Castlegar took a 3-2 series lead over the Beaver Valley Nitehawks as the Rebels skated to a Game 5, 2-1 victory at the Castlegar Rec Complex on Sunday in the best-of-seven Neil Murdoch division final.
Braydon Horcoff pumped in the winner at 5:14 of the second period to put the Rebels up 2-0, after Travis Wellman got Castlegar on the board at 7:48 of the first period, converting on a Bryan Lubin pass.
Dan Holland would cut the lead to one midway through the third period. Despite late pressure with the goalie pulled, it’s as close as the Hawks would get as Jordan Gluck stopped 31 of 32 shots for the victory.
The Nitehawks had tied the series at two games a piece on Friday with a 6-2 drubbing at the Hawks’ Nest.
Ryan Edwards and Taylor Stafford paved the way to the win, each scoring twice and getting an assist for three-point nights.
The game was marred by almost 90 minutes in penalties, six game misconducts, and a scary injury to Russell Mortlock late in the game that only fueled the bitter rivalry.
Game 6 went Monday night at the Beaver Valley Arena at 7 p.m. but results were unavailable at press time.
If the Hawks win, Game 7 will go in Castlegar Wednesday at 7 p.m.
KIJHL notes: Greater Trail native Garrett Kucher netted a hat trick in leading the Osoyoos Coyotes to a 4-2 win over the Kelowna Chiefs on Saturday to even the series at 2-2. The Golden Rockets beat Fernie Ghostriders 6-3 to take a 3-1 lead in the Eddie Mountain division series, while North Okanagan Knights took a 3-0 series lead with a pair of 2-1 wins over the Sicamous Eagles for the Doug Birks division title.