ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter tonight's action with a 21-17-0-1 record (13-6-0-0 at home, 8-11-0-1 on the road, 5-0 in overtime, 1-1 in shootouts)...Following tonight's contest KOOTENAY, who has collected points in each of the past seven games, will return home for matchups with RED DEER January 9 and SASKATOON January 10.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: KOOTENAY is currently carrying 23 players (two goaltenders, eight defensemen and 13 forwards)...The ICE roster is made up of three 1994-born players, ten 1995-born players, three 1996-born players, five 1997-born players, and two 1998-born players...KOOTENAY has seven first-year players on its roster.
DID YOU KNOW: KOOTENAY holds a 25-15-3-2 lifetime record versus EDMONTON (16-5-1-1 at home, 9-10-2-1 on the road, 5-3-2 in overtime)...Tonight marks the fourth of six meetings this season between the ICE and OIL KINGS...KOOTENAY has won the last two encounters... Since November 1, the ICE have a record of 18-4-0-1…Forward SAM REINHART (CANADA) and Defenseman RINAT VALIEV (RUSSIA) are participating in the 2015 WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS in TORONTO and MONTREAL...REINHART is tied for the tournament scoring lead with nine points (4-5-9)…Goaltender WYATT HOFLIN holds the franchise record for most consecutive appearances in goal (27), breaking the previous mark of 25 (TODD MATHEWS) December 30 at MEDICINE HAT…HOFLIN set a new career high for saves in a game with 51 December 27 against the HITMEN... HOFLIN leads all WHL goaltenders in both minutes played (2,113) and saves (1,059)...Forward JAEDON DESCHENEAU is ranked sixth in the WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE in scoring with 49 points (21-28-49)…DESCHENEAU sits fifth among all-time franchise points leaders (239 points)...DESCHENEAU is also tied with MAX REINHART for fourth among career franchise assist leaders (141 assists)...DESCHENEAU is two goals shy of 100 career regular season goals scored...Forward LUKE PHILP is three assists short of 100 career regular season assists...Defenseman TYLER KING is one appearance short of 200 career WHL regular season games played... Forward JON MARTIN recorded his second multi-goal game of the season (two goals) January 2 at RED DEER…Four of MARTIN’s six goals this season have come at ENMAX CENTRIUM, the home of the REBELS…KOOTENAY has been assessed the fewest penalty minutes (402) in the EASTERN CONFERENCE…The ICE have opened the scoring in each of the past seven games…Former KOOTENAY forward ARNAUD JACQUEMET was part of the GENEVE-SERVETTE HC side that captured the SPENGLER CUP this week in SWITZERLAND.
SCORING STREAKS: JAEDON DESCHENEAU has registered points in his past seven games (5-8-13)...DESCHENEAU has scored at least one point in 20 of his past 21 games...TIM BOZON has recorded at least one point in each of his past seven games (1-8-9).
TRANSACTION / INJURY: KOOTENAY has added Defenseman TANNER LISHCHYNSKY (January 5, 1995) from the FLIN FLON BOMBERS of the SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE...Defenseman TANNER FAITH will be out of the ICE lineup indefinitely with an upper body injury.
ONE YEAR AGO: After 39 games of the 2013-14 season the ICE were 19-17-2-1, after 40 games 19-18-2-1 and after 41 games 19-19-2-1.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: SAM REINHART - Buffalo Sabres (1st Round, 2014 NHL Draft), TIM BOZON - Montreal Canadiens (3rd Round, 2012 NHL Draft), RINAT VALIEV - Toronto Maple Leafs (3rd Round, 2014 NHL Draft), JAEDON DESCHENEAU - St. Louis Blues (5th Round, 2014 NHL Draft), TANNER FAITH – Minnesota Wild (5th Round, 2014 NHL Draft).