Leafs play out season today against rival Rebels
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs conclude what has been a trying Kootenay International Junior Hockey League regular season on the pond Sunday at the NDCC Arena against the Castlegar Rebels.
Puck drop at the NDCC Arena is 2:30 p.m.
Nelson enters the contest against the West Kootenay rivals after pounding Grand Forks Border Bruins 8-3 Friday in the Boundary City.
MIchael Crawford continues to shine after returning to the Green and White following a mid-season hiatus, scoring three goals and adding an assists for a four-point game.
The 6-foot, 160-pound Penticton sniper has 13 points since returning to Nelson, including four goals in the past two games.
Matt MacDonald, Austin Lindsay, Leaf captain Aaron Dunlap, Michael Rand and Tyler Fyfe also scored for Nelson.
Josh Gladman, Mitchell Pearson and Matt Lucero replied for Grand Forks, which trailed 4-0 and 5-1 after the first and second periods, respectively.
Nelson, finishing fourth in the Murdoch Division, takes on defending KIJHL champion Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the first round of the playoffs beginning Friday in Fruitvale.
Game two is set for Saturday (February 21) at the Hawks Nest before the series shifts to Nelson for Games three and four, (Monday) Feburary 23 and (Tuesday) February 24.
If necessary, the final three games of the series would be played February 26 (Beaver Valley), Feburary 27 (Nelson) and February 28 (Beaver Valley).
