Leaf roster starts to take shape as Maida & Company works through KIJHL preseason
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr, The Nelson Daily Sports
When your a rookie coach a win is a win no matter what the time of the season.
Which is why, despite burning the candle at both ends, Frank Maida is smiling a little more after just over a week into the 2011-12 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season.
“We played 10 games in just over five days which gave us a good look at the kids,” Maida said following the weekend pre-season tournament in Fruitvale that saw the Leafs defeat Beaver Valley I 5-3 in the final.
“So the boys were given a well-deserved day off but were going to get right back at it Tuesday.”
Maida was pleased with the goal-scoring explosion of sniper Colton Schell.
“Colton had a great weekend and scored multiple goals all the games,” he said.
Maida has yet to make any significant cuts to the roster, with 25 players remaining in camp.
Tonight is another chance for bubble-boys to impress coaching staff as the Leafs travel to Castlegar to face last years KIJHL finalists, the Rebels.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Thursday is the final game of the pre-season as the Rebels meet Nelson at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
“I’ll probably make a few changes to the roster for each of the games,” Maida said. “But whoever is playing we’re going to roll the lines and allow the players the opportunity to show us what they’ve got before we make our final decisions.”
Nelson opens the season September 16th in Castlegar against the same Rebel team.
The next day, the Leafs play its home opener at the NDCC Arena.
Nice local flavour remains in camp
This season Leaf fans should have a chance to see a lot more Nelson Minor Hockey products on the roster.
Currently five players from the Heritage City remain in camp, including forwards Dallon Stoddart, Linden Horswill and Carsen Willans along with defence men Nolan Taylor and Blake Arcuri.
Both Arcuri (recovering from off-season shoulder surgery) and Horswill (concussion) are both being held out of any contact skills or games.
Maida has also said defenceman Cole Arcuri, a member of the Kootenay Ice of the Major Midget squad, should also see some action as an affiliate call up during the season.
Other players back from last season include Patrick Martens, Colton Schell, Riley Henderson and Tyler Parfeniuk. Leafs know a lot about goalie Andrew Walton, former of Castlegar and Fernie. Walton is also the main man in goal for the Leafs.
New players for the Green and White
Before former coach and GM Chris Shaw left for Vernon Vipers of the BCHL, the skipper recruited a few players who have turned up in Nelson.
Joining the Leafs are defence man Taylor Carribeau and defence man Nicholaus Newman of California, forward Max Bois, coming from the camp of the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings and Russell Turner of Westside Warriors.
Brett Norman is also in Nelson after missing out with Dawson Creek.
Maida also said defenceman Walker Sidoni, playing last season as a 16-year-old, was on the bubble for the Vernon Vipers while forward Marcus Dahl was in
Manitoba.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
