Looking to finish 2013 on a high note.

That is what Trail Smoke Eaters head coach Nick Deschenes hopes will happen Monday night when they host the West Kelowna Warriors.

In their final contest of the calendar year, and returning from the nine day Christmas break, his club will look to do something they haven't done since November 16th...win.

Trail has dropped 12 straight games (the second time this season they've lost 10 or more consecutive outings) and sit 26 points back of a playoff spot.

Deschenes has admitted the focus has now shifted to next season, "We're getting close to the end of the year here, we have a two month segment [left], so we're trying to position our older players for opportunities [next year], as well as our younger players [who we want to] kind of put into roles where we can hopefully see them long term."

Deschenes explains they are looking to identify what players will be wearing the orange and black next season.

"The sooner we can start keying in on some players [and] establishing a relationship, it is just going to contribute to a quicker transition into next year."

Trail and West Kelowna have met twice this season, splitting the two previous matches.

The Smokies took the most recent contest, a 5-1 win in West Kelowna on November 2nd - Deschenes second game behind the bench for Trail.

"We need to come out of our shell," said Deschenes after I asked him what his team needs to do to be successful against West Kelowna again. "We need to play more aggressively, with more of an 'attack mentality'. At home or away, we are here now to maximize the next two months and we are here to give a maximum effort."

So the Smokies are not necessarily looking to finish 2013 with a bang, as much as steer the ship in the right direction for 2014(2015).

Coming into Monday's match the Warriors are 20-12-1-2 and with a road record of 10-4-1-2.

They sit one point back the third place Salmon Arm Silverbacks, and nine points behind the division leading Penticton Vees.

Meanwhile, the Smokies are 7-28-2-1 with just 3 wins at Cominco arena this season.

Watch the live broadcast at www.fasthockey.com or listen for free at www.mixlr.com/smokeeaters