Leafs play 'Let's Make a Deal'
By Bruce Fuhr
The Nelson Leafs were awfully busy this week, finding themselves at the center of a handful of trades as the struggling franchise looks to turnaround an awful season on the ice.
Leafs’ Head Coach and Director of Player Personel Mario DiBellais looking to close the gap in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Murdoch Division, with the trades and roster acquisitions.
“We feel the core layers have been consistent from the start of the year, we’re just looking to shore up some holes to make this team competitive to compete for division championship.”
The moves comes on the heels of two trades last week by Nelson.
To start, DiBella shipped netminder Jason Sandhu to Kamloops Storm of the KIJHL for cash and center Eamonn Miller to OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
“Eammon was a late cut from OCN,” said DiBella. “They were looking for a smooth skating, playmaking centerman and Eammon fit their needs.”
Miller had four goals and eight assists in 18 games for Nelson while Sandhu, who joins former teammate Ben Kelsch on the roster of the Storm, registered three wins in nine games for the Leafs.
Coming back to the Leafs are 20-year-old goalie Bill Gorn and defenceman Kyle Rosolowski.
Gorn, who previous play in the KIJHL for Beaver Valley, came from the Fort Frances Lakers of the Superior International Junior Hockey League while 19-year-old Rosolowski arrived from Osoyoos Coyotes in exchange for the rights of Michael Crawford.
Gorn joins Devin Allen as the two goalies on the roster for Nelson.
“Rosolowski is a veteran defenceman who has a good solid physical player who sees the ice very well and is calm under pressure,” said DiBella.
“Getting Gorn will provide some support for (netminder) Devin Allen who has played well for us this season.”
The moves were just a few for the Leafs as the club looks to reduce the roster to 25 player’s cards by 11 p.m. December 1.
DiBella remains confident a few tweaks here and there can help the fourth-place Leafs rebound from a dismal November, where the club lost eight of 10 games.
The Leafs, fresh from snapping a three-game winless streak Tuesday by defeating Spokane 5-4 in overtime, return to the ice Saturday when Nelson hosts the best in the KIJHL Saturday when Creston Valley Thunder invade the NDCC Arena for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
Sunday, Nelson hosts Grand Forks Border Bruins at 7 p.m.
BLUELINES: Leafs management made a couple of late moves Thursday, trading forward Charlie Willkie to Princeton Posse before acquiring Alex Meeker from 100 Mile House Wranglers. In 12 games with the defending KIJHL champs, the Edmonton native had five goals and two assists for seven points. Wilkie had one goal and three assists in 25 games with Nelson. . . . Forward Cooper Schroder also came to Nelson from Blind River Ontario Jr. A. while the playing rights for forward Kolten Nelson and defenceman Noah Looman were sent to Chase Heat and Sicamous Eagles, respectively.
