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Leafs manage to get a win during road trip, edging Rockies 4-3

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
January 10th, 2011

By The Nelson Daily Sports

Joel Stewart is starting to pay dividends for the Nelson Leafs.

The second goal of the game by the former Spokane Brave proved to be the winner as Nelson edged the Columbia Valley Rockies 4-3 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Sunday in Invermere.

Stewart connected with Colon Schell and Marcus Dahl to power Nelson to the come from behind victory. The Leafs trailed 3-1 at one stage of the contest after the Rockies scored three times in a 152 seconds span.

Dustin Johnson and Dahl also scored for the Leafs. Marcus Beesley stopped 27 shots to record the victory in goal.

The win was the first during a three-game road swing into the Eddie Mountain Division.

The Leafs opened the weekend by getting trashed 7-1 by the high-powered Fernie Ghostriders Friday.

After Johnson scored in the first period to close the gap to 2-1, the Riders scored five consecutive power play goals — one in the second and four in the third period.

Cale Wright had a goal and two assists while Josh Garneau checked in with four points, including a pair of goals, to pace the Riders. Scott Morriseau, Connor Morgan, Mark Strachan and Alex Milton also scored for Fernie.

Fraser Abdaliah had an easy time in the Fernie nets, facing only 19 shots.

The Leafs then ventured to Golden Saturday. But the result was just as bad as Tyler Fairall scored at the 2:39 mark of the second overtime period to lift the Rockets to a 5-4 win.

Nelson, leading 2-1 after one period, watched as the Rockets scored three consecutive goals to take a 4-2 lead with seven minutes remaining in the contest.

However, Cody Abbey and Dahl, with his second of the contest, scored late in the frame to force overtime. Johnson scored the other goal for the Leafs.

Beesley took the loss in goal after relieving Nelson starter Darren Hogg.

OVERTIME: Joel Stewart, with seven points in five games, is doing his best to help Leaf fans forget that the team’s leading scorer Gavin Currie is out of the lineup due to injury. Currie remains on the shelf after being injured December 31. . . .Dustin Johnson, a 67-point man last year for Merritt of the B.C. Hockey League, has seven points in five games for Nelson. . . . The Leafs, 20-16-0-2, have now lost twice this season in overtime. The first loss came December 12 against Grand Forks. . . .Next home game is Wednesday at the NDCC against Grand Forks.

sports@thenelsondaily.com
 

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