Ghostriders dump Leafs 4-1 in KIJHL action in Nelson
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs saw some light at the end of the tunnel with the return of a few injured players from sickbay.
The good news, however, didn’t pay off on the ice as Fernie Ghostriders skated into the NDCC Arena and made off with a 4-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory Friday.
The result saw Nelson lose for the 14th straight time — the long losing streak is partly due to the KIJHL stripping the Leafs of eight points, and a handful of wins, after the Heritage City franchise was found guilty of using an ineligible player.
Justin Peters, Doan Smith and Derek Georgopoulos scored three times in first period to power the Riders to its second victory of the season over the Leafs.
The three goals chased Leaf starting goalie Adam Maida from the net after one period.
Fernie dumped Nelson 5-1 January 17 in the East Kootenay City.
Darnel St. Pierre scored in the second to cut the margin to 3-1. But Calvin Tisley added an insurance goal in the third period as the riders rebounded from a 13-1 shot domination by Nelson to out shoot the home side 12-5 in the third.
Nelson out shot the Ghostriders 25-21.
The Leafs return to action Saturday when the Murdoch Division club hosts Grand Forks at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
LEAGUE NOTES: Former Nelson Leafs and Fernie Ghostriders Connor McLaughlin was named the ACAC Hockey Online player of the week after accumulating seven points during a weekend series. McLaughlin played two seasons for Selkirk College before moving on to the Alberta College League. . . .The Leafs welcomed forward Matt MacDonald and defenceman Patrick Croome back to the lineup for Friday’s game against Fernie. MacDonald returned from the injured list while Croome completed serving a suspension picked up in Fernie January 17. . . . Leaf coach and GM Dave McLellan served his second game of a suspension that will end at the end of the regular season for using an ineligibile player.
