The Kootenay ICE playoff series against the Wheat Kings starts Friday in Brandon.
This is the 1st time the 2 franchises’ will have met in the post season.
During the regular season the clubs played 4 games. All were 1 goal decisions, each won a game in the other clubs building and the series finished tied 2-2. Two of the games went to overtime shootouts.
The series is a contrast between the Lunch Pail ICE and the flashy Wheat Kings.
As they have been all year the ICE will be the underdogs going into the series. A role they have played well during the season but the Wheat Kings have been one of the best teams during the 2nd half of the season.
It’s the 10th time in their history the ICE will not have home ice advantage. They won 4 and lost 5 in the past series. Last year the ICE won game 1 on the road in both playoff series they played.
The ICE are the youngest team in the WHL Playoffs and could have up 12 players playing in their 1st ever post season game on Friday. The ICE have 9 players who were a part of last years team that went to the 2nd round. (McNabb, Frere, Fraser, Sylvester (injured), Stephens, Boomer, King, Bailey & Barteaux) .
The Wheat Kings lost in the 1st round last year and were built for long playoff runs this and next year.