Leafs looking for some payback as Spokane comes to NDCC Arena
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The last time the Nelson Leafs were riding high, the Spokane Braves showed up to rain on the parade.
The Leafs get another shot at the Murdoch Division rivals Wednesday when the Braves meet Nelson in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League mid-week action at the NDCC Arena.
“Being the top team in the league everyone comes hard against us, night in and night out,” said Leaf winger Alec Wilkinson when asked about being one of the top teams in the KIJHL.
“When teams come to play us they’re going to be ready and play as hard as they can.”
The last time the Braves visited the NDCC Arena, Spokane left with a 4-3 overtime victory.
The Leafs appeared to have the game in control, before Spokane rallied from a 3-1 deficit, scoring the final three goals en route to the surprise win.
The speedy 5’8″, 150-pound Wilkinson, third in Leaf scoring with 15 goals and 27 assists, said Nelson must be ready to play.
If not, only bad things can happen.
“We’ve got to be focused, and when we’re not focued nothing good happens,” said Wilkinson, coming off a three goal performance against Kelowna Chiefs.
“But we’re usually we have been.”
The Leafs finished the month of November with an 8-2-0-2 record.
The impressive record gives the Green and White a share of the KIJHL overall lead with Kamloops.
The month of December will go a long was to determine if the Leafs have what it takes to continue to dominate the Murdoch Division as six of the eight games in the month are against divisional teams — two against both Castlegar Rebels and Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
Game time Wednesday is 7 p.m.
