a long way to making this Christmas a little special.

ICE CHIPS: Brett Soles sits third overall in KIJHL goalie stats with a 1.89 goals against average and 15 wins. In contrast, Nelson Leafs Patrick Ostermann is 21st with a 2.93 goals against average. . .  . Leafs Austin Anselmo was handed a game misconduct for his checking-from-behind penalty in the third period. . . . Beaver Valley Nitehawks moved into sole possession of first place in the Murdoch Division with a 7-2 pasting of Castlegar in the Sunflower City. The Hawks scored four times in a 10-minute span during the first period to jump to a 4-0 lead en route to the one-sided victory. Brett Roberts and Sam Swanson each scored twice for the Hawks.

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