Edwards powers Hawks past Leafs; Rebels sweep Bruins in Murdoch weekend action
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Beaver Valley Nitehawks held serve against the Nelson Leafs in the race to finish on top of the Murdoch Division in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
Ryan Edwards snapped a 1-1 tie with a power play goal late in the third period to lift the Hawks to a 2-1 victory over the Leafs in KIJHL action Saturday night at the Fruitvale Arena.
The win allows the Hawks to climb to within four points of the division-leading Leafs. Beaver Valley has two games in hand on Nelson.
Nelson opened the two-game home-and-home set with a convincing 6-2 victory Friday at the NDCC Arena.
Edwards took advantage of Nelson’s leading scorer Jamie Vlanich in the penalty box, serving a two-minute slashing penalty.
After a scoreless first period that saw the Hawks out shoot Nelson 17-9, Beaver Valley opened the scoring when Sheldon Hubbard beat Brad Rebagliati in the Leafs net 17 minutes into the second period.
Alec Wilkinson tied the game in the third, combining with Vlanich to beat Bret Clark in the Beaver Valley net.
It was Clark to came into Friday’s game after Grayson Sharpe was unable to stop the Nelson offensive attack, serving up five goals in two period.
The Hawks then held of a late charge by the Leafs to secure the victory and make the final two weeks of the season a sprint to the Murdoch title and home ice through the division playoffs.
Beaver Valley out shot the Leafs 43-31 making a winning out of Clark.
Rebagliati lost for the first time in three games in the Leaf nets.
Beaver Valley travels to Grand Forks Tuesday before meeting the Rebels in a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday.
The Hawks then play the Braves in Spokane before hosting the Leafs in the final game of the regular season — a game that could decide the Murdoch Division crown.
Nelson plays Grand Forks in a home-and-home series beginning Friday in Nelson at the NDCC Arena. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
Bruins sliding out of race for final Murdoch Division playoff spot
Hunter Jenerou scored twice and Kody Disher added three assists leading the Castlegar Rebels to a 6-2 victory over the Border Bruins Saturday in Gand Forks.
The win was the second time in as many nights the Rebels defeated the Bruins by a 6-2 score.
Matt Reed and Aaron Brewer gave the Rebels a 2-0 first period lead before Jenerou and Connor Beauchemin scored in the second to give the visitors a commanding 4-1 lead.
Aaron Petten had the other goal for Castlegar.
Connor Gross and Dakota Kittle replied for the Bruins, losers of three straight games.
Castlegar outshot the Bruins 62-41 as Nate Rabbit secured the win in goal for the Rebels.
The weekend sweep, combined with a Spokane loss to Kimberley, gives then third-place Rebels a three-point lead over the Braves.
Grand Forks, still with seven games remaining on the schedule, trails Spokane by eight points in the hunt for the final playoff spot.
Spokane is in Creston to meet the Thunder Cats Sunday.
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