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Karran scores late lifting Leafs into 3-3 tie against Rockies

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
September 17th, 2017

The Nelson Leafs needed some late-game heroics to steal a point from the Columbia Valley Rockies in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.

Jack Karran scored with 11 seconds remaining in the third period to pull the Leafs into a 3-3 tie with the Eddie Mountain Division squad.

The single-point allows the Leafs to complete an early-season home stand with a 2-1-1 record.

After netting a dozen Friday against Fernie, the Leafs fell behind early against the Rockies as Brennan Nelson and Joshua Antunes scored less than four minutes into the game to give the visitors a quick 2-0 advantage.

Jackson Zimmermann, with his first of two on the night, cut the margin in half, with a goal on the power play late in the opening frame.

Despite out shooting the Rockies 18-5 in the second period, Nelson failed to solve goalie Ben Kelsch. The former Leaf continually frustrated the home side shooters with some amazing saves.

In the third it appeared Columbia Valley would have just enough offence to steal the road victory when Robert Butterwick put the puck past Quinn Yeager in the Leaf nets to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.

However, Zimmermann scored with seven minutes remaining to set the stage for Karran to pot the equalizer.

Nelson dominated the Rockies during the final 50 minutes of the game, out shooting the visitors 42-12 for a 52-21 game advantage.

Kelsch was the obvious game star for Columbia Valley, which earned its first point of the season in four games.

Karran took the player-of-the-game honour for the Leafs.

Nelson, third in the Murdoch Division, now sets out on a three-game road trip with stops Friday in Spokane and Saturday in Creston.

The Leafs travel to Grand Forks Friday, September 29th before returning home Saturday, September 30th to face the Creston Valley Thunder Cats at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.

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