Ready or not, here comes the 2011-12 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr
The Nelson Daily Sports
It doesn’t matter if the final roster is set or not, the show must go on.
Friday night on ten fronts the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League kicks off its 2011-12 campaign.
Included in opening night is the Nelson Leafs facing off in the Sunflower City against the defending Kootenay Conference Champions, Castlegar Rebels.
“It’s the real deal,” said Leaf rookie coach Frank Maida on the eve of the home-and-home series against the Rebels.
Despite not being able to finalize the roster — a major reason for some players not being made available is due to Junior A hockey clubs, like those in the BCHL, not starting the season for another week — Maida refuses to treat the weekend set as a tune-up for the rest of the season.
“Because they’re points involved,” was Maida’s response to the suggestion of this weekend’s results not being that important.
A few players returning that Maida has put a lot of stock include winger Colton Schell, who filled the net for Nelson during an exhibition tournament in Fruitvale along with veteran defenceman
Tyler Parfeniuk and Riley Henderson as well as season netminder Andrew Walton.
The local contingent includes defenceman Blake Arcuri (out until mid-October due to off-season shoulder surgery, Kootenay Ice grad Carsen Willans along with Dallon Stoddart and Okanagan Hockey Association grad come home, Lynden Horswill.
Of course, on the other side of the ice the Rebels have a few weapons of their own including 20-year-old forwards Anthony Delong, Scott Morriseau and Tyler Robinson.
In goal Alex Ross will look to shake off that final game in Castlegar last season when the Osoyoos Coyotes filled the net en route to the KIJHL title.
Castlegar also has momentum on their side having outscored the Leafs 14-5 during two preseason games.
“I expect to see a different (Leaf) team when we begin play this weekend,” Maida predicts. “We’ll have (goalie) Andrew (Walton) in the lineup and we’ll have had a week to work on systems and some structure.”
Nelson also will have a few other additions to the lineup in defenceman Walker Sidoni, with the Leafs after being released from Junior A camp and Cameron Dobransky a forward that comes to Nelson following a successful stint with Salmon Arm of the BCHL.
Game time Friday in Castlegar is 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s return match goes at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
Maida moves Hogg, gets center in return
Leaf coach finally was able to trade former goalie Darren Hogg to Osoyoos Coyotes in a four-team deal. Nelson acquired center Alexander Jmaeff of Creston in the transaction.
The others teams involved in the deal were Grand Forks and Penticton.
Special pre-game ceremony
The Leafs hockey club will honour two special contributors to the club who are no longer with us.
Longtime scorekeeper, Jim Kienholz and former goalie Gerry Koehle as well as two fans will be honoured during a moment of silence before the game.
Kienholz was killed in a plane crash during the summer while Koehle died of cancer.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
Meet the 2011-12 starting lineup for the Green and White below.
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