ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE have advanced to the MASTERCARD MEMORIAL CUP for the third time in franchise history (2000, 2002, 2011)…KOOTENAY won the WHL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL and ED CHYNOWETH CUP after a 4-1 series victory versus the PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS…The ICE won the EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP after a 4-0 series victory against 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 against 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: Kootenay has won three League Championships (2000, 2002, 2011) and one Memorial Cup Championship (2002), while playing the third most post season games in the WHL during their 13 seasons in Cranbrook (144 – Calgary leads with 165 games and Kelowna is second with 155 games)…The ICE have a 85-59 career record in the post season (46-25 at home, 39-34 on the road, 23-11 in overtime)...Kootenay has played in 27 playoff series in franchise history and have a 17-10 career record. Each time the ICE have advanced to the Memorial Cup, it has been on the date, May 13th (2000 – Spokane – 1-0 win, 2002 – Red Deer – 3-2 2OT win, 2011 – Portland – 4-1 win)…KOOTENAY finished the post season with 559 games of playoff experience…KEVIN KING (46), CODY EAKIN (40) and BRAYDEN MCNABB (39) led 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.
DID YOU KNOW: The ICE set a franchise record for most shots on goal in a period on May 7 in PORTLAND with 25 (24 was the old record on April 14, 2000 in SWIFT CURRENT)…KOOTENAY set a franchise record for most consecutive games won in the playoffs with 11 (March 30 – April 27) …The ICE set a franchise record for most consecutive games won at home with eight (March 26 – May 11)…The ICE set a franchise record for most consecutive games won on the road with six (March 30 – April 23)…MAX REINHART 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)…REINHART, who was named WHL and CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the week ending May 1st, 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 set a franchise record for most shutouts during a playoff season with three and tied the career record for most shutouts in the playoffs with DAN BLACKBURN (three – 2000 and 2001 playoffs)…MATT FRASER, who was first in the WHL in goals scored during the playoffs, tied a franchise record for most goals scored during the playoff season with 17 (DUNCAN MILROY – 2002)…MAX REINHART (three) and JOE ANTILLA (two) led the League in short handed goals in the playoffs…STEELE BOOMER, MATT FRASER, JOEY LEACH and BRAYDEN MCNABB tied for first in the WHL for short handed assists during the playoffs with two…MCNABB, who set a franchise record for most points by a defenseman during a playoff season with 27, led the League in plus / minus with a plus 23….JESSE ISMOND was named WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the week ending May 15.
SCORING STREAKS: MAX REINHART (1-4-5) has recorded at least a point in his last four games…JESSE ISMOND (3-4-7) has recorded at least a point in his last three games.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday May 17 Practice 3:45 – 5:45 pm Cranbrook Rec plex
Wednesday May 18 Travel Day
Saturday May 21 Owen Sound vs ICE 5:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Sunday May 22 Mississauga vs ICE 5:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Tuesday May 24 ICE @ Saint John 5:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Tuesday, May 10 – Kootenay 3 vs Portland 2 – OT – Record 2-1 – Attendance: 3,402
Goals:
1 – King (5) from Ismond and Martin
2 – Czerwonka (2) from Eakin
3 – Antilla (9) from Reinhart and McNabb
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (34 Saves, 2 GA)
Wednesday, May 11 – Kootenay 5 vs Portland 4 – OT – Record 3-1 – Attendance: 3,593
Goals:
1 – Ismond (4) from Boomer and Benoit
2 – Eakin (10) from King and Leach
3 – Ismond (4) from Eakin and Leach
4 – Eakin (11) from Ismond and Leach
5 – Fraser (15) from Ismond and M. Reinhart
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (31 Saves, 4 GA)
Friday, May 13 – Kootenay 4 @ Portland 1 – Record 4-1 – Attendance: 10,947
Goals:
1 – Boomer (4) from Ismond and Hurley
2 – Fraser (16) from McNabb and M. Reinhart
3 – Fraser (17) from Antilla
4 – Ismond (5) from Fraser and McNabb
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (26 Saves, 1 GA)