Nitehawks suffer heartbreaking OT loss to Wainwright Bisons in Keystone Cup Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Beaver Valley’s run at the Western Canada Junior B Hockey Chamiponship came to a heartbreaking end Sunday in Arborg, Manitoba.
Bryce Woodward scored at 3:05 of overtime to lift the Wainwright Bisons to a 4-3 victory over the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Champion Nitehawks in the final of the Keystone Cup.
Trailing 3-1 after two periods, the Hawks tied the game with two goals in a span of 29 seconds by Sam Swanson and Dylan Heppler.
However, in the extra period, the Bisons got the winner when Woodward beat Tallon Kramer in the Beaver Valley nets with the Championship-winning marker.
Chandler Klein, Kobe Scott and Taylor Schubada also scored for Wainwright, winners of the Alberta Junior B Hockey League.
Jaxen Gemmell replied for Beaver Valley.
During the round robin draw Wainwright and Beaver Valley played to a 3-3 tie.
The Hawks, advancing to the Keystone Cup after capturing the Cyclone Taylor Cup last week, came within a whisker of following in the footstep of the 100 Mile Wranglers.
The Wranglers won the 2016 Keystone Cup last season.
The Nitehawks finished the Junior B season with an impressive record.
Beaver Valley won the KIJHL regular season and playoff championships before claiming the BC Junior B Hockey League title in Creston.
The Hawks complete the season with a 59-9-2-0-3 record.
