The KIJHL's Beaver Valley Nitehawks can't wait to celebrate the New Year with local fans by hosting the Nelson Leafs on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Since 2012, the Nitehawks have played the New Year's Eve game in Nelson where a boisterous crowd cheers on their hometown Leafs making for a festive if not electric atmosphere. (except for in 2018 when B.V. played NO Knights and 2020 due to COVID)
“I think anytime you’re playing your rival games around the holidays, I always find that kids and family have come home for Christmas and it feels like the hockey rink is a place to congregate," said Nitehawks head coach and GM Terry Jones. "It’s a place where people go and they see lots of people, especially people they know and connect with over hockey/”
Scheduling a New Year’s Eve game in Beaver Valley may be new, but against the Leafs is keeping with tradition for Jones.
“It’s pretty unreal,” he said of the atmosphere. “I want to say a few years ago we had a game in Nelson and they came out and were just flying. They took a three-goal lead on us, but it was really snowing at night and the power went out in the arena. That ended the game (he laughs). The atmosphere before that was pretty unbelievable.”
Beaver Valley won last year's game 6-4, but Nelson won 3-1 in 2022 and over the10 years the teams have faced off for the New Year's Eve classic, they are tied at 5-5.
Tuesday's game will give the Nitehawks or the Leafs the edge and exclusive bragging rights for at least another year.
“It’s very loud, the fans are cheering and the boys are buzzing,” said Nitehawks captain Liam Ray.
Leafs captain Leighton Partington said the match up ramps up the teams.
“Both teams bring more, I’m sure it will be the same this year, it will be a good game,” he said. “In our division, the games can be physical, and in their rink too it’s a little bit smaller, so pucks are bouncing.”
The Leafs have struggled this year posting a 13-14-1-1 record, while the Nitehawks at 19-8-3-0 are tied for first place in the Neil Murdoch Division.
But the New Year's game is it's own entity, and after a decade of play it means more to the players than a regular season match up.
“It’s always a good battle,” said Leafs defenceman Carsyn Crawford. “The games almost feel like a playoff game and are intense. The New Year’s Eve games always have a different level of competition to them.”
The Nitehawks-Leafs New Year's match goes at 3 p.m. at the Beaver Valley Arena . . . Do not miss it!!
