Nitehawks rally past Heat to take commanding lead in KIJHL Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
If the Chase Heat need a shoulder to cry on following Game two of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Championship Series, the squad can put in a call to the Nelson Leafs.
Because the Nelson Leafs are probably the only team that can relate to the heartbreaking experienced by the Heat after Beaver Valley rallied from a 4-1 deficit to edge Chase 5-4 Tuesday night at the Fruitvale Arena to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five final.
Game three is Thursday in Chase.
The Heat looked primed to even the series after jumping all over the Hawks in the opening period, building a 3-0 lead eight minutes into the game on timely goals by Josh Bourne, on the power play, Michael Fidanza and Cory Loring.
Dylan Kent stopped the bleeding with a power play marker for Beaver Valley two minutes before the period ended.
But Kolten Moore restored the three-goal advantage 10 seconds after Kent’s marker.
This all happening despite the Heat being outshot 15-8 in the period.
However, unlike the comeback against the Leafs during Game two of the Murdoch Division Final when Beaver Valley scored twice in the final minute of the game before winning in overtime, the Hawks had a full 40 minutes to complete this comeback.
Two goals by Bradley Ross in the second period combined with a power play goal from McKoy Hauck midway through the third frame tied the game at 4-4.
That set the stage for Aiden Bowell to complete the comeback with a goal seven minutes from the finish line.
Beaver Valley outshot the Heat 42-21 making a winner out of Tallon Kramer, who rebounded from a shaky opening frame.
Nic Bruyere was in goal for Chase.
If necessary, Game four of the series goes Friday in Chase.
If the series needs to go the full five games, the final contest is scheduled back in Fruitvale Sunday.
For Heat fans thinking about jumping off the bus, Chase rallied from a 2-0 deficit during the Okanagan-Shuswap Conference Final to oust Osoyoos Coyotes in five games.
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