The Nelson Leafs are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. They are set to compete in the Kootenay Division in the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) beginning in the 2026–27 season after playing in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). They play their home games at Nelson and District Community Complex.
History
The team was originally known as the Nelson Maple Leafs but changed its name to the Leafs in 1994 when it joined the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL). The team returned to the KIJHL in 1999 but continued to be known as the Leafs.
The Leafs are the 1968-69, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1999-00, 2008–09 KIJHL champions.
In the 2006-07 season, the Leafs made it to the KIJHL finals, but lost to the Fernie Ghostriders 4-2. In the 2008-09 season, the Leafs won the KIJHL championship 4-0 over the Kamloops Storm. Then in the 2009-10 season, the Leafs went to the KIJHL finals, but lost 4-1 to the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
The Leafs hosted the Cyclone Taylor Cup, the Junior B provincial championship, in April 2014 but finished fourth.
On April 20, 2026, the Leafs were named as one of 22 teams joining the BCHC, leaving the KIJHL with the remaining 12 teams.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, D = Defaults, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Records as of February 17, 2024.KIJHL.ca, Regular season standings 2011–2012. SeasonFinishPlayoffs 1969–70 32 13 19 0 — 26 165 179 3rd, KHL 1970–71 28 11 17 0 — 22 — — 3rd, WKHL 1971–72 32 11 21 0 — 22 129 198 4th, WKHL 1972–73 30 6 22 2 — 14 109 251 3rd, West 1973–74* 16 0 16 0 — 0 39 163 4th, West Did not participate (withdrew) 1974–75 34 7 27 0 — 14 120 238 4th, West 1975–76 34 13 21 0 — 26 139 184 3rd, West 1976–77 44 21 22 1 — 43 190 213 4th, West 1977–78 42 14 28 0 — 28 166 240 4th, West 1978–79 40 11 28 1 — 23 151 227 5th, West 1979–80 40 19 21 0 — 38 200 272 3rd, West 1980–81 40 17 23 0 — 34 197 209 3rd, West 1981–82 42 27 15 0 — 54 279 218 2nd, West 1982–83 42 15 27 0 — 30 238 264 4th, West 1983–84 40 15 25 0 — 30 209 277 6th, West 1984–85 40 19 20 1 — 39 236 228 4th, West 1985–86* 34 3 30 1 — 7 161 324 6th, West Did not participate (withdrew) 1986–88* Did not participate (folded) 1988–89 45 40 4 1 — 81 373 163 1st, West Lost in finals (Rockies) 1989–90 40 36 3 1 — 73 298 122 1st, West Lost in finals (Rockies) 1990–91* 41 25 15 1 — 51 201 159 2nd, West 1991–92 38 30 6 2 — 62 250 107 1st, West KIJHL champions (Braves) 1992–93 42 27 14 1 — 55 293 139 3rd, West KIJHL champions (Rockies) 1993–94 40 27 12 1 — 55 279 181 2nd, West Season GP W L T SOL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs 1994–95 52 37 13 — 2 76 287 233 1st, Kootenay Lost in division semifinals, 0-4 (Thunder) 1995–96 58 33 23 — 2 68 234 236 2nd, Kootenay Lost in division semifinals, 0-4 (Ghostriders) 1996–97 60 31 23 — 6 68 271 273 2nd, RMJHL Lost in semifinals, 0-4 (Colts) 1997–98 54 20 31 — 3 43 258 272 5th, RMJHL Lost in semifinals, 0-4 (Dynamiters) 1998–99 45 20 25 — 0 40 190 195 3rd, RMJHL Lost in semifinals, 3-4 (Ghostriders)Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs 1999–00 45 29 11 5 — 65 236 138 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL champions (Eagles) 2000–01 58 27 24 4 3 61 237 237 4th, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) 2001–02 50 19 22 5 4 47 172 199 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 1-4 (Rebels) 2002–03 50 24 23 3 0 51 203 202 2nd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division finals, 3-4 (Nitehawks) 2003–04 50 25 21 3 1 54 228 208 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 0-4 (Braves) 2004–05 50 18 26 4 2 42 167 194 4th, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) 2005–06 50 24 17 6 3 57 208 169 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division finals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) 2006–07 52 40 10 2 0 82 253 163 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in finals, 2–4 (Ghostriders) 2007–08 52 32 11 9 0 73 214 162 1st, Neil Murdoch: West Lost in division finals, 3-4 (Nitehawks) 2008–09 52 43 7 2 0 88 248 128 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL champions, 4-0 (Storm) 2009–10 50 36 10 2 2 76 247 128 