ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week’s action with a 16-13-2-3 record (9-4-1-1 at home, 7-9-1-2 on the road, 0-2-4-3 in overtime) and third place in the CENTRAL DIVISION and are ninth place in the WHL...This week the ICE will host KAMLOOPS (December 10), MOOSE JAW (December 13) and MEDICINE HAT (December 17) before breaking for Christmas Holidays (December 18 – December 26).
TIM HORTONS NIGHT: When KOOTENAY hosts the KAMLOOPS BLAZERS on December 10 it will be TIM HORTONS Night…The Timbits will be playing a game of hockey during the intermission and prior to the game non perishable food items will be collected for the CRANBROOK and KIMBERLEY FOOD BANKS…Fans that donate to the FOOD BANKS will have the opportunity to win an autographed Scott and Rob Niedermayer stick courtesy of TIM HORTONS…Santa will be in attendance this night to hand out candy canes.
A&W TEDDY BEAR / MITTEN TOSS: When the ICE host the MOOSE JAW WARRIORS on December 13 it will be the annual A & W TEDDY BEAR / MITTEN TOSS Night…Fans are encouraged to bring new, unused stuffed bears (due to distribution in health care facilities) and mittens to the game that will be tossed on to the ice when KOOTENAY scores their first goal…Bears collected at this game will be distributed to the Salvation Army, the Angel Tree and various other community organizations.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Family Paks are on sale for only $45.00…For this low price you receive two adult tickets, two youth or student tickets, a parking voucher, a program voucher and two McDonald’s Happy Meal vouchers…Family Paks are applicable for all Sunday through Thursday games excluding Wednesday, December 31…Super Six Flex Paks are also available…They include six vouchers redeemable for any remaining regular season home game…Flex Paks are $99.00 for adults, $75.00 for senior / students and $51.00 for youth.
PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY: MATT FRASER, ANDREW BAILEY and other players will be ringing the bells for the SALVATION ARMY from 12 – 2 pm (December 12 – CANADIAN TIRE, December 16 – SAFEWAY)...TYLAN STEPHENS, KEVIN KING and other players will be helping families bag their groceries at SAVE ON FOODS from 12 – 2 pm on December 12 and December 16…MAX REINHART, NATHAN LIEUWEN and other players will be at the TAMARACK MALL selling Family and Flex Paks on December 14 from 12 – 5pm.
ICE / HOME DEPOT BACKYARD RINK CONTEST: From now until January 26 you will have the chance to enter and win a game of shinny with some of the KOOTENAY ICE players and HOME DEPOT staff…To enter you can bring your photo to HOME DEPOT, drop it off at Guest Services during a KOOTENAY ICE home games or email the ICE a photo of your backyard rink along with your phone number…Full contest details are available at www.kootenayice.net under the ‘”In the Community” page.
DID YOU KNOW: KOOTENAY is 13-9-2-3 when outshooting their opponent, 2-4-0-0 when outshot by their opponent and 1-0-0-0 when shots are tied…DUSTIN SYLVESTER, who is first in the League in short handed goals with six, is third in short handed goals in franchise history with nine (DUNCAN MILROY – 11, RYAN RUSSELL – 10)…SYLVESTER has been named the HUSKY WHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH for November…ANDREW BAILEY played in his 250 consecutive WHL game dating back to 2005-2006 season on December 6 against SPOKANE…JOHN NEGRIN played in his 200 WHL career game on December 3 against TRI-CITY…MATT FRASER played in his 100 WHL career game against TRI-CITY (December 3)…BRAYDEN MCNABB played in his 100 WHL career game against PORTLAND on December 2…NORTH AMERICAN CENTRAL SCOUTING has ranked NATHAN LIEUWEN first among WHL goaltenders and BRAYDEN MCNABB 15th among skaters in the WHL preliminary rankings for the Fall…MAX REINHART (TEAM PACIFIC) and DREW CZERWONKA (TEAM WEST) have been selected to play at the 2009 WORLD UNDER 17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE in PORT ALBERNI from December 28 – January 4.
INJURY / TRANSACTION: Forward STEELE BOOMER will be out of the KOOTENAY line up week to week with a concussion…Goaltender THOMAS HEEMSKERK has left the team to return home for personal reasons.
ONE YEAR AGO: After 34 games of the 2007-2008 season the ICE 19-12-3-0, after 35 games 20-12-3-0 and after 36 games 21-12-3-0.