Leafs opens KIJHL season with weekend sweep of rival Rebels
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs opened the 2024-25 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season with a pair of wins over rival Castlegar Rebels.
Nelson won the season-opener between the two teams Friday, edging the Rebels 5-4.
Connor Hovelkamp had a memorable debut for the Green and White with three goals, including the winner.
Nelson erased a 3-1 deficit en route to the win.
Kane Kennedy led the Leaf with three assists, including on the winning goal. Devin Degenstein stopped 29 shots for the Leafs.
The Rebels went 3-for-7 on the power-play, getting goals from Reid Gerrand (two) and Ravnoor Randhawa.
Saturday, at the NDCC Arena, the Leafs need shootout to claim a 6-5 victory in six rounds.
Dawson Davis scored to lift the Leafs to victory. Xaiden Bignell led the Leafs with two goals, while Quinn Ramsay had a three-point night. The Leafs erased a Rebels 5-2 lead to force the game into a shootout. Josh Gamble led the Rebels with two goals.
Nelson sits tied for top spot in the Neil Murdoch Division with Grand Forks Border Bruins and Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
All three teams posted a pair of wins on opening weekend of the KIJHL.
Nelson opens a three-game road trip Friday in Golden against the Rockets.
Saturday the Leafs visit Columbia Valley Rockies in Invermere before concluding the trip Sunday in Creston against the Thunder Cats.
