Head coach Maida gets stamp of approval from Leafs brass
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Head coach Frank Maida looked like a magician in November when the Leafs raced to the top of the Murdoch Division.
However, after the Leafs lost at home to the Castlegar Rebels prior to the Christmas break the Leafs looked anything like a well-oiled machine as the Green and White dropped down the Murdoch division faster than a pair of cement skates in Kootenay Lake.
Nelson finished third behind winner Castlegar Rebels and Beaver Valley Nitehawks despite having the opportunity to clinch the division weeks before the regular season concluded.
Still the Leaf executive thought there were more positives than negatives during the recent Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season and voted during a Tuesday night meeting in favour of extending the coaching contract head coach Frank Maida.
“We are excited to extend the coaching contract for another season,” said Leaf president Russell Stocks in a prepared statement. “We look forward to continuing our efforts with Coach Maida to build championship quality and high character teams on and off the ice for the fans of Nelson.”
Maida, at the helm the past two seasons when Nelson was knocked out of the first round of the Murdoch Division semi finals by Castlegar Rebels in 2012 and Beaver Valley Nitehawks in 2013, will definitely have an edge when he goes player shopping during the spring recruiting season as Nelson will host the 2014 Cyclone Taylor Cup.
The host club gains an automatic bye into the tournament that includes winners of the KIJHL, Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League and Pacific Junior Hockey League.
The tournament, Stocks said the franchise is already started preparations to host, is held in April.
The preliminary round begins the Thursday night with the top two teams in the round robin draw meeting in the Cyclone Taylor Championship Sunday afternoon.
Current KIJHL champ, Castlegar Rebels, begins the 2013 Cyclone Taylor Cup Thursday against host Glacier Kings in Comox.
PJHL Champ Richmond Sockeyes meet Island winner Victoria Cougars in the opening match Thursday.
