Piva scores twice to power Leafs past Spokane Braves
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Taking care of business on the road is the hallmark of a great team.
Ryan Piva scored twice the first period to power the Nelson Leafs to a 6-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the Spokane Braves Sunday afternoon in the Lilac City.
Nelson opened the weekend outlasting Castlegar Rebels 7-3 in the Sunflower City.
Piva’s two goals came to start and at the end of the opening frame — the latter coming on the power play in the final minute — to give the Leafs a 2-0 lead.
Spokane cut into the margin six minutes into the second when Dawson Tritt beat Nelson goalie Quinn Yeager.
However, the Leafs regained the two-goal advantage, once again scoring on the power play as Jack Karran converted the marker with 180 seconds remaining in the period.
Jaiden LaPorte then added to the lead with a goal in the final seconds of the period.
Nelson kept the pressure on the Braves in the final period, outshooting the hosts 16-6 while adding power play goals by Dash Thompson and David Sanchez.
Nelson finished the game with a 54-24 shot advantage.
Quinn Yeager was solid between the pipes to register the win.
Trevor Dilauro took the loss in goal for Spokane.
Nelson, winners of three straight games, moves back into a tie for the Murdoch Division lead with Grand Forks Border Bruins.
The Bruins double Fernie Ghostriders 4-2 in the East Kootenay City.
Trey Mason has three assists to lead the Bruins.
Defending KIJHL Champion Beaver Valley Nitehawks are quietly moving up the standings. The Hawks, currently riding a five-game winning streak, shutout Columbia Valley Rockies behind the 35-save performance of Owen Sikkes, 4-0.
Nelson faces a short week of practice as the Leafs travel to Kimberley Thursday to open a three-game Eddie Mountain road trip in the Bavarian City.
Friday, Nelson meets Golden before wrapping up the road trip Saturday against Columbia Valley Rockies in Invermere.
Nelson returns home Friday, October 27 to face Golden Rockets at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
LEAF NOTES: Sunday’s goal in Spokane was the first of the season for forward Jaiden LaPorte. . . . Ryan Piva, finishing with three points, now has six goals on the season for Nelson. . . . Michael Bladon also had three assists for Nelson. . . . Leaf netminder Josh Williams fell to second in goalie stats with a 1.41 goals against average. Jakob Severson of 100 Mile House leads the KIJHL. However, the Wranglers goalie has only played three games. . . . Ryan Cooper and Sawyer Hunt are tied for top spot in Leaf scoring with 13 points. David Sanchez is third with 12 while Jack Karran and Jackson Zimmermann fourth at 10 points. . . . The third period got a little chippy with more than 90 minutes in penalties called. . . . Nelson finished the game with four power play goals.
