With their parents in attendance for the annually held appreciation weekend, the Nelson Leafs did them proud Friday night as they downed the Beaver Valley Nitehawks 5-2 at the Nelson and District Community Complex.
The Leafs came out flying with Linden Horswill getting it past Nitehawks goalie Josh Round with help from Robson Cramer. Aaron Dunlap scored a few minutes later, Tyler Garcia assisting. Under 10 minutes into the game and it was 2-0.
That score would hold into the second period when the Nitehawks attempted a comeback. Capitalizing on two power play opportunities, Michael Bell scored from Dallas Calvin and Ryan Edwards. Then Calvin put it past the pipes with Sheldon Hubbard and Ryan Edwards assisting.
The score was tied 2-2. But the Nitehawks didn’t get it past Leafs netminder Tyler Moffat again.
Dunlap made it a two-goal night and 3-2 for the Leafs when he scored with just under seven minutes left in the second. Travis Wellman and Cole Arcuri with the helper.
Alec Wilkinson boosted the Leafs lead from Travis Wellman and Arcuri on the power play making it 4-2 at the end of two periods.
The Nitehawks played hard, trying to reclaim the game in the third but there was no scoring until the final minutes. Leafs Wellman got an empty netter, with the assists going to Jaimie Vlanich and Cramer, to make it a 5-2 final.
It’s a busy Thanksgiving weekend for the Leafs with three games in as many days. Tonight the team boards the bus with their parents heading to Castlegar. They return home to Nelson Sunday for round two with the Rebels. The home-and-home series wraps up at the NDCC with a 2:30 p.m. start.
The Leafs give thanks for the support of parents and billet families for all they do to support the players and team.
Friday nights game boasted an attendance of over 600 people.