Update: Leafs sweep road swing through South Okanagan, shutout Penticton 4-0 and drub Summerland 9-2
By The Nelson Daily Sports
News flash: The Nelson Leafs can win away from home.
The Nelson Leafs swept a pair of road games in the South Okanagan, completing the two-game set with a 4-0 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League win over Penticton Lakers Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Nelson opened the weekend Friday by drubbing the Summerland Steam 9-2.
Patrick Martens continued his torrid start the KIJHL season scoring four times to lead the Leafs. Heading into Saturday’s game Martens was riding an eight-game scoring streak which the speedy forward had accumulated 20 points. He led the Leafs with 23 points, including a team-high 13 goals.
Friday Martens scored in each period, including two in the third, to lead the Leafs to its ninth win of the season — the most in the KIJHL.
After Jeff Penman scored on Leaf netminder Patrick Defoe less than two minutes into the game, Nelson reeled off seven unanswered goals — three in the first, one in the second and three more in the third — before the Steam scored a power play marker.
Colton Schell added a pair while singles went to Nik Newman, Max Mois and Brett Norman.
Schell also had four assists to finish the game with six points. Martens had five while Riley Henderson, Matthew Naka, Mois and Norman each had two points.
Nelson, improving to 10-3-0-1 in the Murdoch Division, retains its three-point advantage over second place Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
The Hawks also won twice on the weekend, edging Spokane 3-1 in the Lilac City Friday before outlasting West Kootenay rival Castlegar Rebels 7-4 Saturday at the Hawks’ Nest.
The two Murdoch rivals meet Nelson Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
LEAF NOTES: The monster night by Patrick Martens allowed the skillful forward to overtake teammate Matti Jmaeff for the lead in the Nelson scoring race. . . . Brett Norman is tied for second with Jmaeff with Colton Schell fourth, six in back of Martens.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
