Leaf continue to shape KIJHL roster
By The Nelson Daily Sports
There’s always room for more scoring and the Nelson Leafs hope they have added another sniper to the fold after the Green and White acquired forward Tyler Nypower from Nanaimo Buccaneers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
Nypower is no stranger to the KIJHL having spent most of last season with Columbia Valley Rockies.
The 19-year-old forward scored 14 goals and added 15 assists in 35 games for the Eddie Mountain Division team.
“Nypower is a feisty point a game type player,” said Leaf GM Lance Morey. “He has great offensive skills and is a great set up man.”
Nypower, a native of Calgary, previously played minor hockey in Calgary. He played just four games for Nanaimo, tallying three assists for the Division-leading Buccaneers.
Morey said the Leafs are not done quite yet with the roster as most KIJHL teams await final cuts from Junior A.
“Ideally, I think having at least seven (defencemen) would be the target number,” said Morey, adding the Leafs are looking for one to two more players for the blueline.
“We have three that have committed to play in Nelson, but at this point they are all still with Junior teams. I am confident that we should end up with one or two of these guy’s in the very near future.”
Leafs GM Morey said Nypower is expected to be in the lineup Friday when Nelson hosts Summerland Steam at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
Saturday, the 4-0 Leafs travel to Grand Forks to face Murdoch Division rival Bruins in the Boundary City.
Sizzling start for Ryan Piva
Leafs Ryan Piva has started the season on fire offensively, scoring six goals in four games — including a hat-trick performance last week against Grand Forks Border Bruins.
The 5’11” native of Trail currently sits in a five-way tie for sixth overall in KIJHL scoring with seven points.
Last year, Piva finished the regular season scoring 19 times.
In 91 games for Nelson, Piva has 35 goals and 26 assists.
Leaf captain Jack Karran, forwards Easton Jolie and Trail Thompson and defenceman Kalem Hanlon are tied for second with three points each in scoring for the Green and White.
