Competition intense at Nelson Leafs training camp
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs are once again the first out of the gates as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League franchise hosted its 2018-19 training camp this past weekend at the NDCC Arena.
Leaf brass welcomed 45 players in Nelson for main camp, which concluded Sunday afternoon.
“I’m really pleased with what I’ve seen so far,” Leaf coach Mario DiBella said after watching his Green team rally from a 5-0 deficit to edge the Reds 7-6 during afternoon game action.
“There’s been a high level of competition during camp . . . a lot of skill and grit so I’m really pleased with our recruiting with what I’ve seen so far,” DiBella added.
Nelson is coming off one of its best seasons in years, capturing both the Murdoch Regular Season and Playoff titles before losing to eventual KIJHL Champion Kimberley Dynamiters in the Kootenay Conference Final.
DiBella had eight to 10 players from that Murdoch Championship team as well as former Castlegar Rebel Shawn Campbell, dealt to Nelson during the off season, attend camp to raise the level of competition.
“The purpose of having our camp earlier is to give these players a chance to warm up before attending Junior A Camps they’ll attend,” said DiBella, noting that most Tier II Camps open in the coming days. “It also gives us a chance to see them so if things don’t work out at Junior A camps it gives them an option.”
Players will dispersed following exit talks Tuesday before returning prior to the first two exhibition games Thursday, August 30 in Fruitvale against Beaver Valley Nitehawks and Friday, August 31, at home, against Revelstoke Grizzlies.
Nelson travels to Revelstoke, Sunday, September 1. Leafs conclude the brief, four-game exhibition season Tuesday, September 4 at home against Beaver Valley.
The KIJHL season opens Friday, September 7 with a full slate of games.
Nelson begins at home hosting North Okanagan Knights in an interlocking Conference game.
The KIJHL has decided to return to an interlocking schedule between the Kootenay and Okanagan/Shuswap Conferences after a few seasons.
