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Leafs continue to roll, takeover lead of Murdoch Division

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
October 27th, 2019

The future is definitely looking bright for Joe Davidson and the Nelson Leafs.

The rookie winger registered a four-point night to lead Nelson to an 8-4 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over visiting 100 Mile House Wranglers Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.

The win, combined with Nelson’s 3-1 decision Friday in Fruitvale over the Beaver Valley, lifted the Green and White into top spot in the Murdoch Division, two points ahead of the Nitehawks.

After a slow start to the season, the Leafs continue to be one of the hottest teams in the KIJHL winning for the ninth consecutive time Saturday night. During the streak, Nelson has outscored the opposition 47-20.

Davidson scored twice in the opening frame to help Nelson to a 3-1 first-period intermission lead.

Shawn Campbell, also scoring two times for Nelson including a first-period goal to open the scoring for Nelson, and Reid Wilson added second period goal before Cole Wyatt, Shawn Grobowsky and Bryden Pow added singles in the third.

Quinn Mulder, Jackson Kowblick with a pair, and Cody Barnes replied for the Wranglers.

Austin Madge was in goal for Nelson to register his second win in as many starts this season.

Nelson, going 3-for-seven on the power play, outshot 100 Mile House 31-24 in the contest.

Friday, Nelson survived a major test of the season in Beaver Valley.

Two goals by Bryden Pow combined with solid netminding from goalie Anderson Violette sparked Nelson past the Nitehawks, which entered the weekend on top of the Murdoch Division.

Trailing 1-0 after one period, Pow tied the game in the second with a powerplay marker before scoring the winner in the third, unassisted, midway through the frame.

Davidson added an insurance marker less than a minute later giving Violette all the offence he would need to secure the victory in goal.

Beaver Valley outshot the Leafs 28-26 with each team going 1-for-7 with the man advantage.

Nelson has six days off before playing two home games in four days.

The Leafs host Kamloops Storm Saturday before welcoming Murdoch rival Grand Forks Border Bruins Tuesday for a mid-week contest. The Storm have struggled this season, winning four games in 15 attempts to sit last in the Doug Birks Division.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are fourth in the Murdoch Division, eight points behind the Leafs after 14 games.

ICE CHIPS: Nelson, 10-2-0-0-3, finished October perfect in nine games. . . .Nelson captain David Sanchez was back in the lineup, playing his second game of the season Saturday. . . . Shawn Campbell and defenceman Kaleb Comishin each finished with three points against 100 Mile House. Campbell has scored in six of the seven games played this season to move to within four points of team leading Reid Wilson in Leafs scoring. Wilson, who had two points Saturday, leads Nelson in scoring with 19 points, including eight goals. Campbell leads Nelson in goals with 11 with Bryden Pow second with eight and Joe Davidson third with seven markers. . . . Anderson Violette moved into top spot in KIJHL goalies with a 1.60 GAA and a .935 save percentage. . . . Last week 100 Mile House traded the player rights of former Leaf Ryan Piva to Kimberley Dynamiters.  

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