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Leafs dump Fernie 5-1, lose captain St. Pierre for two games

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
February 2nd, 2014

The Nelson Leafs scored three unanswered goals in the second period to dump the Fernie Ghostriders 5-1 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.

Jamie Vlanich registered his 200th KIJHL career point during the win and in the process increased his scoring lead to 11 points over Jesse Collins of the Creston Valley Thunder.

The win avenged a 7-2 drubbing the Leafs received at the hands of the Ghostriders in December.

However, all everyone was talking about outside the Leaf dressing room was the two-minute head contact penalty to captain Darnel St. Pierre early in the second period.

A penalty — was it the correct call or was it not — that will see the Kelowna native receiving a two-game suspension for the fourth time this season.

“I like to hit, play a hard nosed game and make guys pay for keeping their heads down,” St. Pierre said following the game that put Nelson four points ahead of Beaver Valley in the race for top spot in the Murdoch Division.

“Obviously I think the hit (in the second period) was clean but the ref called it as he sees it.”

Similar to numerous hits this season, St. Pierre caught Kale Johnston of the Ghostriders with a punishing check that not only had the Fernie forward skating to the bench with wobbly legs, but also knocked the faceguard from the helmet.

“(The referee) is human too,” St. Pierre said “He’s got to make the split second call so I just have to take it as it goes and be a little more smarter on the ice.”

Tied 1-1 after one frame on goals by Austin Lindsay for Nelson and Travis Thomsen for the ‘Riders, Nelson scored twice during a three-minute span to put the game away.

Aaron Dunlap tipped a point shot from Kyle Clayton to give Nelson a 2-1 lead on a delay penalty to Fernie.

Two minutes later, Travis Wellman grabbed a rebound, and with Fernie netminder Phoenix Logan-Hill out of position after making the first save, deposited the puck into the vacant net.

Nelson caught a break a few minutes later when the puck dribbled through the pads of starting goalie Brad Rebagliati.

However, after consultation between the three officials it was ruled the whistle sounded waving off the goal.

St. Pierre then drilled a shot past Logan-Hill late in the frame to give Nelson a commanding 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Alec Wilkinson completed the scoring 58 seconds into the third to complete the scoring.

“Anytime you can get a win around this time of the year, especially with all the games being important, its going to be big,” St. Pierre said.

“Fernie is a real good team but I thought we just out played them tonight.”

Nelson may have caught the ‘Riders at the best time of the season as Saturday’s game was the third in three nights for Fernie.

“I’m proud of how we played against three of the top teams in the league — Creston, Beaver Valley and Nelson — but there’s only so much gas in the tank,” said Fernie head coach Dale Hladun.

“Everyone is short staffed at this time of the year,” Hladun added. “Nelson is a good club and they deserved the win.”

The Leafs finished the game with a 33-25 advantage in shots.

Nelson, 34-8-1-4, now holds a four-point advantage over the Hawks after wins over Fernie and Spokane 6-2 Friday in the Lilac City.

However, the Hawks have played two less games.

The two teams meet in a Murdoch Division showdown beginning Friday in Nelson.

Game two of the home-and-home series goes Saturday in Fruitvale.

LEAF BANTER: Leaf center Jamie Vlanich reached the 200-point plateau in the second period on Aaron Dunlap’s goal. Vlanich, now has 32 goals and 58 assists, finished the game with two points. Dunlap, Rayce Miller and Travis Wellman each had two points. . . Friday in Spokane, Vlanich led the Leafs with four points. Carsen Willans, Vlanich, Adam Hodge, Austin Seaman, Linden Horswill and Wellman scored for the Leafs. . . . Nelson finished the month of January with an 8-3 record. The Leafs have five games remaining in February — three against Beaver Valley and two against Grand Forks.

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