ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week’s action with a 43-21-1-4 record (25-8-1-1 at home, 18-13-0-3 on the road, 1-1 in overtime, 4-4 in shootouts) and in fourth place in the EASTERN CONFERENCE and sixth in the WHL…The ICE will finish the 2010-2011 regular season with an above .500 record for the 12th consecutive season, which is the longest active streak in the WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE…KOOTENAY has clinched a playoff spot for the 13th consecutive season and has tied CALGARY for the longest active streak in the WHL…The ICE have won 40+ games for the eighth time in franchise history and sixth in the last seven years…KOOTENAY will finish the regular season with a .500 or better road record for the tenth time in the last 12 years…This week the ICE will conclude their regular season against the CENTRAL DIVISION with two games on the road and one at home.
ICE HELP THOSE IN NEED: The KOOTENAY ICE are teaming up with the MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SHELTERS OF CRANBROOK to raise money for supplies…On Saturday, March 19th when the ICE host LETHBRIDGE in the last regular season game the team will be playing with blue sticks that will be auctioned off behind Section U during the game…The winning bids will have the opportunity to meet the player and have their picture taken following the game.
DINNER AND A GAME: The KOOTENAY ICE along with COYOTE JACK’S GRILL have announced that fans can now purchase a restaurant seat and a meal for $25.00 for any remaining regular season home game…The meal will be off of a special COYOTE JACK’S GRILL menu that includes burgers, sandwiches, nachos and more…Limited seating is available and tickets can be purchased at the KOOTENAY ICE OFFICE.
DID YOU KNOW: The ICE are 21-7-1-2 against the CENTRAL DIVISION this season (12-2-1-1 at home, 9-5-0-1 on the road, 1-1 in overtime, 1-2 in shootouts)…KOOTENAY is 36-16-1-3 against the EASTERN CONFERENCE this season (21-6-1-1 at home, 15-9-0-2 on the road, 1-1 in overtime, 4-3 in shootouts)…BRAYDEN MCNABB, who is tied for third in the League in shorthanded assists with four, set the franchise record for most goals by a defenseman in a season with 21 on March 11th against MOOSE JAW (MIKE BUSTO – 20 – 2006-2007)…KEVIN KING, who is tied for fourth in the League in shorthanded goals with five, has recorded 31 power play goals so far in his WHL career…CODY EAKIN and MAX REINHART are tied for sixth in the WHL in shorthanded goals with four…MATT FRASER leads the team in power play goals with 15…JOE ANTILLA leads the ICE in plus minus with a +31 rating.
SCORING STREAKS: CODY EAKIN (4-6-10) has recorded at least a point in his last four games…BRAYDEN MCNABB (2-5-7) has recorded at least a point in his last three games.
INJURIES / TRANSACTION: LUKE PAULSEN will be out of the ICE line up four to six weeks with a shoulder injury…BROCK MONTGOMERY will be out of the KOOTENAY line up week to week with a hip injury…MAX REINHART will be out of the ICE line up day to day with a concussion…KOOTENAY has called up Goaltender MACKENZIE SKAPSKI (June 6, 1994) of the RIDGE MEADOW FLAMES – PIJHL (21-987-4.56-1-.890) for the next five games.
ONE YEAR AGO: After 69 games of the 2009-2010 season the ICE were 40-24-3-2, after 70 games 41-24-3-2 and 71 games 42-24-3-2.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday March 15 ICE @ Medicine Hat 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Wednesday March 16 Day Off
Thursday March 17 Practice 11:00 – 1:00 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Friday March 18 ICE @ Lethbridge 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Saturday March 19 ICE vs. Lethbridge 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Tuesday, March 8 – Kootenay 5 vs. Moose Jaw 1 – Record 42-20-1-3 – Attendance: 2,282
Goals:
1 – Fraser (33) from McNabb and Eakin
2 – Eakin (32) from McNabb and Reinhart
3 – Pearce (12) from Czerwonka and Rintoul
4 – Reinhart (32) from Eakin and Martin
5 – McNabb (20) from Fraser and Eakin
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (24 Saves, 1 GA)
Friday, March 11 – Kootenay 5 vs. Swift Current 4 – SO – Record 43-21-1-3 – Attendance: 2,590
Goals:
1 – Rossignol (2) from McNabb and Hurley
2 – Eakin (33) from McNabb and Skapski
3 – Leach (5) from Boomer and King
4 – Boomer (13) from Martin
Goalie: Mackenzie Skapski (18 Saves, 4 GA)
Saturday, March 12 – Kootenay 3 @ Spokane 4 – SO – Record 43-21-1-4 – Attendance: 8,802
Goals:
1 – King (31) from Rintoul and Pearce
2 – Eakin (34) from McNabb and Ismond
3 – McNabb (21) from Ismond and Eakin
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (14 Saves, 3 GA)