Edwards sinks Rebels in OT as Hawks grab 2-0 lead in Murdoch Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks took care of the Castlegar Rebels in the first two games of the Neil Murdoch playoffs — but it wasn’t easy.
The Hawks needed an overtime tally by Ryan Edwards, his second of the game, to knock off the pesky Rebels and grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Conference semi final Wednesday in Fruitvale.
The next two games of the series are scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Castlegar. Game times are 7:30 p.m. at the Castlegar and District Community Complex Arena.
Castlegar appeared poised to grab game two of the set Wednesday after dropping the opener 4-1.
Sporting the best defensive record in the entire KIJHL during the regular season, Castlegar looked invincible when Anthony Delong scored five minutes into the third period giving the visitors a 4-3 lead.
But a costly delay of game penalty by Tyler Jones in the final two minutes allowed Tyler Collins to notch his second of the game to tie the game on the power play.
Edwards sent the home crowd away happy scoring at 4:29 of overtime.
Christian Johnson also scored for the Hawks.
Riley Henderson, Brenden Heinrich and Jones, all on the power play, replied for the Rebels.
Beaver Valley out shot Castlegar 40-29, including a run of 13-6 in the third and 4-2 in overtime as Jordan Gluck tried to steal a win on the road for the Rebels.
Zach Perehudoff registered the win in goal for the Hawks as Beaver Valley coach Terry Jones continues to rotate his netminders.
Riders up 2-0 on Nitros
Stefan Seel scored three times and Connor McLaughlin added two as the Ghostriders outlasted the Kimberley Dynamiters 8-7 in Eddie Mountain Final Wednesday in Fernie.
Fernie leads the best-of-seven Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Conference semi final the 2-0.
Games three and four are Friday and Saturday in Kimberley.
The game was a wild one as teams combined for 11 special teams goals — 10 on the power play.
Kimberley sniper Rylan Duley finished the game with five points, including two markers.
The other big scorer on the Dynamiters, Richard Hubscher, had three points.
Eagles, Chief rebound to square series at 1-1
The Sicamous Eagles bounced back to tie the Okanagan Conference series against the Storm 1-1 with a 4-3 overtime win Wednesday in Kamloops.
Jagger Bowles scored on the power play in extra time to give the visitors the win.
The teams combined for 143 shots — 83 by Sicamous — according to the KIJHL stats sheet.
Games three and four are Friday and Saturday in Sicamous.
In Princeton, Landon Andrusiak scored twice and Dane Rupert added three assists to lead Kelowna Chiefs to a 5-4 win over Princeton Posse.
The real story of this game was the 36-save performance of Kelowna goalie Connor Wilkinson.
The series now shifts to Rutland for the next two games.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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