Few playoff spots remain up for grabs as KIJHL heads into post season
By The Nelson Daily Sports
As the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League heads into the final two weeks of the season, only a few of the playoff spots remain up for grabs — all three in the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference.
The Sicamous Eagles, in the Doug Birks Division, and Osoyoos Coyotes and Princeton Posse, appear to have the inside track for post season play.
The Eagles hold an eight point lead over Chase Heat with four games to play while the Coyotes and Posse battle for third spot in Okanagan Division with North Okanagan on the outside looking in, four points behind Princeton.
The Coyotes lead the Posse by one point in the standings.
Both Revelstoke and Kelowna clinched Division titles, with the Chiefs taking the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference Crown.
Over in the Kootenay Conference, defending KIJHL Champ Kimberley Dynamiters retained the Conference Title with an amazing 39-4-1-0. The Nitros, trailing Kelowna for the regular season title by three points, will be hoping the Chief falter down the stretch.
Nelson Leafs won the Murdoch Division for the second straight season.
Leafs, 23-10-2-1, have four games remaining on the season, including two this weekend at home against Spokane Braves, Friday, and Fernie Ghostriders, Saturday.
Both games have a 7 p.m. puck drop.
Nelson concludes the season next weekend in Grand Forks, February 22, before hosting Spokane, February 23.
The playoffs begin the final week of February.
Looks like Leafs-Bruins playoff rematch
Nelson’s playoff opponent has yet to be decided as Spokane and Grand Forks battle it out for third spot in the Murdoch Division.
The Braves currently hold a five-point advantage over the Bruins. Spokane has played one more game than Grand Forks.
If the season concluded before the weekend, Nelson would host Grand Forks while Spokane would travel to meet Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the best-of-seven Division Semi Final Series. The Nelson-Grand Forks series would be a repeat of last year’s semi final series, won by the Leafs.
