Leafs, Rebels face off in Murdoch Showdown Wednesday
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Rebels are coming.
The Rebels are coming.
And the Nelson Leafs are ready.
“That is the biggest game of the year for us so far this season,” said Leafs Linden Horswill minutes after Friday’s win over Creston.
“It’s really a four point game for us.”
Castlegar enters the game trailing the Murdoch Division leading Leafs by four points after knocking off the Grand Forks Border Bruins Tuesday night in the Sunflower City.
And no doubt Castlegar will be looking to close the gap even more after gaining only one point during the weekend — 5-5 tie against Golden.
“The game is massive,” said Leaf captain Colton Schell. “Going into the Christmas break and getting a win over Castlegar would be huge for us.”
The Rebels lead the season series against the Leafs going 2-1-1.
Both games in the Sunflower City have ended up in 1-0 wins by the Rebels.
“We’ve got to get traffic in front of the net and force (Jordan Gluck) to shift from side to side,” Schell explained when asked about breaking the scoreless streak.
Nelson, winners of two straight and seven out of the past eight games, no doubt needs to slow down the Rebels top scorers, led by veteran Stuart Walton.
However, Schell said to stop the Rebel offence is a defence by committee, with everyone pitching in.
“Everyone contributes on this team no matter whose on the ice,” said Schell, who leads the KIJHL in scoring with 51 points.
Game time is 7 p.m.
The Leafs are idle until Friday, December 28 when the club hosts the Spokane Braves in the first of a two-game home-and-home series.
Monday, December 31, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks invade the NDCC Arena for the traditional New Year’s Eve contest set for 2:30 p.m.
