Cranbrook, BC – Kootenay ICE forward Elgin Pearce scored 3 goals and another in the shootout as The Kootenay ICE beat the Swift Current Broncos 5-4 in an overtime shootout in WHL action on Friday night.
The ICE (21-10-1-2) opened the scoring off a turnover at the Broncos line and on a 2-on-1 break Brendan Hurley fed Elgin Pearce who redirected the puck through the goalies’ legs.
After going 8 games without a goal, Pearce has goals in 3 of the last 4 games.
Early in the second period the ICE scored on a powerplay as Dylan McKinlay from behind the net found Elgin Pearce alone in front of the net and he scored on his own rebound on the backhand.
The Broncos (14-17-2-2) got back within a goal on rebound from Colby Cave who was the 1st round pick by the ICE in the 2010 Bantam Draft and was a part of the Cody Eakin trade last season.
The ICE regained the 2-goal lead on a wrist shot by Sam Reinhart that went high on the glove side.
The ICE lost Max Reinhart and Joe Antilla to injuries in the second period and both did not return.
The Broncos got within a goal again on the powerplay as Richard Nedomlel scored with a wrist shot from the slot that beat the goalie on the high on the glove side.
The Broncos tied the game on 3-on-2 rush and Coda Gordon scored with a shot through the goalies legs.
The Broncos took their first lead of the game as Taylor Vause scored his team leading 21st on a rebound.
The ICE forced overtime as Dylan McKinlay found Elgin Pearce alone in the slot and scored his 3rd goal of the game with a wrist shot high on the glove side for his 2nd hat-trick of the season and career.
The ICE won the shootout 1-0 as Elgin Pearce scored the only goal.
The ICE will host Lethbridge on Tuesday December 27th.
ICE Scratches – Hubic, Simpson, Benoit.
Joe Antilla switched from forward to defense for the game.
Sam Reinhart, Jaedon Descheneau, Jon Martin and Spencer Wand will miss the next 5 games as they will be playing in the U-17 tournament in Windsor.
Game Summary
Swift Current 14-17-2-2 Kootenay 21-10-1-2
1st Period
1, Kootenay, Pearce 12 (Hurley), 12:32.
Penalties-Vause S.c (tripping), 7:37; Paulsen Ktn (tripping), 15:40; Fleming S.c (cross checking), 19:42.
2nd Period
2, Kootenay, Pearce 13 (McKinlay), 0:15 (PP).
3, Swift Current, Cave 5 (Lowry, Hoban), 13:37.
4, Kootenay, S.Reinhart 10 (Wand, Paulsen), 15:37.
Penalties-Antilla Ktn (high sticking), 0:55; Czerwonka Ktn (slashing), 4:07; Ismond Ktn (slashing), 6:11.
3rd Period
5, Swift Current, Nedomlel 4 (Scarlett, Gordon), 2:58 (PP).
6, Swift Current, Gordon 14 (Vause), 8:31.
7, Swift Current, Vause 21 (Gordon, Scarlett), 10:59.
8, Kootenay, Pearce 14 (McKinlay), 17:03.
Penalties-Blanke S.c (major-fighting), 1:28; Wand Ktn (major-fighting), 1:28; Neibrandt Ktn (tripping), 2:27; Scarlett S.c (high sticking), 4:09.
OT Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-No Penalties
ICE shot first.
Shootout
Kootenay 1 (Pearce G, Ismond NG, Reinhart NG).
Swift Current 0 (Cave NG, Gordon NG, Vause NG),
Shots on Goal
Swift Current 9-12-9-2-0-32.
Kootenay 15-9-12-3-1-40.
Power Play Opportunities
Swift Current 1 / 5; Kootenay 1 / 3.
Goalies
Swift Current, Groenheyde 11-11-1-3 (39 shots-35 saves). Kootenay, Lieuwen 16-8-1-2 (32 shots-28 saves).
A-2,712
Referees-Tyler Adair (58), Ryan Bonnett (39).
Linesmen-Steve Cochrane (125), Ian Shaver (74).