The Castlegar Rebels followed up on a solid regular season by adding the Neil Murdoch Division playoff title to its resume last night in Castlegar.
The Rebels scored a 4-2 win over the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in Game 5 of their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League division final to win the series four games to one.
Colton Donselaar and Ryon Sookro had the Nitehawk goals.
Beaver Valley got off to quick lead on the Rebels when Donselaar’s shot on goal just 12 seconds into the game slipped past Rebels goalie Alex Ross.
It took about 10 minutes but Castlegar finally got back on even ground with a power play goal from Spencer Brodt at the 9:14 mark.
The score stayed tied at 1-1 into the second period beforea rash of penalties allowed both teams to capitalize on power play chances.
Ryan Aynsley put the Rebels up 2-1 at the 11-minute mark but Beaver Valley answered on their power play chance two minutes later with Sookro netting the marker.
Castlegar notched its second power play goal of the period with four minutes to play thanks to Aaron Brewer’s marker to make it 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Anthony Delong’s sealed the win with a breakaway goal with five minutes to play in regulation time.
KIJHL Notes: Trail native Thomas Abenante of the Fernie Ghostriders is the KIJHL”s leading scorer in the playoffs after collecting two assists in last night’s 3-1 win over Creston. Abenante has 21 points in nine games.