Quick start powers Hawks to 4-1 win over Aldergrove
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It didn’t take the Beaver Valley Nitehawks long to get into the so-called “zone” at the 2014 Cyclone Taylor Cup.
Riley Brandt scored 12 seconds into the game sparking the Nitehawks to a 4-1 victory over Aldergrove Kodiaks in the opening game of the four-team B.C. Junior B Hockey Championship Tournament Thursday afternoon at the NDCC Arena.
Brandt shocked the Pacific Junior Hockey League reps, firing a screened shot past surprised Kodiak starting goalie Jordan Liem on the first rush of the game.
“That (goal) was huge,” said Hawks sniping center Dallas Calvin when asked about the quick start against Aldergrove.
“To get off to a good start like that just got us going from there.”
The win gives the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Champion the start it wanted in a tournament that punishes teams that fall into slumps.
“Every game counts . . . you don’t have that seven-game series where you can have a bad game and bounce back,” Calvin explained. “So you’ve got to win every game to have a chance to be there in the final.”
Brandt, finishing the game with three points, scored on the power play in the first period to give the Hawks a quick 2-0 lead six minutes into the game.
The teams traded goals in the second period.
Adam Callegari scored for Aldergrove to cut the margin in half.
But Calvin scored his 20th goal of the post season 90 seconds later to restore the two-goal advantage.
Dan Holland completed the scoring in the final stages of the third period.
Brett Clark was solid between the pipes, stopping 30 shots to register the win for the Hawks.
Beaver Valley now faces host KIJHL rival Nelson Leafs Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the NDCC Arena as the tournament enters Day two.
“We expect Nelson to come out hard,” Calvin said. “They haven’t played in a while but we expect them to come out with nothing but their best.”
