The Nelson Leafs have traded their top scorer in a five-player deal with the Osoyoos Coyotes.
Nelson native Joe Davidson, who led the team with 16 goals and 12 assists in 27 games, was sent to Osoyoos on Monday along with teammate Marko Pavlovic.
In return, the Leafs acquired forward Craw Dawson, forward Kieran Christianson and defenceman Charlie Lockhart as well as future considerations.
Davidson was in his fourth season with the Leafs. Pavlovic, another forward, had six goals and six assists through 24 games in his second Leafs’ season.
Pavlovic was among the players suspended following the Dec. 31 line brawl against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks that resulted in head coach Adam DiBella’s resignation.
The Coyotes sent three KIJHL rookies to Nelson. Dawson has three goals and seven assists in 24 games, Christianson has one goal and six assists in 28 games, and Lockhart has two goals and six assists in 28 games.
Nelson (17-10-5) is one point behind the Grand Forks Border Bruins for first place in the Neil Murdoch Division after losing two-of-three games in three days over the weekend.
In Chase, Johnny Carmichael scored his second of the game in the third period to lift the Leafs past the Heat 4-3 on Friday.
Tyson Lautard and Lucas Byrne also scored for the Leafs, while Jasper Tait stopped 40 shots in net.
Maddex Bignell scored on a penalty shot while Ryan Keylor and Trevor Kennedy also responded for the Heat (8-22-2). Goaltender Roderic May finished with 29 saves.
The next night in 100 Mile House, a third-period shorthanded goal by Tyler Smoluk helped the Wranglers (10-19-2) steal a 3-2 win against the Leafs.
Carmichael and Ryan Quast had singles for the Leafs, with Tait stopping 15 shots.
Nathan Bohmer and Jace Myers also had goals for the Wranglers, and goaltender Ryder Gregga stopped 26 shots.
On Sunday, the Leafs were routed 5-0 in Kamloops against the Storm.
Tait allowed all five goals on 40 shots in his third-straight start.
Branden Toye scored twice for Kamloops (19-9-4), which had singles from Owen Aura, Ryan Larsen and Samuel Lewis. Netminder Colton Phillips-Watts earned the shutout with 25 saves.
Nelson next visits Grand Forks on Friday before hosting the Castlegar Rebels on Saturday.
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