Leafs skipper Maida looking for 'Let's Make a Deal' partner
By The Nelson Daily Sports
No news is not good news when you’re a hockey coach looking to fill out the lineup prior to the BC Hockey roster deadline.
So Leaf skipper Frank Maida waits patiently by the phone from a team wanting to play “Let’s Make a Deal”.
“It’s quiet. It’s very quiet,” the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League head coach of the Nelson Leafs told The Nelson Daily Thursday.
“There are not that many players out there.”
“I talked with a WHL team and that coach is even looking for players,” Maida added.
The Leaf skipper is looking to fill out a blueline core that was severely hampered earlier this week when Nelson native Cole Arcuri decided to forego a chance to play in the Cyclone Taylor Cup for a shot with Powell River Kings of the BC Hockey League.
The decision by Arcuri shocked the Leaf brain trust looking to add another defenceman instead of losing a top-four rearguard.
“There’s a couple of deals we’re working on but nothing confirmed at this point,” Maida said.
Nelson currently has 14 forwards, five defencemen and two goalies in camp giving Maida 21 players on the roster.
The maximum roster is 23 by Friday (January 10) at 11 p.m.
Nelson currently holds down top spot in the Murdoch Division, one point ahead of Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
However, the Hawks, winners of 10 straight games, have played one less game than the Leafs.
Nelson travels to Castlegar to face the Rebels Friday before returning home Saturday to host the Spokane Braves at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
The status of leading goal scorer Travis Wellman remains up in the air.
Wellman, tied for third spot in KIJHL scoring and deadlocked with Nick Josephs of Kelowna in goals scored — each with 37 — left the December 29 game in Fruitvale against Beaver Valley with an injury.
Maida said the Calgary native is listed as day-to-day.
