UPDATED: Rockies rain on Leafs parade, outlast Green and White 7-4
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It’s been that kind of season for the Nelson Leafs.
Just when hockey fans are ready to book seats on the Leafs bandwagon, the Green and White falter.
Ryan Skytt scored twice to lead the Columbia Valley Rockies to a 7-4 victory over the Leafs in KIJHL action Saturday night in Invermere.
The loss, the eighth in nine games, saw the Leafs split the two-game road swing through the Eddie Mountain Division. Friday, the Leafs shutout Golden Rockets 4-0.
After allowing the first goal of the game 16 minutes into the game, the Rockies struck for four goals in a span of four minutes on the game clock to take a 4-1 lead and never look back.
The four goals chased Leafs netminder Jason Sandhu from the Leafs goal in favour of backup Ben Kelsch. Sandhu was in goal to shutout Golden Friday 4-0.
Columbia Valley held period leads of 2-1 and 5-3.
Peter Matthews, Jagger Thiessen, Carter Beaston-Will, Colby Sherlock and Riley Knott also scored for Columbia Valley.
Nicholas Wihak led the Rockies with three assists.
Sawyer Hunt, Jordan Unger, Colum Mcgauley and Eamonn Miller replied for Nelson, which out shot the Rockies 36-34 in the game.
Connor McKay picked up the win in goal for Columbia Valley.
Nelson remains in fourth spot in the Murdoch Division behind Grand Forks Border Bruins, which also lost Saturday, 7-2 to Kimberley Dynamiters.
Nelson returns to action Wednesday in Castlegar against the Rebels.
Next home game for the Leafs is Saturday, November 26 against Grand Forks Border Bruins.
Sandhu backstops Leafs back into win column
November has not been very kind to the Nelson Leafs.
Losers of seven straight, the Green and White rode the shutout goaltending of Jason Sandhu to dump the hometown Rockets 4-0 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Friday night in Golden.
Sandhu, who was exceptionally sharp during the third period when the Rockets outshot the Leafs 14-6, finished the game stopping 32 shots to register the shutout and the first win for the Leafs since October 22.
Andy Fitzpatrick, Jordan Unger, Colum Mcgauley and Dash Thompson scored for Nelson, which held period leads of 1-0 and 3-0.
The win was key as 9-11-0-0-2 Leafs look to keep pace with the rest of the Murdoch Division. Beaver Valley, winners of 12 straight leads the division with 32 points.
Second place Castlegar, two points in front of the Leafs in the standings, have been just has hot winning six consecutive games. The Rebels and Grand Forks Border Bruins are tied for second, each team with 22 points.
Nelson continues its two-game road swing through the Eddie Mountain Division Saturday in Invermere against the Columbia Valley Rockies.
In the only meeting between the two clubs, Nelson edged Columbia Valley 3-2 in overtime — which just happens to be the last win for the Leafs.
Next home game for the Leafs is Saturday, November 26 against Grand Forks Border Bruins.
