The Nelson Leafs were pounded by the Fernie Ghostriders Friday night in the East Kootenay suffering a 7-2 loss against the Eddie Mountain Division team.
The Leafs were outshot 28-46 by the Ghostriders and played both goalies in net — Brad Rebagliati and Tyler Moffat as backup.
Fernie scored three unanswered goals starting midway through the first period. Kale Johnston opened it up for the Ghostriders and went on to have a four-point night. Ben Primeau and Joel Burgess assisted on the opener.
Jon Thompson made it 2-0 with six minutes left with help from Aaron Neufeld and Aidan Geiger. A few seconds later, Spencer Bender scored from Blake Arcuri and Thompson assisted.
Leafs Travis Wellman found the back of the net with a shorthanded goal with only a few seconds left in the first. Nick Trefry and goalie Rebagliati assisted. It was 3-1 after 20 minutes.
Fernie didn’t let up in the second. Early on, Kurtis Bond scored on the power play from Jake MacLachlan and Bender.
Kale Johnston made it 5-1 under a minute later with Burgess assisting at just over 3 minutes into the period.
Troy Petrich notched one for the Leafs, Carson Willans with the helper and it was 5-2 with 12:32 remaining in the second. But that would be the Nelson team’s final goal of the game.
Fernie’s Primeau scored with 8:05 remaining in the second, Johnston and Josh Odelein assisting. It was 6-2 after 40 minutes.
Fernie scored the only goal of the third period midway through. Johnston made it a three-point night off a play started by Burgess and Cole Weber.
With the loss Kamloops storm moves ahead of the Leafs in the KIJHL standings. Both teams are tied at 48 points but the Doug Birks Division team has more wins.
The Leafs return to action on Friday in Fruitvale when they play the Beaver Valley Nitehawks who sit nine points back of the Leafs in the Neil Murdoch Division. They play at home next Saturday against the Golden Rockets, a team sitting among the bottom of the league.
Puck drops at the NDCC at 7 p.m.