KIJHL teams look for diamonds in the rough as B.C Hockey roster deadline nears
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr
The Nelson Daily Sports
Don’t expect a lot of movement in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League as teams prepare to submit final rosters January 15 to B.C. Hockey.
At least that’s what Nelson Leaf coach Frank Maida thinks will happen as junior teams across the country ready for the final part of the season.
“We’ve been looking but there isn’t a lot of movement out there,” Maida said prior to a three-point weekend in KIJHL play.
The Leafs opened the weekend losing 5-4 to Princeton before finishing on a much happier note after edging Grand Forks 5-2 Saturday — both games at the NDCC Arena.
Maida has been desperately rustling the bushes throughout junior hockey for a player or two to fill out the roster of the Green and White before the final month stretch drive.
However, Maida has only received offers of fewer players and not the home-run hitters the Leafs need to challenge both Beaver Valley and Castlegar for the Murdoch Division title.
“I don’t think there’s going to be many players from the B.C. Hockey League because those teams already have less players than in past years,” Maida explained.
“The only way players might become available is if Western Hockey League teams release players and then there may be a trickle down.”
The Leafs currently have 21 players on the roster after defenceman Julian Davis left the team prior to the weekend.
Leafs get back to winning ways, edge Grand Forks Bruins
Five different players scored as the Nelson Leafs defeated the Grand Forks Border Bruins 5-2 Saturday in KIJHL Murdoch Division action at the NDCC Arena.
The win was the first for Nelson in three games.
Dallon Stoddart, first star Eric Spring, defenceman J.J. Beitel, Cameron Dobransky and Colton Malmsten scored for Nelson, which held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1.
Mitchell Nishimura and Austin Lee replied for Grand Forks.
However, the big story of this game was the play of Grand Forks goalie Dylan Quinn, who face 45 shots in the game.
Hawks increase Murdoch lead to six points
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks, the top team in the entire KIJHL, stretched its lead in the Murdoch Division to six points over second-place Castlegar Rebels after posting a pair of wins.
Zac Perehudoff stopped all 27 shots to backstop the Hawks to a 3-0 win over Princeton Posse Saturday.
Christian Johnson scored twice and Chris Derochie added a single for the Hawks, which held a 36-27 shot advantage.
Sunday, the Hawk players padded their individual scoring stats during an 11-2 pounding of Columbia Valley Rockies.
Justin Ninimikin, rookie sensation Craig Martin, Dallas Calvin, Johnson and Max Flanagan each scored twice to lead the Hawks.
Jacob Boyczuk also scored for Beaver Valley, 30-6-0-1.
Mike Vlanich stopped 21 of 23 shots to grab the win in goal.
Castlegar keeps pace with Hawks, pound Bruins twice
The Castlegar Rebels kept pace with Beaver Valley by flexing its offensive muscles against lowly Grand Forks Border Bruins.
The Rebels finished off the Bruins by blasting the Boundary team 16-2 Sunday in Castlegar.
The win comes on the heels of a 10-0 shellacking Friday in Grand Forks.
Anthony Delong and Chetwynd rookie Kody Fisher each had four points to lead the Rebels.
Diego Bartlett and Delong each scored twice to pace Castlegar, 26-8-1-2 on the season.
Castlegar hosts Creston Friday before traveling to Fruitvale Saturday to face the Hawks in a Murdoch showdown.
The Rebels have defeated the Hawks in the last two meetings.
Season continues to go south for Border Bruins
The season continues to go from bad to worse for the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
The 1-36 Bruins, winless since November, have allowed a league high 340 goals — that’s a 9.19 per game average — as well has have only scored 74 times, also a league low.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
