ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week’s action with a 20-18-2-4 record (12-7-1-2 at home, 8-11-1-2 on the road, 4-2-4 in overtime) and tied for sixth place in the EASTERN CONFERENCE and tied for tenth place overall in the WHL…This week the ICE will host CALGARY (January 15), SWIFT CURRENT (January 17) and SASKATOON (January 18) before traveling to the EAST DIVISION for three games (January 21 – 24).
SHAW NIGHT: When the ICE hosts the CALGARY HITMEN on Thursday, January 15 it will be SHAW Night…Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win t-shirts courtesy of SHAW.
IMPORT AUTO GROUP NIGHT: When KOOTENAY hosts the SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS on Saturday, January 17 it will be IMPORT AUTO GROUP NIGHT…One lucky fan in the building will win a weekend for four at BIGHORN MEADOWS in RADIUM, $100 cash and a vehicle to use for the weekend trip.
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 game 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.
SUBWAY CENTRAL DIVISION CHALLENGE CUP: This season KOOTENAY will be facing off against the rest of the CENTRAL DIVISION for a different kind of trophy…The SUBWAY CENTRAL DIVISION CHALLENGE CUP tallies points from head-to-head meetings in the CENTRAL DIVISION and the team with the most points in those head-to-heads at the end of the regular season will be awarded the SUBWAY CENTRAL DIVISION CHALLENGE CUP…Fans can get involved by answering weekly trivia questions to win prizes…To get to the CHALLENGE CUP webpage click on the link at www.kootenayice.net
UNUSED SEASON TICKETS: Season Ticket Holders who have unused season tickets can exchange them for any regular season game at a cost of $3.00 per ticket…The unused tickets must have the ticket stub attached in order to be eligible…Tickets can be exchanged any time at the KOOTENAY ICE Office and Kootenay Collectibles.
SUPER SIX FLEX PACKS: The sale of SUPER SIX FLEX PAKS continues…You get six game certificates to use at your convenience – total flexibility…SUPER SIX FLEX PAKS are available in Adult, Senior, Student and Youth packages.
DID YOU KNOW: The ICE are 15-11-2-4 against the EASTERN CONFERENCE this season…KOOTENAY is 13-1-1-1 when they record the first goal of the game and 7-17-1-3 when their opponent scores first…ANDREW BAILEY, who needs three more points to reach 200 WHL points, is tied for eighth in the League in power play goals with eight…JOE ANTILLA needs to play in three more games to reach 100 WHL games…BRAYDEN MCNABB and NATHAN LIEUWEN have been selected to play in the 2009 HOME HARDWARE CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME on January 14 in OSHAWA, ON…NORTH AMERICAN CENTRAL SCOUTING has ranked LIEUWEN 12th among NORTH AMERICAN GOALIES and MCNABB 73rd among NORTH AMERICAN SKATER in the midterm rankings.
INJURIES / TRANSACTIONS: STEELE BOOMER will be out of the KOOTENAY line up indefinitely with a concussion…DUSTIN SYLVESTER will be out of the ICE line up ten to 12 weeks with an ankle injury…ERIC FRERE will be out of the KOOTENAY line up seven to ten days with a shoulder injury…RYAN FOX (knee) and DOMINIK PACOVSKY (ribs) will both be out of the ICE line up day to day…KOOTENAY has acquired 18-year-old forward RYAN FOX from the CALGARY HITMEN in exchange for forward KRIS FOUCAULT on January 8…The ICE acquired 17-year-old defenseman JAMES MARTIN, 16-year-old forward CHRISTIAN MAGNUS and a second round and fourth round picks in the 2010 WHL BANTAM DRAFT from SWIFT CURRENT in exchange for MICHAEL STICKLAND and JOHN NEGRIN on January 10.
ONE YEAR AGO: After 44 games of the 2007-2008 season the ICE were 26-15-3-0, after 45 games 27-15-3-0 and after 46 games 27-15-3-1.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Wednesday January 14 Practice 4:00 – 5:45 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Thursday January 15 ICE vs. Calgary 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Friday January 16 Practice 4:00 – 5:45 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Saturday January 17 ICE vs. Swift Current 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Sunday January 18 ICE vs. Saskatoon 6:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Friday, January 9 – Kootenay 1 vs. Vancouver 4 – Record 19-18-2-4 – Attendance: 3,086
Goal:
1 – Negrin (5) from Fraser and King
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (28 Saves, 4 GA)
Saturday, January 10 – Kootenay 3 vs. Calgary 1 – Record 20-18-2-4 – Attendance: 3,034
Goals:
1 – Ismond (6) from Cassivi and McNabb
2 – Bailey (17) from Fraser
3 – Ismond (7) from Reinhart and Stephens
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (35 Saves, 1 GA)