The Beaver Valley Nitehawks play an important division game tonight against the Spokane Braves at the Beaver Valley Arena.
The Braves are just four points back of the Hawks for third spot in the Neil Murdoch Division, and Beaver Valley, with 26 points, would like to extend that to six rather than have it cut to two.
The Nitehawks are coming off a split this weekend, beating Columbia Valley Rockies 5-3 Saturday after a 5-1 loss to Golden Rockets Friday.
Kurt Black had another big night, getting first-star honours and scoring his third hat trick of the season to lead the Hawks. Black’s last hat trick came against the Nelson Leafs in a 7-6 loss two weeks ago, and since that time he has netted six goals and an assist in five games.
But inconsistency has plagued the Hawks and it was no more evident than when they lost to Creston a week ago 8-3 then rebounded to beat them the next night 7-0.
Beaver Valley’s Nick Perez continues to lead the Hawks with 10 goals and 17 assists, followed by Black and Taylor Stafford with 17 points apiece.
Putting together a string of wins would certainly help the Hawks get in sight of division leaders Nelson and Castlegar which have 40 and 38 points respectively.