Leafs back on the winning track
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs have climbed back into a share of top spot in the Murdoch Division of the Kootenay International Junior League.
The Green and White scored three times in the first period to rout the Osoyoos Coyotes 7-1 in Interlocking Conference action Saturday night in the South Okanagan.
The win comes on the heels of a 5-3 win Friday in Spokane over the Braves. In the contest Nelson rallied for four third-period goals to erase a 3-1 second-period deficit.
The weekend sweep runs the Nelson win streak to three games.
Saturday, against the lowly Coyotes, Nelson scored three times in the opening 12 minutes to take early control of the game.
Ryan Janowski, newcomer Brandon Costa and Jaden Shumilak scored before Michael Greenwood gave the home team something to cheer with a late goal.
Keenan Crossman and Tyler Pisiak increased the margin to 5-1 after 40 minutes before Shawn Campbell and Shumilak completed the scoring for Nelson. Costa finished the game with three points while Janowski, Crossman, Lane Goodwin and Campbell each had two points.
Nelson outshot the Coyotes 45-26 giving Leaf goalie Tenzin Mint an easy assignment between the pipes.
Friday, the Leafs needed a strong third-period surge to knock off the Braves in Spokane. Costa led the charge with a pair of third-period goals while Shumilak and Reid Wilson added singles.
David Sanchez scored the other goal for Nelson, which trailed 3-0 midway through the second period. Derek Humphreys, Alex Enegren and Alex Moore replied for Spokane.
Mint and Anderson Violette split the netminding duties for Nelson. Former Leaf goalie Austin Madge took the loss for Spokane.
Joe Davidson registered a three-point night for Nelson while Crossman, Sanchez, Costa and Wilson each added two points.
Nelson, 24-12-0-0-6, climbed into a tie for top spot in the Murdoch Division with Beaver Valley Nitehawks. However, the Leafs have played three more games than Beaver Valley.
BLUEINES: Nelson finishes up its four-game road trip Friday in Castlegar against the Rebels. The game is the first in a home-and-home weekend series. Saturday the teams play in Nelson at 7 p.m. . . .The Leafs played the weekend without the services of head coach Mario DiBella. The veteran skipper received a match penalty in the third period of last Sunday’s game in Grand Forks along with a three-game suspension. . . . Brandon Costa, who landed on the Leafs on the January 10 roster deadline date, had five points in his first two games with the Green and White. . . .Reid Wilson continues to lead the Leafs in scoring with 26 goals and 38 assists for 64 points. Wilson, second in KI scoring behind leader Brock Palmer of Kimberley, has register a point in 16 of the last 17 games.
