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Leafs bounce back with pair of wins over Summerland, Grand Forks

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
October 6th, 2019

And just like that the Nelson Leafs jump from last to a tie for third in the Murdoch Division of Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

The Green and White finally got off the schneid after posting a pair of victories over Summerland Steam, and divisional rival Grand Forks Border Bruins.

While the 5-1 win over the Steam Friday looked easy on paper, the Leafs needed to work a bit longer Saturday at the NDCC Arena to secure the two points in a 3-2 extra-time victory over the Bruins.

Shawn Grobowsky scored his first of the season two minutes into the first overtime period to spark the Leafs to the win.

The OT victory was the first in four attempts for the Leafs following losses to Fernie, Kelowna and Kimberley.

Nelson, 2-3-0-0-3, opened the scoring Saturday when Brady Miller scored on the power play, tipping a shot past Dillon Beebe in the Grand Forks nets.

The Leafs, now tied with Grand Forks for third in the Murdoch Division, appeared to be heading to the intermission nursing a 1-0 lead, however, Josh Garlough-Bell snapped a high shot past Leaf netminder Anderson Violette to even the score a 1-1.

Nathan Cohen-Wallis gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

But with Garlough-Bell whistled for a checking-from-behind penalty, Leafs defenceman Kaleb Comishin drilled a shot past Beebe late in the third period to send the game to overtime. Grand Forks outshot the Leafs 36-20.

Violette won for the second time in as many games after joining the Leafs in a trade earlier in the week from the Sannich Braves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

Friday, Nelson held period leads of 2-0 and 4-0 before cruising to the win over the Steam.

Keenan Crossman led the Leafs with a pair of goals, with singles going to Ryan Quinn Nielsen-Webb, Lane Goodwin and Alek Erichuk.

Summerland outshot the Leafs 30-26 in the contest.

Nelson has little time to rest as the Green and White host Spokane Braves in a rare mid-week contest Tuesday at the NDCC Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.

LEAF NOTES: Leafs Reid Wilson added a pair of assists Saturday to increase his lead in team scoring. Wilson, with 10 points on the season, had his four-game point streak snapped Friday in Summerland. . . . Former Leaf goalie Curt Doyle saw his first action with Osoyoos Coyotes Saturday in the South Okanagan City against Sicamous Eagles after being trade last week from Nelson. Unfortunately, Doyle was tabbed for the loss in goal as the Coyotes fell 3-2. Doyle was named the Coyotes Game Star in the contest as the Nelson Minor Hockey grad faced 39 shots. . . . Tuesday’s contest against Spokane is the first of two during the week. The Braves also face Nelson at the NDCC Arena in a Sunday afternoon encounter, October 13 at 2 p.m.

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