Leafs McGeady-Bruce sparks Nelson past Spokane Braves
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Aigne McGeady-Bruce’s first junior hockey goal proved to be a big one for the Nelson Leafs.
The rookie defenceman scored the winning goal four minutes into the third period sparking the Nelson Leafs to a 4-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the Spokane Braves Sunday afternoon in the Lilac City.
The marker by the Nelson Minor Hockey product snapped a 1-1 tie, lifting Nelson to its third straight win of the season over the Braves and second straight on the road at the Eagles Ice-A-Rena.
Andy Fitzpatrick, Eamonn Miller and Joe Davie, into an empty net, also scored for Nelson.
Mason Jones had the lone goal for Spokane, which led 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.
Joseph Barton stopped 18 shots to register the victory in goal for the Leafs.
Blake Norman was the busier of the two netminders as the Spokane backstop faced 46 shots in the Braves’ net.
The win, allowing Nelson to close to within five points of Murdoch leading Beaver Valley Nitehawks, snapped a two-game losing streak for the Leafs.
Nelson, 12-7 on the season, travels to Creston Friday to meet the Thunder Cats to complete the five-game road swing before returning home to host Grand Forks Border Bruins Saturday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