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in finals, 1–4 (Grizzlies) 2010–11 50 25 22 0 3 53 173 187 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 3–4 (Nitehawks) 2011–12 52 30 17 0 5 65 259 167 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 1-4 (Rebels) 2012–13 52 32 16 2 2 68 207 158 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 2-4 (Nitehawks) 2013–14 52 38 9 1 4 81 247 161 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in division finals, 2-4 (Nitehawks) 2014–15 52 23 23 2 4 52 173 145 4th, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 1-4 (Nitehawks) 2015–16 52 20 29 1 2 42 143 178 4th, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) 2016–17 47 21 21 1 4 47 148 160 3rd of 5 Neil Murdoch11th of 20 - KIJHL Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) 2017–18 47 33 9 2 3 71 164 101 1st of 5 Neil Murdoch3rd of 20 - KIJHL Lost in Conf. Finals, 2-4 (Dynamiters) 2018–19 49 35 11 2 1 72 200 130 1st of 5 Neil Murdoch4th of 20 - KIJHL Lost Divisional Finals, 2-4 (Nitehawks) 2019–20 49 30 13 0 6 66 199 156 2nd of 5, Neil Murdoch6 of 20 KIJHL Won Div Semifinals, 4-0, (Braves)Incomplete Div Final 2-0 (Nitehawks)Playoffs cancelled due to covid-19 2020–21 3300062471st of 5, Neil MurdochRest of season cancelled due to covid-19 2021–22 4231100163171931st of 5, Neil Murdoch4th of 19 KIJHLLost League Final, 1-4, (Grizzlies)2022 - 23442415 -5531501372nd, Neil MurdochLost Div Semifinals, 2-4, (Nitehawks) 2023–24 44 24 17 3 — 51 167 159 3rd of 5, Neil Murdoch10th of 20 KIJHL Lost Div Semifinals, 1-4, (Border Bruins) 2024–25 44 19 23 1 1 40 142 190 3rd of 5, Neil Murdoch7th of 10 Kootenay Conf14th of 21 KIJHL Lost Div Semifinals, 0-4, (Nitehawks)
Notes
1973-74 season: Nelson withdrew from play for balance of season 1985-86 season: Nelson withdrew on January 15, 1986 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons: Nelson did not participate (folded) Stats for the 1990-91 season are only thru February 17, 1991. May not be complete
Playoffs
Records as of February 27, 2024.KIJHL.ca, Playoff Bracket 2011–2012. KIJHL.ca, Past KIJHL League Champions.
Season1st round2nd round3rd RoundFinals1994–95L, 0-4, Creston Valley———1995–96L, 0-4, Fernie———1996–97W, 4-3, Creston ValleyL, 0-4, Cranbrook——1997–98W, 2-0, CastlegarL, 0-4, Kimberley——1998–99L, 3-4, Fernie———1999–00W, 4-2, CastlegarW, Beaver Valley—W, Sicamous2000–01L, 0-4, Beaver Valley———2001–02L, 1-4, Castlegar———2002–03W, 4-2, SpokaneL, 3-4, Beaver Valley——2003–04L, 3-4, Spokane———2004–05L, 0-4, Beaver Valley———2005–06W, 4-1, CastlegarL, 0-4, Beaver Valley——2006–07W, 4-0, SpokaneW, 4-2, Beaver ValleyByeL, 2-4, Fernie2007–08ByeL, 3-4, Beaver Valley——2008–09W, 4-1, SpokaneW, 4-0, CastlegarW, 3-0, FernieW, 4-0, Kamloops2009–10W, 4-3, Beaver ValleyW, 4-3 SpokaneW, 4-1 FernieL, 1-4 Revelstoke2010–11L, 3-4, Beaver Valley———2011–12L, 1-4, Castlegar———2012–13L, 1-4, Beaver Valley———2013–14W, 4-2, SpokaneL, 2-4, Beaver Valley ——2014–15L, 1-4, Beaver Valley———2015–16L, 0-4, Beaver Valley———2016–17W, 4-2, CastlegarL, 0-4, Beaver Valley——2017–18W, 4-1, Grand ForksW, 4-1, CastlegarL, 2-4, Kimberley—2018–19W, 4-3, SpokaneL, 2-4, Beaver Valley——2019-20W, 4-0 SpokaneIncomplete, 2-0, Beaver Valley——2020-21Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic2021-22W, 4-3 CastelgarW, 4-2 Beaver ValleyW, 4-2 KimberleyL, 1-4 Revelstoke2022-23L, 2-4, Beaver Valley———2023-24L, 1-4, Grand Forks———2024-25L, 0-4, Beaver Valley———
Notes
The RMJHL playoffs had three playoff rounds. The final 1998-99 RMJHL playoffs had two playoff rounds.
Cyclone Taylor Cup SeasonRound RobinSemifinalsFinals1999–00no round robin W, 2-1, CRSL, 0-2, ABB2008–09record unavailable advance to championship game—L, 2-6, RIC2013–14Tournament host (0-2-1) relegated to consolation gameL, 0-3, VIC—
NHL alumni
Other notable alumni Nyjer Morgan
Awards and trophies
Most Sportsmanlike Chris Cucullu: 2009-2010 Mike Lebler: 2006-2007 Lindon Horswill: 2011-12
Top Goaltender Billy Faust: 2009-2010 Garrett Beckwith: 2008-2009
Rookie of the Year Dylan Walchuk: 2008-2009 Nik Newman: 2011-12
Coach of the Year Simon Wheeldon: 2008-2009 Simon Wheeldon: 2007-2008 Simon Wheeldon: 2006-2007
Top Defenseman Torin Brusven: 2007-2008 Jonathon Petrash: 2011-12
Top Scorer Dan Fraser: 2006-2007 Nik Newman 2011-12
References
External links