A road trip is always a good thing for a team fairly early in the season — it helps to reveal different personalities and friendships develop. The coaching staff have the opportunity to see the players in a little different light. Another bonus that I’ve just learned about is the team trainer and massage therapist, Craig Smith from High Altitude Therapy, has time to really get some work done during the hours of down time on some of the players who need a little more therapy. It’s very generous of Craig to volunteer his time to travel with the team on occasion.
Four points out of a possible eight over the past two weeks puts the team in third place in the division, but just two points behind Creston, a team that has also played nine games thus far in the season. The Kimberley Dynamiters are in second place and have two games in hand on both the Columbia Valley Rockies and the Thunder Cats.
It’s fair to say that the results of the two road trips are somewhat disappointing, especially the first trip to Grand Forks and Spokane where they picked up a solitary point. However, last weekend’s three point take was good news, as both Nelson and Castlegar consistently put competitive teams on the ice.
Ryan Henderson and Josh Haley continue to lead the team in points with Henderson breaking into double digits against Castlegar.
There is still a little bit of player movement — you will see a couple of new players on the ice on Friday night.
Some of our alumni are moving around too and happened to meet one another on Saturday night. Dylan Sakatch was recently traded from the Humbolt Broncos to Elliot Lake in the Northern Ontario league. He played against Byron Sam in his first game. Sam and his team came out the victors in a 5-2 game.
Come on down to the Eddie Mountain Arena on Friday and Saturday nights this week – it’s entertaining hockey and it would be great to fill those stands.
The Nitros are in town on Friday night and the Kamloops Storm arrive on Saturday. Game time both nights is 7:30 p.m. – don’t miss it!
