Walton backstops Leafs to 5-2 win over Castlegar Rebels in Murdoch showdown
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr
The Nelson Daily Sports
Last season Castlegar coach Steve Junker had the luxury of knowing he had a netminder that could steal a game on any given night.
Friday he saw that same goalie snatch two points from the palm of his hands.
Leaf goalie Andrew Walton came back to foil his former mates, stopping 32 of 34 shots en route to backstopping Nelson to a 5-2 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League win before a crowd of 488 at the NDCC Arena.
The Leafs, scoring four times on the power play, climbed to within a single point of the Rebels in Murdoch Division standings.
“It was a combination of things, (Andrew) had a terrific game . . . he was a wall back there for them,” Junker told The Nelson Daily following the Murdoch Division loss.
“And without a doubt our penalty kill wasn’t too good tonight. That’s the other reason why we lost.”
Despite firing only four shots at Rebel netminder Jordan Gluck during the first period, it was Nelson that finished the opening 20 minutes with a 2-1 lead.
Fact is, at one point of the frame Nelson had only two shots but both were goals as Nick Newman and defenceman J.J. Beitel put the puck past Gluck.
But the lackluster start caught up to the Leafs as Anthony Delong, late in the first period, and Kootenay Ice call-up Quinn Klimchuk, 33 seconds into the second, tied the game at 2-2.
That’s when Walton time took over.
Despite facing 23 shots during the final two periods, Walton, earning first-star accolades, stood tall making gave-saving stops off brother Stuart and the Rebels’ second leading goal scorer, Delong.
“Just having (Andrew) in net is a terrific confidence boost for us,” Newman, who finished the game with five points, said when asked about the Leafs No. 1 goalie.
“We know no matter what he’s always going to be there to back us up . . . he’s our last line of defence.”
After Klimchuk tied the game on the power play, the Leafs special teams went to work.
Linden Horswill gave the Leafs the lead for good, combining with Newman and Beitel with the man advantage.
Colton Schell pounced on a rebound to roof a shot past Gluck, once again, with the man advantage.
In the third Newman put the game away as his shot trickled past Gluck for the fourth special teams goal of the game for the Leafs.
“It’s a real big win,” Newman said. “It’s huge because these guys are right ahead of us in the (Murdoch Division) standings.”
Nelson now has a few days off to prepare for an early week road trip to Kimberley.
For Castlegar, the Rebels get right back at it Saturday when Summerland Steam invades the Community Complex Arena.
GAME NOTES: Leaf forward Colton Malmsten didn’t see very much time on the ice Friday. The native of Yellowknife earned a quick trip to the showers after receiving two 10-minute misconducts midway through the game. . . .Nelson’s newest edition, forward Marc Lepine, finished the game with no points. The 18-year-old Edmontonian came to the Leafs from the Golden Rockets Sunday in exchange for defenceman Riley Henderson. Nelson coach Frank Maida made the deal due to an abundance of rearguards and only 12 healthy forwards on the roster. Lepine, at 5’10”, 180 pounds, had two goals in 22 games for the Rockets. . . . Castlegar played its first game without defenceman Joren Johnson. The 17-year-old South Slocan product recently signed with Trail of the B.C. Hockey League. Castlegar coach Steve Junker said Johnson’s departure is a huge loss to the Rebel blueline. . . . Beaver Valley continued its red-hot play, winning its 10th straight game 5-1 over Spokane Braves Friday.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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