Aynsley powers Rebels to lead in Kootenay Final, game four Saturday
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Fernie Ghostriders had more shots but the Castlegar Rebels scored more goals.
Northern Michigan University bound Ryan Aynsley scored twice and added an assist to power the Rebels to a 5-3 victory over the Riders in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Thursday night in the Sunflower City.
The Rebels take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Kootenay Conference Final with game four set for Saturday in Castlegar.
Eager to regain home ice advantage, the Eddie Mountain Champs out shot and out scored the Rebels in the opening frame.
Jeff Zmurchyk and Luke Richardson sandwiched power play goals for Fernie around a marker by Castlegar’s Anthony Delong to give the Riders the 2-1 first period lead. Fernie out shot Castlegar 10-7.
Former Nelson Leaf Connor McLaughlin gave Fernie a 3-1 lead midway through the second before the Rebels rallied to tie the game on goals by Kootenay Ice affiliate Jesse Knowler and Aynsley.
In the third, despite being out shot 18-9, Stuart Walton gave the Rebels the lead for good with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Anysley added an insurance marker into the empty net to complete the scoring.
Alex Ross, facing 36 shots, won the battle of the goaltenders, out dueling Andrew Walton.
Okanagan Conference now a best of three
Devon Hascarl scored a short handed goal at 6:17 of overtime to lift the defending KIJHL champs to a 2-1 victory over the Osoyoos Coyotes in game four of the Okanagan Conference Final Thursday in Revelstoke.
Game five is Saturday in Osoyoos.
After playing through a scoreless 40 minutes Dogs’ C.J. Kort and Bruce Silvera of the Grizz scored the only goals of the game.
Osoyoos out shot the Grizz 60-51 in the game.
Each team has now won a game in overtime. Osoyoos captured game two of the series in extra time as Kort scored for the Dogs.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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