New recruit Tyler Fyfe scores natural hat-trick to spark Leafs past Braves
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The late-season acquisition of forward Tyler Fyfe is paying off in a big way for the Nelson Leafs.
Fyfe, who Leaf coach Dave McLellan found not playing on any team after the January 10 BC Hockey roster deadline, scored a natural hat-trick to lead Nelson to a crucial 5-3 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League road victory over the Spokane Braves Saturday night in the Lilac City.
The win not only snapped a four-game winless streak for the Green and White, but also allowed the Leafs to increase its lead over the Braves to five points in Murdoch Division standings.
Nelson also climbed to within a point of second-place Castlegar pending Sunday’s KIJHL action.
Nelson led 2-1 after one period on goals by Austin Lindsay and Fyfe. The two markers came within a two-minute span.
Kurtis Reading tied the game early in the second before Fyfe, who started the season in Creston, went to work, scoring twice in four minutes to give Nelson a 4-2 advantage heading into the third.
Taylor Everhart cut the margin to 4-3 with a power play goal with six minutes remaining in the period.
But Rayce Miller scored late in the game to secure the win.
Surprise starter Jason Mailhoit stopped 26 of 29 shots to register the win.
Mailhoit, joining teammate Aigne McGeady Bruce on the Leaf roster for the game, are affiliate call ups from the Kootenay Ice of the BC Major Midget Hockey League.
The Ice did not play this weekend.
The win made it three points in two games as Nelson tied Creston 3-3 Friday at home.
Nelson game star Robson Cramer scored twice while Timothy Nichols added a single.
Carson Cartwright, with a pair, and Austin Steger, with time running out in the third period, scored for Creston.
Nelson has little time to rest as the short-handed Leafs host defending KIJHL, Cyclone and Keystone Cup champion Beaver Valley Nitehawks for a rare mid-week contest Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
The Leafs then play host to Fernie Ghostriders, Friday, and Grand Forks Border Bruins, Saturday, in a doubleheader weekend.
Both games puck drop at 7 p.m.
