Barzal powers Giants past Kootenay Ice
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Mathew Barzal showed Kootenay hockey fans why he was the top selection last spring in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
The Coquitlam native rang up 11 points on the weekend as the Vancouver Northeast Giants swept a two-game B.C. Hockey Major Midget League series from the Kootenay Ice 11-2 and 7-1 at the Castlegar Complex.
Barzal, the current BCMMHL scoring leader with 66 points in 21 games, opened the two-game set with an eight-point performance — one goal and seven assists — in Saturday’s opener.
Barzal, who last season played for the Burnaby Winter Club, was drafted first overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Sunday, it was Edmonton Oil Kings draft prospect, Colton Kehler, providing most of the offence for the Giants with four goals.
Brandon Sookro of South Slocan, who scored twice for the Nelson Leafs Friday in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action against Creston, notched the lone goal Sunday for the Ice in the second period.
Saturday, Tristan Pagura and Coy Prevost, both of Kimberley scored for the Ice.
Adam Maida of Nelson and Harrison Whitlock of Fruitvale were the goalies for the Ice.
The Giants hold a slim two-point advantage over the Okanagan Rockets in league standings.
The Ice, 3-19-2, is tied for 10th in the league with the Thompson Blazers.
Kootenay is idle until the New Year when the Ice travels to Kamloops to face the Blazers.
Next home action for Kootenay is January 26-27 when the Prince George Cougars visit the NDCC arena in Nelson.
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