ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week’s action with a 2-0 record (0-0 at home, 2-0 on the road and 1-0 in overtime) after two games of the WHL HUSKY MOHAWK EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP against the MEDICINE HAT TIGERS…KOOTENAY advanced to the WHL HUSKY MOHAWK EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP after a 4-0 series victory versus the SASKATOON BLADES…The ICE advanced to the SEMI FINAL after a 4-2 series victory versus the MOOSE JAW WARRIORS in round one of the playoffs…KOOTENAY finished the 2010-2011 regular season 46-21-1-4 (26-8-1-1 at home, 20-13-0-3 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 clinched a playoff spot for the 13th consecutive season which is the longest active streak in the WHL.
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: The ICE have a career playoff record of 79-58 (42-25 at home, 37-33 on the road, 21-10 in overtime)…KOOTENAY has played in 25 playoff series in franchise history and have a 15-10 career record...The ICE have 427 games of playoff experience…KEVIN KING (39), CODY EAKIN (35) and BRAYDEN MCNABB (32) lead the ICE in games played in the playoffs…MCNABB recorded his first WHL playoff goal on March 26 against MOOSE JAW…JOE ANTILLA recorded his first WHL playoff goal against the WARRIORS on March 26…NATHAN LIEUWEN recorded his first WHL playoff shutout on March 30 in MOOSE JAW…MATT FRASER recorded his first WHL playoff hat trick in MOOSE JAW on April 2…ADAM ROSSIGNOL recorded his first career WHL playoff point with an assist against the WARRIORS on April 2…NATHAN LIEUWEN recorded his second WHL playoff shutout on April 12 against SASKATOON…ERIK BENOIT recorded his first WHL playoff goal on April 22 in MEDICINE HAT…BRENDAN HURLEY recorded his first WHL playoff point with an assist in MEDICINE HAT on April 22…LUKE PAULSEN recorded his first WHL playoff point with an assist on April 22 in MEDICINE HAT…NATHAN LIEUWEN recorded his third WHL playoff shutout against MEDICINE HAT on April 23.
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Games Three and Four of the WHL HUSKY MOHAWK EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP vs. MEDICINE HAT will be played in CRANBROOK on Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00 pm…If necessary, Game Six will be played at home on Sunday, May 1st at 6:00 pm…For ticket information please call the KOOTENAY ICE Office at 250-417-0322.
DID YOU KNOW: KOOTENAY has won a franchise record nine consecutive playoff games (March 30 – April 23) …The ICE have won a franchise high six straight games on the road (March 30 – April 23)…NATHAN LIEUWEN, who was named CHL GOALIE OF THE WEEK for the week ending April 17th , has set a franchise record for the most shutouts during a playoff season with three and has tied the career record for most shutouts in the playoffs with DAN BLACKBURN (three – 2000 and 2001 playoffs)…MATT FRASER is tied for first in the WHL in goals scored during the playoffs with 12…JOE ANTILLA is first in the League in short handed goals in the playoffs with two…STEELE BOOMER, JOEY LEACH and BRAYDEN MCNABB are tied for first in the WHL for short handed assists during the playoffs with two…CODY EAKIN, who was named WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the week ending April 24th, was named to the SECOND WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAM…BRAYDEN MCNABB, who was named WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the week ending April 17th, was named to the FIRST WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAM.
SCORING STREAKS: BRAYDEN MCNABB (2-11-13) has recorded at least a point in his last seven games…JOE ANTILLA (3-3-6) has recorded at least a point in his last five games…CODY EAKIN (3-3-6) has recorded at least a point in his last three games.
TRANSACTION: KOOTENAY has called up Forward SAM REINHART (November 6, 1995) from the NW VANCOUVER GIANTS – BCMML for the remainder of the playoffs…REINHART is fresh off the TELUS CUP in HALIFAX, NS where he played in seven games and recorded seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday April 26 ICE vs Medicine Hat 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Wednesday April 27 ICE vs Medicine Hat 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Thursday April 28 Travel Day
Friday April 29 ICE @ Medicine Hat 7:30 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)*
Saturday April 30 Travel Day
Sunday May 1 ICE vs Medicine Hat 6:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)*
*if necessary
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Friday, April 22 – Kootenay 6 @ Medicine Hat 5 – OT – Record 1-0 – Attendance: 4,006
Goals:
1 – Czerwonka (1) from Paulsen and Pearce
2 – Reinhart (8) from Fraser
3 – Benoit (1) from Hurley and Fraser
4 – Fraser (11) from Reinhart
5 – Fraser (12) from Reinhart and McNabb
6 – Eakin (4) from Antilla
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (30 Saves, 5 GA)
Saturday, April 23 – Kootenay 3 @ Medicine Hat 0 – Record 2-0 – Attendance: 4,006
Goals:
1 – Eakin (5) from Ismond and McNabb
2 – King (1) from Eakin and Ismond
3 – Antilla (7) from Eakin and King
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (25 Saves, 0 GA)