By Derek Kaye,
Castlegar New contributor
The Nitehawks opened scoring only 1:40 into the game with the Castlegar Rebels February 28 in game three of a best of seven first round playoff match in the KIJHL. The Rebels are now down three games after losing the first two games in Beaver Valley the previous two nights 7-2 in the second game and 3-1 in the first. The Rebels now have to win in game four in Castlegar Sunday March 2 to remain in the running.
The game was close in shots with Castlegar having 38 and Beaver Valley 37.
It was the Nitehawks who made the shots count, and with a stronger power play were able to score on three separate power play opportunities. The game was riddled with a total of 32 penalties each team garnering 16. There were five game misconducts for fighting, the Rebels winning three of them. And so with a sincere lack in sportsmanship the game struggled on.
Mitch Foyle opened scoring for the Nitehawks in the first period assisted by Jacob Boyczuk. The Rebels responded at 14:51 with a shot by Kody Disher assisted by Connor Beauchemin. The Nitehawks scored on a power play only two minutes later by Sheldon Hubbard assisted by Dallas Calvin and Ryan Edwards.
The second period opened with a score of 2-1 but the Nitehawks sank five goals in the next 20 minutes while the Rebels only scored once, Chase Reddin at 8:12 assisted by Aaron Brewer. The Nitehawks scorers were: Walker Sidoni (Riley Brandt and Ryan Edwards), Dan Holland (Brandt and Sidoni), Edwards at 7:20 (Holland, Brandt, Braden Fuller assisted by Dallas Calvin and Taylor Stafford) and Sidoni assisted by Sheldon Hubbard and Riley Brandt.
The third period was well played by the Rebels defensively as they held the Nitehawks to only one more goal by Sheldon Hubbard assisted by Lyle Frank and Dan Holland at 15:10 on a power play. But the Castlegar squad was unable to get the offensive might to beat Nitehawks’ goalie Bret Clark.
Nitehawks coach Terry Jones had this to say about the game, “A lot of cliches, just got to take it one game at a time. I think they (Rebels) are a little frustrated and are trying to intimidate us a little bit. At this point we are trying to focus and play the game. I think we remained focused and disciplined. We want to win the next game. We’re not worried about any shenanigans. We are going come out and play hockey.”
Game time is 7 p.m. on Sunday March 2 for game four at the Castlegar Complex.
