The Nelson Leafs faced off against the Columbia Valley Rockies on Saturday night, and despite a small comeback in the second period by the Rockies the Leafs dominated the game taking home a 7-2 win.
Sporting their new jerseys the Leafs came out strong in the first period with an early goal from Carson Willans with an assist from team captain Tyler Parfeniuk.
Despite low numbers of shots on net, Nelson kept the momentum and Cole Acuri scored the second goal for the Leafs with an assist from Matthew Naka and Patrick Martens.
Minutes after Acuri’s goal Leafs veteran Malmsten gave the Leafs a three goal lead going into the second period with a shorthanded goal.
For the first half of the second period the Leafs and the Rockies battled it out but were unable to get the puck into the net, until after confusion emerged in front of the Leafs net leading to the first goal by the Rockies.
The Rockies’ Kenneth Whitford got the team on the board.
With just over a minute left in the second period the Rockies scored their second goal.
Jayson Cannell shot the puck high into the back of the net past Patrick Defoe.
It looked like the score would be 3-2 going into the third period, but as the buzzer rang Leafs fans erupted in cheers as Malmsten scored a goal with assists from Dallon Stoddart and Linden Horswill.
Leafs kept their momentum in the third period as Malmsten scored his third goal of the game with assists from Stoddart and Horswill.
Minutes later Leafs newbie Nik Newman scored his only goal of the game with assists from Parfeniuk and James Sorey.
KIJHL scoring leader Patrick Martens scored a shorthanded goal with an assist from Willans.
The Leafs hit the ice again on Sunday at the Nelson and District Community Complex where they take on the Summerland Steam.
The puck drops at 2 p.m.