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Leafs add some scoring punch up front as Nelson begins three-game road trip in Spokane

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
September 22nd, 2017

Fresh from playing the past seven consecutive games at home — four regular season and three exhibitions — the Nelson Leafs venture out for a three-game road trip.

The Leafs, 2-1-1, travel to the Lilac City Friday for a division rivalry game against the Spokane Braves.

Spokane is off to a good start with the only blemish an overtime loss in four games. The early season result has the Braves tied for top spot in the Murdoch Division with Grand Forks Border Bruins.

Nelson will have a new face in the lineup as the Green and White acquired 6’1”, 180-pound forward Jaiden Laporte from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Leaf GM Lance Morey said Laporte became available after being a late cut from the Northern Alberta squad.

“Jaiden is a power forward who processes a big league shot,” Morey said about the new acquisition.

“I think it adds another dimension to help our offensive output.”

“Adding another big body up front just adds to an already strong forward group that is becoming very tough to play against,” Morey added.

The Leafs travel to Creston Saturday for the fourth meeting of the season against a team from the Eddie Mountain Division.

Next week the Leafs conclude the three-game road trip against the Border Bruins in Grand Forks before returning to the NDCC Arena to face Creston Saturday, September 30.

Lack of finish around the net proves costly early in the season

After scoring two goals in two games to open the season, the Leafs dropped 15 against Fernie and Columbia Valley during the weekend — albeit, a dozen came against Ghostriders in a 12-3 shellacking.

Morey believes with a little luck around the net, Nelson could be undefeated heading into the weekend.

“I think we could be 4-0 had we had better finish around the net,” he said.

Rookie Ryan Cooper leads Nelson in scoring with five points in three games with Jackson Zimmermann, Ethan Beattie, Sawyer Hunt and David Sanchez tied for second, each with four points.

Zimmermann leads the Leafs in goals with three.

In goal is where Nelson has shined with Josh Williams currently in seventh spot in goalie stats with a stingy 1.50 goals against average in two games.

Quinn Yeager is 14th overall with a 2.34 average.

Injury update

Morey said forward Logan Wullum is very close to returning to the lineup. Wullum, out with a hand injury, played briefly against Fernie and is now considered day-to-day.

Morey said the Leaf assistant captain should be back when Nelson travels to Grand Forks to meet the Bruins.

Meanwhile defenceman Michael Bladon is waiting for medical clearance.

The rookie rearguard has yet to see action this season.

Edmonton native Troy Glionna has left the team for personal reason and has been released.

In three games with Nelson, Glionna did not register a point.

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