For the second time this season, the Nelson Junior Leafs crushed the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
Friday night at the Nelson and District Community Complex, Jacob Boyczuk scored one minute into the game setting the tone for a total dismantling of their visitors. The locals kept the offence flying and stymied any attempt for the Nitehawks to produce their own chances on their way to a 12-0 victory.
Last month the Leafs rolled into Fruitvale and manhandled the Nitehawks in a 12-3 victory. Friday night it was even more one-sided.
Rookie Colton McCarthy followed up on Boyczuk’s opener and then the latter closed the first period scoring to make it 3-0 after 20 minutes. The Leafs’ defence allowed only two shots on Nelson starter Cody Boeckman in the opening period.
The Nitehawk put up a slightly stronger fight in the second period, but the Leafs’ offence erupted for five goals on Nitehawks veteran goaltender Zach Perehudoff in the final six minutes of the middle stanza. Five different Leafs scored the second period goals — Aaron Dunalp, Linden Horswil, Matthew Naka, Dustin Reimer and Greg Nickel.
Not willing to give the once mighty Nitehawks a break, the Leafs expanded on their assault in the final period, adding four more goals. Dunlap, Bryce Nielson, McCarthy and Boyczuk’s hat trick goal rounded out the scoring.
The win kept the Leafs atop the Neil Murdoch Division. They will take on the Sicamous Eagles at home on Sunday afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m.
The four-poing night by Leafs’ captain Colton Schell put him in top spot in league scoring after Friday night’s games.
