Creston steals Nelson's thunder in Cats 4-0 victory over Leafs
By The Nelson Daily Sports
A shorthanded Nelson Leafs team provided little, or no, resistance for the Creston Valley Thunder Cats in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Wednesday night at the NDCC Arena.
Even with their Junior A netminder Josh Williams between the pipes, Creston out shot the Green and White 28-15 en route to a 4-0 shutout.
Creston, second in the Eddie Mountain Division, scored twice on the power play less than a minute apart to go up 2-0 after the first period.
Logan Styler and James Severs scored with Leaf defenceman Max Daerendinger in the penalty box serving a penalty for interference and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Daerendinger was assessed the second penalty after being incensed with the first interference call.
Carson Cartwright added a pair of second period goals to complete the scoring.
Former Nelson Alec Wilkinson finished the game with three points against his former club.
Nelson, like the team has been doing most of February, played the game with less than a full lineup — 14 skaters Wednesday.
The Leafs, saddled in fourth spot in the Murdoch Division standings, complete the regular season this weekend, hosting Spokane Braves Friday before playing in Grand Forks Sunday.
Williams, acquired from the Alberta Junior Hockey League prior to the January roster deadline but has been hurt since the deal, is expected to get at least one of those starts in goal before Nelson begins post season play against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in round one of the Murdoch Division playoffs.
