ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE have advanced to the WHL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL PRESENTED BY KAL TIRE AND HUSKY MOHAWK for the third time in franchise history (2000 and 2002)…KOOTENAY will face the winner of the PORTLAND / SPOKANE series…The ICE won the EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP after a 4-0 series victory versus the MEDICINE HAT TIGERS…KOOTENAY advanced to the CONFERENCE FINAL 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 81-58 (44-25 at home, 37-33 on the road, 21-10 in overtime)…KOOTENAY has played in 26 playoff series in franchise history and have a 16-10 career record...The ICE have 469 games of playoff experience…KEVIN KING (41), CODY EAKIN (37) and BRAYDEN MCNABB (34) 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.
PLAYOFF PACKAGES: Season Ticket Holders that purchased the first playoff package now have until Tuesday, May 3rd at 5:00 pm to purchase the second playoff package for Home Game #9 and Home Game #10…Packages can be purchased at the KOOTENAY ICE OFFICE or over the phone at 250-417-0322.
DID YOU KNOW: The ICE have swept a playoff series six times in franchise history (MEDICINE HAT – 2011, SASKATOON – 2011, EVERETT – 2005, SEATTLE – 2002, MOOSE JAW – 2001, RED DEER – 2000)…KOOTENAY has won a franchise record 11 consecutive playoff games (March 30 – April 27) …The ICE have won a franchise high six straight games on the road (March 30 – April 23)…MAX REINHART, who tied a WHL record for the most goals scored in one game during the playoffs with five on April 27 against MEDICINE HAT (DAVE CHARTIER, DON NACHBAUR and DAVE KRYSKOW), is first in the WHL in goals scored during the playoffs with 14…REINHART has set a franchise recorded for most shorthanded goals during a playoff season with three and tied a franchise record for most shorthanded goals in one playoff game with two against the TIGERS on April 27 (MARTIN SAGAT – 2005)…NATHAN LIEUWEN 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 second in the WHL in goals scored during the playoffs with 12…MAX REINHART (three) and JOE ANTILLA (two) lead the League in short handed goals in the playoffs…STEELE BOOMER, MATT FRASER, JOEY LEACH and BRAYDEN MCNABB are tied for first in the WHL for short handed assists during the playoffs with two…MCNABB, who has set a franchise record for the most points by a defenseman during a playoff season with 20, leads the League in plus / minus with a plus 20.
SCORING STREAKS: BRAYDEN MCNABB (2-14-16) has recorded at least a point in his last nine games…CODY EAKIN (6-5-11) has recorded at least a point in his last five games...JESSE ISMOND (1-5-6) and KEVIN KING (1-3-4) have each recorded at least a point in their last three games.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday May 2 Practice 3:45 5:45 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Wednesday May 3 Practice 3:45 5:45 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Thursday May 4 Travel Day
Friday May 5 ICE @ TBA TBA (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Saturday May 6 ICE @ TBA TBA (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Sunday May 7 Travel Day
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Tuesday, April 26 – Kootenay 3 vs Medicine Hat 1 – Record 3-0 – Attendance: 2,972
Goals:
1 – Reinhart (9) from Eakin and King
2 – Eakin (6) from Antilla and McNabb
3 – Ismond (2) from Eakin and Leach
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (22 Saves, 1 GA)
Wednesday, April 27 – Kootenay 7 vs Medicine Hat 2 – Record 4-0 – Attendance: 3,474
Goals:
1 – Reinhart (10) from McNabb
2 – Reinhart (11) from Antilla and McNabb
3 – Reinhart (12) from Fraser and Antilla
4 – Eakin (7) from King and Ismond
5 – Eakin (8) from Rintoul and Ismond
6 – Reinhart (13) from Fraser
7 – Reinhart (14) from Fraser and Lieuwen
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (21 Saves, 2 GA)