The Nelson Leafs took to the road on Friday night, travelling to Spokane to take on the Rebels. After firing 29 shots on the Spokane netminder in the first period alone, the Leafs eventually skated away with a 6-2 victory.
Six different Leafs scored in the contest.
The win, coupled with Beaver Valley’s 3-1 loss to Fernie, gives the Nelson squad sole possession of first place in the Neil Murdoch Division of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
The Leafs have 71 points, followed by the Beaver Valley Nitehawks with 69 points. The Nitehawks have one game in hand.
During Friday night’s clash in Spokane, league-leading scorer Jamie Vlanich and Travis Wellman bulged the twine for Nelson in the first period, while Tanner Stolz and Dillon Bogart did the same for Spokane to make the score 2-2 after one.
It was all Leafs on the scoresheet after that.
Linden Horswill scored a shorthanded goal in the second period while Adam Hodge, Austin Seaman and Carson Willans scored third period markers for Nelson.
Adam Maida stopped 34 of 36 shots that came his way to earn the win for the Leafs. At the other end of the rink, Jon Manlow stopped 63 of the massive 69 shots he faced.
The Leafs now return home for a game tonight (Saturday, February 1) at 7 p.m. against the Fernie Ghostriders.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Nelson and District Community Complex.
