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Leafs complete weekend sweep of Murdoch rival Castlegar Rebels

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
February 2nd, 2020

The Nelson Leafs used an explosive attack to pull off a weekend sweep of the Castlegar Rebels in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action.

The Leafs opened the weekend series with a 7-2 victory over the Rebels Friday in Castlegar before completing the sweep Saturday at home with a 4-2 win at the NDCC Arena.

The sweep ran Nelson’s unbeaten streak to five games.

Friday, Leaf Captain David Sanchez and Reid Wilson each scored twice to pace a Leafs attack that scored multiple times in all three periods.

Adam Diotte, Tyler Pisiak and Shawn Campbell added singles. Wilson finished the game with four points while Shawn Badger had three assists.

Nelson held period leads of 2-0 and 4-2 and outshot the Rebels 41-25.

Tenzin Mint registered the win in goal for Nelson while Ethan Lawczynski took the loss for Castlegar.

Saturday, the Rebels kept pace with the Leafs scoring the first, and only goal, in the opening frame on the power play.

Cortez Favot beat Anderson Violette in the Nelson nets 14 minutes into the game.

Nelson tied the game early in the second frame, capitalizing on a four-minute tripping penalty by Ben Anderson of the Rebels. Alek Erichuk scored his first of two in the game on the power play.

Less than 30 seconds later, Jaden Shumilak gave Nelson the lead for good before Erichuk scored his second of the game seven minutes into the period to give Nelson the 3-1 advantage.

Griffen Ryden scored a shorthanded tally for Castlegar with seven minutes remaining in the third period to cut the margin to 3-2.

However, with  Lawczynski in favor of an extra attacker, Pisiak sealed the deal with an empty-net goal.

Nelson, improving to 26-12-0-0-6 on the season, outshot the Rebels 32-30.

ICE CHIPS: Despite winning five straight games, Nelson fell two points behind Murdoch-leading Beaver Valley Nitehawks in division standings. Beaver Valley, entering the week playing three less games than Nelson, are currently riding a three-game winning streak. Beaver Valley will make up the remaining games this weekend when Nelson is idle and the Hawks play Spokane and Creston Valley. . . . Shawn Campbell and Alex Erichuk were named game stars for Nelson, Friday and Saturday, respectfully. . . . Nelson rolled out its special jerseys during the team’s Autism awareness campaign during February. The jerseys, worn during home games in February, are sponsored by Nelson Remedy’s RX. . . . Nelson’s leading scorer, Reid Wilson, extended his point streak to six games. Wilson now has points in 18 of the last 19 games. . . . Leafs Tyler Badger and Rebels Justin Duguay both sat out Saturday's contest after being suspended for two games for head contact penalties. . . . Prior to the game, Nelson Leafs made a $1,000 donation to Nelson Friends of the Family. Nelson vice president Jeff Wright made the donation on behalf of the Leafs to Lorna Staten and Leona Dimock of Nelson Friends of Family.

Leafs vice president Jeff Wright presents Lorna Staten (center) and Leona Dimock of Nelson Friends of Family with a $1,000 donation prior to the start of Leafs-Rebels game Saturday at NDCC Arena. — Bruce Fuhr, The Nelson Daily

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