Early season test for Leafs as Green & White host Murdoch rivals
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The first of many Murdoch Division Showdowns play out this weekend in the Heritage City when the Beaver Valley Nitehawks and Castlegar Rebels invade the NDCC Arena.
The Hawks start the three-game Murdoch Division series Friday with a tilt in Nelson.
Beaver Valley, suffering its first loss of the season Saturday at home to Osoyoos Coyotes, trails the Leafs and Rebels by a slim one point in Murdoch standings.
However, Castlegar has played four more games than both Nelson and Beaver Valley.
Twenty-year-old Ryan Edwards, eighth in league scoring with eight goals and eight assists leads the Hawks into the contest.
Nelson counters with the one-two punch of Travis Wellman and Jamie Vlanich — the two line mates have combined for 34 points in seven games this season.
Saturday Nelson travels to Castlegar to meet the Rebels in the first of a home-and-home series.
Sunday, round two goes at 2:30 p.m. in Nelson.
Leaf fans get to see former Leaf defenceman Seth Schmidt in action.
Schmidt, a native of Creston, was involved in the deal that sent Vlanich and Wellman to Nelson during the offseason.
Schmidt currently sits second in Rebel scoring with 13 points and has points in eight of his nine games played this season.
ICE CHIPS: The triple-header weekend has been dubbed Parent Weekend by Leaf management. The three games allow parents of players the opportunity to watch their kids in action. The Leafs hockey club is hosting a reception following Friday’s game against Beaver Valley before a luncheon Saturday afternoon at the Hume Hotel. . . .The Nelson Leafs traded another homegrown product away when Matt MacDonald was dealt to the Revelstoke Grizzlies last week. The 6-foot, 160-pound forward was moved for a player to be named later. Earlier this summer Leaf brass traded Dallon Stoddart to Castlegar in the Wellman/Vlanich deal. In 52 games with Nelson stretching over two seasons, MacDonald had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.
