Road Food — Leafs trek to Okanagan for three-game set
By The Nelson Daily Sports
After spending most of the month of October at home, the Nelson Leafs take to the road, playing eight of the next 11 games away from the friendly confines of the NDCC Arena.
The first games happen this weekend when Nelson travels to the Okanagan for three Kootenay International Junior Hockey League games beginning Friday in Armstrong against the North Okanagan Knights.
Nelson has feasted pretty well at home, winning five straight games to climb back into the Murdoch Division race.
The Leafs, 10-5, trail front-running Beaver Valley Nitehawks by six points in the Murdoch Division — and second-place Castlegar Rebels by five points.
Tonight in the Central Okanagan, Nelson meets a dangerous North Okanagan squad struggling in the standings with just eight points and last in the Okanagan Division, but a team that forced the Leafs to rally from a two-goal deficit to score a 3-2 victory earlier this season in the Heritage City.
Of note, the winning goal came off the stick of Brendan Smith on the power play with 19 seconds remaining in the game.
Saturday, Nelson faces Kelowna Chiefs.
The teams met on opening night. Kelowna, second in the Okanagan Division with a record of 7-3-2-2, won on the score sheet but had the points stripped after the KIJHL found the Chiefs had an ineligible person on the score sheet.
Sunday Nelson concludes the road trip in Summerland against the Steam.
Nelson doubled the Steam 4-3 October 11 in Nelson.
Smith top Leafs scoring parade
Veteran utility player Brendan Smith continues to lead the Leafs in scoring with 13 points with five goals and eight assists.
Jordan Davie is tops in goal scoring with eight.
Leafs captain Rayce Miller listed as day to day
Nelson team captain Rayce Miller is still reeling from a puck to the face during the Sunday, October 18 game against North Okanagan.
Miller practiced with the team but remains a game time decision.
Defending KIJHL champs top team in league
The reigning KIJHL champs from Kimberley remain tops in the entire league with 28 points.
The Nitros are two points in front of Beaver Valley Nitehawks and three ahead of Castlegar Rebels and Kamloops Storm heading into weekend play.
