Leafs overcome blueline woes to edge Braves 4-3 in overtime
By Bruce Fuhr
Teams that win championships are usually built solid from top to bottom.
In the case of the Nelson Leafs, the goaltending foundation is solid and the forwards have enough skill to overcome any checking schemes teams may try against the Green and White.
The problem, on paper, for this team is the defence.
Leaf skipper Frank Maida was unable to secure anyone to fill the surprise departure of rearguard Cole Arcuri before the BC Hockey roster deadline, meaning Nelson has only five defencemen to anchor the blueline for the rest of the season.
And when you take captain Darnel St. Pierre out of the picture because of suspension and Austin Seaman off the roster due to injury, that already depleted blueline core is reduced to three — Patrick Croome, Robson Cramer and Nick Trefry.
Which is why Saturday’s 4-3 overtime was especially important as Nelson pushes to capture the Murdoch Division title, and home ice in the playoffs.
Ironically, it was converted defenceman Linden Horswill providing the heroics, scoring in the first minute of overtime to power the Leafs to the narrow Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory over the pesky Spokane Braves before almost 500 fans at the NDCC Arena.
“I think we have some pretty talented defencemen on this team,” Leaf captain Darnel St. Pierre told The Nelson Daily prior to Saturday’s narrow win.
“Our top defencemen would probably one or two on any team in this league but it’s all about the team that is really the reason for our success,” St. Pierre adds.
“We work a lot on our defensive zone coverage. Our forwards help us out and we have two pretty good goalies that make it tough to score on us.”
Against Spokane, assistant coach Sean Dooley, who handles the defensive assignments during the game, had three forwards drop back to bolster the blueline.
Carsen Willans, Horswill and Blair Andrews started the game on the back end to help the already taxed defence.
However, Willans was quickly moved back to the wing leaving Nelson with only five defence for the remainder of the game.
Which is no surprise to a team that has played short handed for most of the season.
“We’ve been playing most of the season with five defence so this is nothing new for us,” said St. Pierre, who thrives on the extra ice time.
Nelson led 2-1 after one period on goals by Aaron Dunlap and Jamie Vlanich, on a two-man power play. Tyler Peltram scored for Spokane, tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Murdoch Division with Grand Forks.
Spokane’s Adam Shaner tied the game in the second period with a goal four minutes into the frame before Sean Collins gave the visitors the lead early in the third on the power play.
Nelson had only one shot in the second period.
The Leafs took over the third period out shooting the Braves 15-6 and were rewarded when Adam Hodge scored to even the score.
Nelson, improving to 30-6-1-3, finished the game out shooting the Braves 24-21.
Nelson maintains its three-point lead in the Murdoch Division after Beaver Valley ended the three-game win streak of the Border Bruins, edging the hosts 6-3 Saturday in Grand Forks.
“With Nelson hosting the Cyclone Taylor Cup, we don’t want a free berth into the tournament,” St. Pierre explains. “We want to go all the way and win the league and show everyone we deserve to be there.
“I think we definitely have the skill and talent and the drive to do it.”
Former Leaf Jacob Boyczuk had four points to lead the Hawks, which had its 10-game losing streak snapped Friday at home by Kelowna Chiefs 3-2.
Nelson, winners of five straight games, travels to Grand Forks to meet the Bruins Friday before returning to host Spokane in a rare Sunday afternoon tilt at 2:30 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: Nelson winger Travis Wellman sat out his sixth game with injury. Joining Wellman in the stands was teammate Alec Wilkerson and Austin Seaman. Both Wilkerson and Seaman are hopeful to be back in the lineup in a few weeks. . . . Darnel St. Pierre was tabbed with his second suspension of the season — this one a two-game sit — for reoccurring hit-to-the-head penalties. The Kelowna native was whistled for the infraction during Friday’s 5-2 road win over Castlegar. . . . Head coach and GM Frank Maida wasn’t be able to find a defenceman, but that didn’t stop him from make a few deals prior to the roster deadline. Maida sent center Bryce Nielsen to Kimberley Dynamiters in a futures/cash deal before acquiring 19-year-old forward Connor Tetlock from Grand Prairie Kings of the Northwest Junior Hockey League. Tetlock played 23 games last season for Kimberley Dynamiters.
