Leafs blitz Spokane 5-1 to move up Murdoch Standings
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Welcome back Shawn Campbell, and thanks for the solid showing in goal Anderson Violette.
Campbell scored twice and goalie Violette stopped 15 of 16 shots to spark the Nelson Leafs to a convincing 5-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the Spokane Braves Tuesday night at the NDCC Arena.
The win was the third consecutive for the Green and White in October. Nelson started the season going 0-3-0-0-3 in September.
Campbell, who missed the first eight games for Nelson, wasted no time in getting back to scoring form, notching his first of the season, unassisted, less than three minutes into the game.
Campbell scored his second of the game, which proved to be the winner, shorthanded, early in the second period.
Owen Miley has tied the game in the first period with Spokane’s only goal.
Brady Miller and Reid Wilson increase the Nelson lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes. Rookie Joe Davidson, with his second of the season, completed the scoring for Nelson. The 16-year-old Davidson has four points in eight games for Nelson.
Violette was not tested much in the game, facing just nine shots over the final 40 minutes to register his third consecutive win in goal for Nelson. The former Sannich Braves netminder has shot up to the top of KIJHL goalie stats with his solid play between the pipes for Nelson.
Riley McLean, facing 32 shots, including 22 in the second period, took the loss in goal for Nelson.
The game is the first of two meetings in six days between the two Murdoch rivals. Spokane is back in the Heritage City Sunday for a 2 p.m. afternoon tilt against Nelson at the NDCC Arena.
LEAF NOTES: Nelson also saw captain David Sanchez return to the lineup after recovering from a lower body injury that kept him off the roster for eight games. . . . Joe Davidson, Tyler Badger and Brady Miller each finished the game with two points. . . .Nelson, 3-3-0-0-3, climbs into sole possession of third place in Murdoch Division standings, five points behind front running Beaver Valley Nitehawks and three in back of second-place Spokane. . . . Nelson management hope to have finally solidified its goalie position after management welcomed Austin Madge to the roster. The Winfield, BC, native played 28 games last season with North Okanagan Knights of the Bill Ohlhausen Division. . . . Nelson travels to Grand Forks to face the Border Bruins Saturday.
