Salmon Arm’s Colton McCarthy is making his presence felt in the KIJHL.
McCarthy, playing for the Nelson Junior Leafs in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, has been key in early season games.
Versus the Castlegar Rebels, McCarthy buried two, the second tying the game at five apiece and sending it into overtime.
Two overtime periods solved nothing and the rare KIJHL tie was the outcome.
Leafs head coach Frank Maida said one of the bright spots in the opener was the 16-year-old rookie.
“Colton had a great weekend,” Maida said.
“He is going to be a player to watch for fans. He already has interest from the BC Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.”
Then, this past Thursday night, Nelson powered past Grand Forks and the Border Bruins’ 1-0 lead to win 2-1.
McCarthy scored once in the second period and again, with just a minute remaining, to secure the win. The Leafs are sitting with a 1-1-1 record.
Local Eagles
A number of Salmon Arm players are on the Sicamous Eagles’ roster in the KIJHL. They include: Joel Kipp, Nathan Grieve, Aidan Nisse, Nicholas Astastewicz, Andrew Nunn, Justin Murray and Cam Olson,