Cranbrook, BC – Kootenay ICE forward Kevin King has 2 goals and 1 assist in a 6-3 win over the Spoknae Chiefs in WHL action on Friday night.
Spokane opened the scoring as the ICE made a bad clearing pass at their blueline that was picked off by Mitch Holmberg and he cruised in on a mini breakaway and deked the goalie.
1:21 later the ICE tied the game as Max Reinhart picked up a loose puck behind the net and tucked it in.
ICE took a 2-1 lead 3 second after a powerplay ended as James Martin point shot beat the goalie low on the stickside.
Spokane scored 2 power-play goals 1:09 apart to take a 3-2 lead on shots by Steve Kuhn and Tyler Johnson.
Early in the 2nd period the ICE tied the game 3-3 while shorthanded as Reinhart fed a wide open Kevin King in the middle slot and his wrist shot whizzed into the net on the stick side. It’s the 1st shorthanded goal of the year for the club and King’s 3rd career SHG.
ICE regained the lead as Elgin Pearce was open in the middle slot and his shot deflected to Brock Montgomery who had an open net behind the goalie.
Early in the 3rd period Pearce fed Matt Fraser on a breakaway and he scored with a forehand deke.
ICE made the score 6-3 on a 2-on-1 break as defenseman Brayden Mcnabb fed King with a cross ice pass and he buried it with a onetimer.
Forward Eric Benoit made his WHL debut.
Forward Ryan Bloom made his season debut (played in 1 game last year).
Goalie Brett Teskey is the only rookie not play in a WHL game but has been the back-up for 3 games.
The ICE will host Prince George on Wednesday.
ICE Scratches – Nathan Lieuwen (knee day-to-day), Steele Boomer (wrist, 1-2 weeks), John Neibrandt, Adam Rossignol, Jarret Zentner.
Game Summary
Spokane 0-2-0-0 Kootenay 2-1-0-0
1st Period
1. Spokane, Holmberg 1 1:39
2. Kootenay, Reinhart 3 (King, Martin) 3:02
3. Kootenay, Martin 3 (Pearce, Leach) 10:50
4. Spokane, Kuhn 1 (Uher, Miller) 13:50 pp
5. Spokane, Johnson 1 (Gow) 14:59 pp
Penalties – Montgomery Ktn (roughing) 5:43, Gow Spok (tripping) 6:16, Kuhn Spok (hooking) 8:47, Cratsenberg Spok Montgomery Ktn (fighting) 10:52, King Ktn (cross checking) 12:57, Hurley Ktn (interference) 19:35.
2nd Period
6. Kootenay, King (Reinhart) :46 sh
7. Kootenay, Montgomery 1 (Pearce) 12:11
Penalties – Antilla Ktn (tripping) 3:08.
3rd Period
8. Kootenay, Fraser 2 (Pearce, Paulsen) 1:41
9. Kootenay, King (2) 3 (McNabb) 7:21
Penalties – Bench Ktn (too many men, served by Ismond) 3:22, Vancourt Spok (kneeing) Marantz Spk (roughing) Martin Ktn (roughing) 16:25, Vanscourt Spok Fraser Ktn (misconduct) 18:31, Aviani Spok (interefernce) 18:39, Koper Spok Hurley Ktn (roughing) 19:09.
Shots on goal by
Spokane – 13 – 7 – 7 = 27
Kootenay - 8 – 5 – 6 = 19
Goal (shots-saves) – Spokane: James Reid (L 0-2-0-0) (19-13) Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W 1-1-0-0) (27-24)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Spokane: 2/6 Kootenay: 0/4
Referee – Derek Zalaski
Linesmen – Steve Cochrane, Sean Donnelly
Attendance – 2,454