Nitehawks 5 Rebels 2

Derek Lashuk scored the go-ahead goal with just over nine minutes to play to lift Beaver Valley to a 5-2, come-from-behind win over the Rebels tonight. Ryon Sookro scored twice for BV, who also got tallies from Colton Donselaar and Chris Derochie. Spencer Brodt and Matt Ridley replied for the Rebels, who lost for the first time this season. Mike Vlanich improved to 4-1 for the Nitehawks between the pipes, while Alex Ross took the loss for Castlegar.

For me, the turning point of the game came at the 8:45 mark of the second period, when Rebels forward Adam Smith was assessed a charging major and a game misconduct for a late hit on Vlanich, and 4 Nitehawks piled on top of him while one, Tyler Collins, received a fighting major and game misconduct. After that incident, Beaver Valley seemed to band together and took advantage of numerous Rebel penalties (the only goal not scored by either team's power play tonight was an empty-netter by Sookro). Smith's was one of four misconducts assessed to the Rebels tonight, as the discipline issues which reared their ugly head in the playoffs last year definitely resurfaced tonight.

Up Next: Castlegar faces the Spokane Braves tomorrow afternoon in a rematch of that playoff series, before returning home to face Grand Forks on Tuesday evening (7:30, Complex).

Apology: due to a network card malfunction, we were unable to broadcast tonight's game. I spent at least an hour on the phone with both Telus and our streaming provider to no avail, but have been told a solution will be in place for Tuesday's home game. An archive of tonight's contest will also be uploaded to the KIJHL website as soon as the technical issues are sorted out.

Out of Town: Fernie remains unbeaten on the year after doubling up Nelson 4-2 at the NDCC Arena tonight. Thomas Abenante scored twice for the Ghostriders.

Bits & Bites: after only 4 appearances, former Rebel Corey Bulach has been placed on Kelowna's reserve roster. Bulach netted 2 assists and picked up 5 PIMs. The Chiefs are led offensively by former Leaf Landon Andrusiak, while another former Nelson player who was key in their run last year, Dane Rupert, is out injured. Watch for suspensions to come out of the Golden/Columbia Valley game tonight after a line brawl that included former Border Bruin Jake Halderman. The Rockets won 8-1.