Hunt scores twice to spark Leafs to 7-3 rout of Ghostriders
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Nelson Leafs scored four unanswered goals in the final 21 minutes of the game to rout the Fernie Ghostriders 7-3 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Friday night in Sparwood.
Leaf Captain Sawyer Hunt led the Green and White charge with a pair of goals as Nelson held period leads of 2-0 and 4-3.
Dash Thompson, Jaiden LaPorte, newcomer Michell Lavoie, Justin Podgorenko and David Sanchez also scored for Nelson.
Thompson, Podgrenko, Sanchez, Ryan Cooper and Hunt all finished the game with two points.
Fernie outshot the Leafs 46-39 in the game as Josh Williams backstopped Nelson to the victory — it was the 14th win in 18 starts this season for Williams.
The victory increases Nelson’s lead to four points in Murdoch standings over idle Castlegar Rebels.
The two teams hook up Saturday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena in an important divisional clash.
Castlegar has won the last two games over Nelson but a combined score of 9-2.
The Rebels continue to be the hottest team in the KIJHL, winners of eight consecutive games.
In other Murdoch action, Ben Waslaski stopped 57 of 58 shots to lift the Spokane Braves into a 1-1 tie against high-powered Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the Lilac City.
Aiden Jenner scored in the first period for the Hawks before Kade Mohr replied with the tying marker in the second frame.
Owen Sikkes was in goal for Beaver Valley.
ICE CHIPS: Suspensions forced Leaf management to call up players from the Kootenay Ice of the BC Major Midget Hockey League. Defenceman Nathan Ingram and forward Marty Ingram, of Trail, both dressed for Nelson. . . .Newcomer Michell Lavoie also saw his first action for Nelson, arriving in the Heritage City from Revelstoke Grizzlies. In 16 games for Revelstoke, the 6’1” 198-pound Lavoie registered two points.
