Red-hot Leafs, Rebels put respective winning streaks on the line on the road
By The Nelson Daily Sports
There is a fire warning in the West Kootenay with smoke rising from both Nelson and Castlegar.
However, Fire Departments in both cities have been asked to stand down for this emergency.
That’s because there’s no danger to citizens.
The real danger is the ice in arenas and opposing Kootenay International Junior Hockey League teams.
The Castlegar Rebels and Nelson Leafs are about as hot as a team can get after winning seven and 10 games, respectively.
The Leafs, fresh from a thrilling 7-6-come-from-behind win over Beaver Valley Tuesday, make their first big road trip of the season beginning Friday in Kimberley against the Nitros.
The game is the first of a three-game weekend, with stops Saturday in Golden and Sunday in Columbia Valley.
Nelson is led captain Colton Schell, who’s climbed to the top in KIJHL scoring with 20 points in eight games, including a three-goal performance Tuesday in Fruitvale.
Right behind the Leafs is Castlegar, two points in back in the hotly contested Neil Murdoch Division.
The Rebels are led by 20-year-old Stuart Walton, with a team leading 14 goals and 16 assists.
Castlegar heads in the opposite direction as Nelson taking a three-game road swing into the Okanagan Conference with games Friday in Chase, Saturday in Kamloops and Sunday in Armstrong against the high-flying North Okanagan Knights.
