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Third-period rally powers Leafs past Beaver Valley

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
January 1st, 2020

The Nelson Leafs refused to lose on the final day of 2019.

The Leafs exploded for five third-period goals to double up the Beaver Valley Nitehawks 6-3 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action New Year’s Eve at the NDCC Arena.

Rookie forward Joe Davidson sparked the Leafs comeback, scoring twice during the third-period rally.

Davidson started the comeback with a power play marker midway through the frame that tied the game at 2-2 before concluding the scoring for the home side with a shorthanded tally into the empty net.

Ryan Quinn Nielsen-Webb scored the only goal of the first period, snapping a shot past Beaver Valley goalie Kevin Engman as both teams looked to shake off some holiday rust.

The visitors scored twice in the second to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Gavin Danstrom tied the game midway through the period before Simon Nemethy put the Hawks ahead with a late goal in the frame.

Cole Wyatt, Reid Wilson and Tyler Badger scored in a span of four minutes following Davidson’s marker to give Nelson a commanding 5-2 advantage.

Nelson Minor Hockey grad Kaleb Percival stopped the bleeding with a late BV goal before Davidson concluded the scoring with the Hawks’ net empty.

Nelson dominated play in the third period, outshooting Beaver Valley 16-8. The Hawks held a 31-28 shots margin in the game.

Anderson Violette was solid between the pipes for Nelson, especially during the first two periods when Beaver Valley outshot Nelson by a 23-12 margin.

The two teams play the return match of the home-and-home series Friday in Fruitvale.

LEAF NOTES: Joe Davidson was selected the Game Star for Nelson while Gavin Damstrom earned Beaver Valley’s selection. . . . Reid Wilson, Shawn Grobowsky, Kaleb Comishin and Davidson each finished the game with two points. . . . The win moves Nelson to within three points of Murdoch Division leading Beaver Valley. . . . Next home game for Nelson is Saturday when Leafs host Creston Valley Thunder Cats. Game time is 7 p.m. Sunday, Nelson concludes a grueling four games in six nights when Columbia Valley Rockies visit the NDCC Arena for a 2 p.m. puck drop.

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