Rebels dump Leafs 6-1 to climb to within two points of Murdoch leaders
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It’s probably a good thing for the Nelson Leafs the calendar reads December and not February.
The Castlegar Rebels played the perfect road game, scoring early then riding the hot netminding of Jordan Gluck to a 6-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the Leafs Wednesday night at the NDCC Arena.
Despite the loss, Nelson retains a two-point lead in the Murdoch Division at the unofficial first half break in the schedule.
The Leafs also have a game in hand on the Rebels, which now leads the season series 3-1-1.
Jamie Vlanich scored twice to pace the Rebels, leaders from start to finish with period advantages of 1-0 and 3-0.
Aaron Petten, Bryan Lubin, Darren Medeiros and Kody Disher also scored for Castlegar past Leaf goalie Cody Boeckman.
Aaron Dunlap scored the lone goal in the third for the Leafs.
Gluck, winning his third straight against the Leafs, was the busier of the two goalies, facing 26 shots to 17 the Rebels fired at Boeckman.
Nelson’s leading scorer, Colton Schell, was tossed from the game in the first period after being called for a hit from behind by referee Jim Maniago.
The Leafs also lost center Matthew Naka for this game, and longer, after the Vanderhoof native suffered a broken ankle during the weekend after slipping on ice.
The Leafs are idle until Friday, December 28 when the club hosts the Spokane Braves in the first of a two-game home-and-home series.
Monday, December 31, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks invade the NDCC Arena for the traditional New Year’s Eve contest set for 2:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Castlegar is also off for the Christmas break, returning December 28 to host Beaver Valley in the first of a home-and-home series.
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