Cranbrook, BC – Kootenay ICE goalie Nathan Lieuwen made 29 saves in a 5-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen in WHL action on Saturday night.
In the 2nd period the ICE scored 3 goals in 1:40 span.
Late on a powerplay Joe Antilla, from the corner fed a wide open Sam Reinhart who scored with a wrist shot high on the glove side.
27 seconds later the ICE won the puck in the zone a found Adam Rossignol in the slot and his quick shot beat the goalie low on the stick side.
ICE made it 3-0 as Eric Benoit won a race for the puck at the Calgary blueline and went on a breakaway and scored with a perfect shot high on the glove side.
After the 3rd goal against Calgary called a timeout and hit the post twice in the final minutes of the period.
In the 3rd period Hitmen rookie Alex Gogolev scored his 1st career goal with a wrist shot high on the stickside.
With Calgary thinking of pulling the goalie down by 2 goal with 2 ½ minutes left, Jesse Ismond changed those plans by crashing the net and stuffing in the goal.
In the final minute the ICE added a powerplay goal as Adam Rossignol got a rebound for his 2nd of the game.
Brock Montgomery had 4 assists while Joey Leach had 2 helpers.
Rossignol’s 2 goals matched his output from last season.
Benoit has goals in back-to-back games and is halfway to last years total of 4.
This was Kootenay’s home opener and before the game the ICE unveiled their 2011 Eastern Conference Champions and 2011 WHL Championship banners.
The club now has 9 banners.
The game featured the last 2 WHL Championship organizations as the Hitmen won it in 2010.
It’s the 2nd time the teams’ have gone back-to-back as Calgary won the title in 1999 and the ICE won it in 2000.
The ICE have 2 players who are still 15-years old as Sam Reinhart and Luke Philp both will turn 16 on November 6th.
ICE Scratches – Mike Simpson, Max Reinhart (NHL), Drew Czerwonka (shoulder 2-3 weeks), Jonathan Martin (game 4 of 4 game suspension), Levi Cable (ankle day-to-day).
ICE will host Lethbridge on Tuesday.
Game Summary
Calgary 0-1-0-0 Kootenay 1-0-0-1
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1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties – Neibrandt Ktn (interference) 7:14, Gogolev Calg (tripping) 9:54, Trzonkowski Calg (tripping) 12:20, Brassart Spok (hooking) 14:25.
2nd Period
1. Kootenay, S.Reinhart 1 (Antilla, Montgomery) 14:17 pp
2. Kootenay, Rossignol 1 (Montgomery, Hurley) 14:44
3. Kootenay, Benoit 2 (Pearce, Neibrandt) 15:57
Penalties – Dirk Ktn (slashing) 3:27, Lubin Calg McKinlay Ktn (fighting) 10:10, Kirsch Calg (double roughing) Deschenau Ktn (roughing) 12:34, Ismond Ktn (cross checking) 20:00.
3rd Period
4. Calgary, Gogolev 1 (Kirsch, Humpheries) 10:46
5. Kootenay, Ismond 1 (Montgomery, Leach) 17:37
6. Kootenay, Rossignol 2 (2) (Montgomery, Leach) 19:27 pp
Penalties – Benoit Ktn (interference) 12:12, Rissling Calg (elbowing) 19:09.
Shots on goal by
Calgary - 11 – 10 – 9 = 30
Kootenay - 2 – 11 – 5 = 18
Goal (shots-saves) – Calgary: Brandon Glover (L 0-1-0-0) (18-13) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W 1-0-0-1) (30-20)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Calgary: 0/4 Kootenay: 2/5
Referees – Tyler Adair, Ryan Bonnett
Linesmen – Mike Roberts, Scott Sharun
Attendance – 3,253