Leafs down 3-1 to Hawks following Game four OT loss
By The Nelson Daily Sports
If the Nelson Leafs want to make a return trip to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Finals, the Heritage City franchise is going to need a major comeback.
Gavin Tritt scored his first goal of the playoffs at 13:10 of the first overtime to give the hometown Beaver Valley Nitehawks a 4-3 victory in Murdoch Division Semi Final action Wednesday night at the Fruitvale Arena.
The Nitehawks, winners of three straight, now lead the best-of-seven Murdoch Division series 3-1 with Game five set for the NDCC Arena Friday night.
Nathan Dominici scored twice and Ollie Clement added a single for Beaver Valley before a crowd of 331.
Tyson Lautard, Ryan Quast and Bennett Anklewich replied for the Nelson, which held a 3-2 lead late in the third period before Dominici scored at the 19:06 mark on the power play to send the game to extra time.
Nelson outshot the Hawks 53-51 in the contest.
Connor Stojan won for the third time in the series to backstop Beaver Valley to the win in goal.
Jasper Tait took the loss in goal for the Leafs.
The win game 24 hours after the Nitehawks rocked Nelson 7-3 in Game three of the series.
The Nitehawks broke open a close 3-2 contest by outscoring the visitors 4-1 in the third period.
Ethan Smyth and McLean Austin each scored twice, and Lucas Gartner added three assists to pace the Hawks.
Drake Proctor, Leighton Partington and Crae Dawson replied for the Leafs.
Frederick Larochelle was in goal for Nelson as Beaver Valley outshot the Leafs 49-37.
Thunder Cats take command against Border Bruins
Starvros Koutsantonis scored the winner midway through the third period on the power play to spark the hometown Thunder Cats to a 3-2 victory over the Grand Forks Border Bruins in Game four of the Murdoch Division Semi Final action Wednesday night in Creston.
The Cats now lead the now lead the best-of-seven Murdoch Division series 3-1 with Game five set for the Boundary City Friday night.
Grand Forks held a 1-0 lead after one period on a goal by Spencer Horning.
Cooper Walbaum tied the game in the second before Blake Anderson and Koutsantonis scored less than three minutes apart to give the Cats a 3-1 advantage.
Matteus Reis scored on the power play with less than five minutes in the game.
However, the Murdoch Division regular season champion Bruins could not get the equalizer, losing for the third time in the series by one goal.
Revelstoke, Princeton advance
The Revelstoke Grizzlies and Princeton Posse have advanced to the Division Finals of the KIJHL playoffs.
Revelstoke dumped 100 Mile House 6-1 and Princeton edged Summerland Steam 4-1 to sweep their respective Semi Final series 4-0.
Meanwhile, Osoyoos Coyotes lived to play another game after Reese MacLean scored in overtime to give the South Okanagan franchise a thrilling 7-6 victory over the North Okanagan Knights Wednesday in Armstrong.
The Knights lead the series 4-1 with Game four Friday in Osoyoos.
Sicamous Eagles lead the Kamloops Storm 3-1 in the other Okanagan Conference Series.
Fernie, Kimberley lead Eddie Mountain Series
Kade Leskosky scored his first of the playoffs at 3:35 of overtime to spark Kimberley to a 3-2 victory over Golden Rockets.
Meanwhile the Ghostriders lead Eddie Mountain Regular Season champion Columbia Valley Rockies 3-1 after scoring a 3-2 overtime victory Tuesday in Fernie.
