Two teams heading in opposite directions clash Friday at NDCC Arena
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It’s a case of two teams going in the opposite directions.
The Nelson Leafs, a team expected to challenge for the Murdoch Division but struggling to find consistency, entertains the soaring Beaver Valley Nitehawks Friday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
The Leafs have dropped three straight — four of the past five games — while the Nitehawks are on a roll having won eight consecutive games to open a six-point lead in the Murdoch Division over the Leafs.
During the losing streak, Nelson has scored only nine goals in five games. Nelson’s top scorer, Dale Howell, is tied for 17th in KIJHL scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists.
Beaver Valley holds a 3-2 lead in the season series, having won the past two games — 5-4 and 4-2 in Fruitvale.
Nelson defeated the Hawks 3-2 in overtime in the only game played at the NDCC Arena.
Injuries, suspensions shorten Leafs bench
The donnybrook between Nelson and Creston last Saturday has the Leafs playing shorthanded for the next few games.
Nelson dressed only 15 players for Tuesday’s clash against Grand Forks due to four players serving suspensions after the Creston game.
Defenceman Brent Headon and forwards Jack Karran and Mason Mullaney were hit with three-game sits for multiple fights in the same stoppage of play.
Defenceman Jacob Karran serves two games for a checking-from-behind major penalty.
Jacob Karran will be back in the lineup Saturday when Nelson hosts Fernie Ghostriders Saturday.
The three other players first game back is November 10 against Castlegar Rebels.
Leafs GM, Mario DiBella also served a one-game suspension for Saturday’s dust up.
Meanwhile Nelson is still missing defencemen Zach Morey and Dash Thompson and forward Kolten Nelson due to injury.
Hawks Kramer shines to register Conference POM
Not only does Nelson have to face the red-hot Hawks, but the Green and White will also have to beat the Kootenay Conference Player-of-the-Month, Tallon Kramer in goal.
The Hawks netminder finished the month with six wins, three shutouts and a 1.00 goals against average.
The native of Grande Prairie, AB, fourth in Goalie Leaders category with a .938 save percentage.
Kramer edged out Logan Styler and Ed Lindsay of Castlegar Rebels, Mitch Traichevich of Kimberley and Justen James of Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
Colin Bell of Osoyoos Coyotes was the Player-of-the-Month in the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference.
Busy month for Nelson Leafs
Nelson, finishing the month of October with a 4-4 record, hosts Fernie Ghostriders to start a busy stretch of games in November.
Fernie is third in the Eddie Mountain Division behind Creston and Kimberley. The two teams are tied for top spot in the division with 26 points.
The Leafs, which started the month off with a 3-2 OT loss Tuesday in Grand Forks against the Border Bruins, play 10 games, during the month — four at home a six on the road.
