The Grand Forks Border Bruins saw their season come to an end with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in Game 7 of their Kootenay Conference semifinal.
Grand Forks forced overtime on a third-period goal by Hayden Evans, who scored at 12:08 and added an assist in a strong performance.
Tied 2-2 after two periods, the Border Bruins pushed hard in the third to extend their season, but Beaver Valley’s Vance Amyotte scored the winner at 7:52 of overtime to clinch the series 4-3.
Goaltender Eric Kahl delivered a standout effort for Grand Forks, turning aside 41 shots, including 10 of 11 in overtime.
The Border Bruins were outshot but remained competitive throughout, while Beaver Valley’s Landan Uzeloc made 31 saves in the win.
The loss ends Grand Forks’ playoff run one game short of the conference final.
Beaver Valley will now meet the Kimberley Dynamiters in the Kootenay Conference final in Fruitvale this Friday, April 3.
