Calvin, Edwards, Brandt power BV Hawks to Murdoch Division crown
By The Nelson Daily Sports
There would be no collapse on this night for the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
Dallas Calvin, Ryan Edwards and Riley Brandt each scored twice to lead the Hawks to a 6-2 series-clinching win in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff action Friday night in Fruitvale.
The victory powers Beaver Valley to the Murdoch Division title. The Hawks win the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Still stinging from a wasted opportunity Thursday night in Nelson, when the Hawks gave away a 2-0 lead in the second period, Beaver Valley gained some early momentum with the return of leading scorer Dallas Calvin.
And the 6’4″, 205-pound Trail native, who missed Thursday’s Game five with a lower body injury, delivered early by scoring three minutes into the game.
Although Travis Wellman replied for the Leafs two minutes later to give the visitors some life, the other leader of the Hawks, Ryan Edwards, replied a few minutes later to give the hometown squad the lead for good.
Calvin and Edwards, sandwiched around a Troy Petrick marker for Nelson, increased the lead to 4-2 after 40 minutes before Riley Brandt clinched the win with two third-period markers — the latter coming into an empty net.
Beaver Valley out shot the Leafs 43-37 making a Brett Clark the winner in goal.
Patrick Zubick took the loss for Nelson.
PLAYOFF NOTES: The series loss marks the fourth straight season Nelson has been eliminated in the Murdoch Division playoffs. Three of the four times, Beaver Valley has sent the Leafs packing. . . . Beaver Valley out scored Nelson in the series 23-12. . . .The Hawks next opponent has yet to be decided after Creston edged Kimberley 4-2 Friday in the Bavarian City. Game seven of the Eddie Mountain Final goes Saturday in Creston. . . .The offensive showing by Ryan Edwards and Dallas Calvin put the two Beaver Valley snipers into a tie for top spot in KIJHL playoff scoring. . . . The season is not over for Nelson Leafs as the Heritage City franchise hosts the Cyclone Taylor Cup April 10-13 at the NDCC Arena. Nelson gains entry into the four-team tournament as the host squad. The other teams are the champs from the KIJHL, Pacific Junior Hockey League and Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
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