Leafs Sweep Into Murdoch Finals, face Beaver Valley Nitehawks
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs pulled out the brooms Tuesday night in Spokane, riding the 28-save performance of Tenzin Mint to shutout the Braves 3-0 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Playoffs at the Eagles Ice Arena.
The win gives the Leafs a 4-0 sweep in the best-of-seven Murdoch Division Semi-Final and sets up a showdown with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
The Hawks also powered their way into the next round by defeating the Castlegar Rebels in four games.
Beaver Valley dumped the Rebels 4-1 Tuesday night in Castlegar to complete the sweep.
Tuesday in Spokane, the Leafs got all the scoring the Green and White would need in the second period when Tyler Pisiak, shorthanded, and Tyler Badger scored to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Nelson then tightened up the defence while Mint frustrated the Spokane shooters to secure the road victory.
Reid Wilson, with points in all four games, added some insurance in the third with the games’ final goal.
Nelson outshot the Braves 39-28. Austin Madge dropped his third game of the series in goal.
In Castlegar, a goal by Phillipe Lessard two minutes into the third period proved to be the winner, snapping a 1-1 tie, as the Hawks outlasted the Rebels.
Bradley Ross and Ryan MacDonald also scored in the third period for Beaver Valley.
Hawks Lucas Anselmo and Griffin Ryden of the Rebels had the other goals.
Castlegar outshot the Hawks 34-26. But Hunter Young was solid between the pipes for Beaver Valley to register the win.
Rockies, Posse, Grizzlies advance to second round of KIJHL Playoffs
Columbia Valley Rockies, Princeton Posse and Revelstoke Grizzlies also swept into the second round of the KIJHL playoffs.
The Rockies upset Eddie Mountain Division runnerup Fernie Ghostriders 4-0 in Invermere to advance.
Meanwhile, in the Okanagan Conference, Princeton knocked off Summerland Steam 5-4 and Revelstoke Grizzlies edged Kamloops Storm 2-1 to advance to the Division Finals.
Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Creston to go up 3-1 in the Eddie Mountain Semi-Final. Game five is Thursday back in Kimberley.
Kelowna Chiefs blasted North Okanagan Knights 6-1 and 100 Mile House Wranglers shutout Chase Heat to each lead 3-1.
Both series resume Thursday in Kelowna and 100 Mile House.
