Cranbrook, BC – Kootenay ICE forward Dustin Sylvester scored the game winner on a late 3rd period powerplay in a 2-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings in WHL action on Friday night.
The ICE scored the opening goal on a powerplay as Steele Boomer was allowed to skate into the slot and a fired a wrist shot high on the glove side.
The Wheat Kings tied it on 2nd period powerplay as Aaron Lewadniuk fired a onetimer in the low slot after receiving a pass from behind the net from Tony Rajala.
The ICE got the game winner on a 3rd period powerplay as Dustin Sylvester scored with a wrist shot from the middle slot. It was a disputed goal as the Brandon felt Sylvester knocked the puck down with a high stick to deflect the puck into the zone.
The crowd was the smallest for a regular season game in Rec-Plex history.
The ICE will wrap up their 5-game home stand on Sunday against Seattle.
The ICE went into the game having scored only 10 goals in their last 7 games.
Dominik Pacovsky had 1 goal in 7 games, Matt Fraser 1 in 6, Dustin Sylvester 1 in 7, Steele Boomer 0 in 6, Kevin King 1 in 8, Jesse Ismond 0 in 15 and Max Reinhart 1 in 7.
ICE scratches – Cason Machacek 5th game (concussion day-to-day), Christian Magnus 15th game (finger 1-2- weeks), Drew Czerwonka 14th game (leg 1-2 weeks), Nathan Lieuwen 2nd game (concussion indefinite) and Matt Fraser 1st game (knee 2-4 weeks).
Game Summary
Brandon 9-7-0-2 Kootenay 6-11-0-0
1st Period
1. Kootenay, Boomer 6 (McNabb, Sylvester) 16:10 pp
Penalties – Calvert Bran (tripping) 3:30, Urbom Bran (cross checking) 8:30, Reinhart Ktn (hooking) 12:47, Lewadniuk Bran (goalie interference) 14:35, Van De Velde Bran (double high sticking) 20:00.
2nd Period
2. Brandon, Lewadniuk 7 (Rajala, Fehr) 15:54 pp
Penalties – Ferland Bran Paulsen Ktn (fighting) 8:09, Bench Ktn (too many men) 15:10.
3rd Period
3. Kootenay, Sylvester 5 (Rintoul, Boomer) 17:47 pp
Penalties – Van De Velde Bran (hooking) 2:54, McNabb Ktn (elbowing) 6:37, Sylvester Ktn (elbowing) 12:15, Schenn Bran (interference) 16:05.
Shots on goal by
Brandon - 7 – 12 – 11 = 30
Kootenay – 9 – 13 – 8 = 30
Goal (shots-saves) – Brandon: Jacob De Serres (L 1-4-0-1) Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W 2-4-0-0)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Brandon: 1/4 Kootenay: 1/7
Referees – Ryan Bonnett, Dan Cowley
Linesmen – Bobby Bedingfield, Scott Pryor
Attendance – 2,400