Postgame: Nitehawks - 4 Leafs - 3

It was a pivotal game for Beaver Valley as they could take over top spot in the KIJHL with a win over Nelson and a Kamloops loss to Princeton. I admit, I was a bit skeptical given the recent lackadaisical play. My worries were for naught as the boys pulled off their 12th straight win with a 4-3 decision over home town Nelson Leafs.

Mason Spear scored the lone goal in the first period at a crowd silencing :38 seconds with Christian Johnson getting the only assist. Nelson outshot BV 9-5,  but the Nitehawks escaped the first with the lead.

The score remained 1-0 for Beaver Valley throughout the second with play going back and forth and a smattering of penalties on both sides. Nitehawks controlled the shot counter in that period 11-6 but still lead where it really mattered after 40.

The first 12 minutes of the third were relatively uneventful with BV killing off a couple of penalties. Craig "candybag" Martin got things going again at 12:29 from Ryan Edwards to put BV up 2-0. And then the wheels fell off....well....almost. BV receives 2 penalties :44 secs apart to put Nelson on a 2-man advantage. James Sorrey made them "sorry" with just :04 left in the 2-man and pulled Nelson to within 1 with just under 5 to go. Still shorthanded, Mason Spear answered right back :18 secs later with his 2nd of the night to restore the 2 goal BV lead. Dallas Calvin added some insurance :35 seconds later after exiting the penalty box and taking a pass from Jake Boyzcuk to put BV up 4-1 with under 4 minutes left. But wait.....we arent done....! Once again, BV gets into penalty trouble as Brantley Schapansky gets 2 and a game for Checking From Behind. Nelson wastes no time and pots their 2nd ppg of the period and bits into the lead and on the ensuing face-off, march down and rip another home just :15 secs later to cut the lead to 1 with 1:26 remaining!! In the words of a fellow tweeter.... too "little too late" as BV hangs on for the 4-3 win.

Game Stars:

BV - Mike Vlanich (19/22)
BV - Mason Spear 2G
NL - Nik Newman 1G 1A

The second half of the home-and-home takes place on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Beaver Valley Arena in Fruitvale. I wont be able to attend the game myself but will try and get some updates out of the arena as best i can.

Around the KIJHL

Well, as hoped, the Penticton Posse pulled off the upset and defeated the Kamloops Storm. For all of you that are keeping track, yes....that means the Beaver Valley Nitehawks are currently the leaders of the KIJHL!!! BV is awarded first place with 2 more wins than Kamloops and 3 games in hand. We tracked down and passed the previous Neil Murdoch Division leaders, now we have tracked down and are soon to pass the previous KIJHL leaders. Next stop? League Champs??....ambitious? sure... but most definitely attainable and gives the boys something to shoot for.

Elsewhere, it was a busy night. NO Knights 4-3 over Summerland, Castlegar scalped the Chiefs 7-5, Sicamous defeated Golden 4-2, Creston Valley upset the Nitros 7-5, Fernie destroyed Columbia Valley 14-2, Spokane squeaked past GF 8-5 and Osoyoos drowns the Lakers 8-4.