A change in jerseys didn’t phase Reid Wilson on Friday.
Wilson, who was acquired by Nelson earlier in the day in a trade with the Castlegar Rebels, scored twice as the Leafs beat the Braves in Spokane 3-2.
Wilson, an 18-year-old forward, had 13 goals and nine assists in 21 games with the Rebels this season. In return, the Leafs sent back forward Trail Thompson, a player development fee and future considerations. The Rebels then flipped Thompson to the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
Jack Karran also scored for the Leafs (17-6-1), while Hunter Young stopped 37 shots. Young was assessed head contact and game misconduct penalties late in the third, which meant 15-year-old Ethan Lawczynski had to take over. He preserved the win with eight saves in the final 11 minutes.
Bear Hughes and Aaron Morris replied for the Braves (12-11-2), with Campbell Arnold making 37 saves.
Wilson wasn’t Nelson’s only move this week. The Leafs also sent goaltender C.J. Wedenig to the Columbia Valley Rockies for a player development fee, and signed defenceman Nicholas Onofrychuk, who spent the last two seasons playing midget hockey in Edmonton.
Nelson next hosts the Rebels on Saturday night.