The Nelson Junior Leafs have some work to do if they want to climb back up the Neil Murdoch Division standings.
For the first four weeks of the season the local juniors enjoyed the penthouse of their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League division. A recent rough patch that has seen the team go 4-5-0-1 in its last 10 games has dropped the Leafs to third behind Beaver Valley and Castlegar.
Though well ahead of fourth place Spokane and with Grand Forks looking to be doomed to the basement for the remainder of the season, it appears the top three Murdoch Division teams will be slugging it out for first place.
The Leafs are back on home ice this Saturday at the NDCC taking on the Penticton Lakers. The Leafs beat the Lakers earlier this season 4-0 in Penticton. Game time is 7 p.m.
On Sunday the Leafs travel to Fruitvale to tussle with Beaver Valley.