ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week's action with a 0-2-0 record (0-0-0 at home, 0-2-0 on the road, 0-0 in overtime) after two games of the EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL against the EDMONTON OIL KINGS...KOOTENAY finished the 2011-2012 regular season with a 36-26-6-4 record (19-12-3-2 at home, 17-14-3-2 on the road, 2-6 in overtime, 3-4 in shootouts) and in eighth place in the EASTERN CONFERENCE and 13th overall in the WHL...The ICE finished the 2011-2012 regular season with an above .500 record for the 13th consecutive season, which is the longest active streak in the WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE…KOOTENAY finished the regular season with a .500 or better road record for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons...The ICE are in the post-season for the 14th consecutive year and are facing the EDMONTON OIL KINGS for the first time in franchise history.
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: The ICE have a career playoff record of 85-61 (46-25 at home, 39-37 on the road, 22-11 in overtime)...KOOTENAY has 320 games of playoff experience which is the fourth most of the teams who qualified for the post season…JOE ANTILLA (31), MAX REINHART (31) and JOEY LEACH (30) lead the ICE in games played in the playoffs...SPENCER WAND recorded his first WHL playoff point with an assist on March 25 against EDMONTON.
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL: Games Three and Four for the EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL vs EDMONTON presented by KAL-TIRE and HUSKY, will be played at home on Wednesday, March 28th and Thursday, March 29th...The puck will drop for both games at 7:00 pm.
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY NIGHT: On Wednesday, March 28th when the ICE host the EDMONTON OIL KINGS it will be CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY NIGHT...Fans in attendance will be able to take part in a frisbee throw.
EAST KOOTENAY FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH NIGHT: On Thursday, March 29th when KOOTENAY hosts the OIL KINGS it will be EAST KOOTENAY FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH NIGHT...Fans in attendance will be able to bid on jerseys from ICE ALUMNI and have the chance to win a truck courtesy of DENHAM FORD.
DID YOU KNOW: SAM REINHART is the third player in franchise history to be nominated for the JIM PIGGOTT MEMORIAL TROPHY - WHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (STEVE MCCARTHY - 1997/1998, DAN BLACKBURN - 1999/2000)...MAX REINHART and NATHAN LIEUWEN have been named to the EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ALL STAR TEAM...The ICE were 0-3-2-1 against EDMONTON this season (0-2-1-0 at home, 0-1-1-1 on the road, 0-2 in overtime, 0-1 in shootouts)...KOOTENAY finished the regular season 16th in the WHL in overall power play (19.7%)…The ICE finished the regular season fifth in the League in overall penalty killing (80.5%)...NATHAN LIEUWEN finished the season third in the WHL in goals against average (2.50) and tied for fifth in save percentage (.914)...LIEUWEN set a franchise record for the most wins by a goaltender with 85 (82 career wins was the old record held by TAYLOR DAKERS - 2003-2007)...SAM REINHART (28-34-62) finished the regular season tied for fourth in the LEAGUE for points by a rookie...JOEY LEACH recorded his 100th WHL career point on March 16 against CALGARY...SPENCER WAND recorded his first WHL career goal against EDMONTON on March 14.
ONE YEAR AGO: After Game Two of the 2010-2011 Quarter Final action the ICE were 1-1 and after Game Three were 1-2 against the MOOSE JAW WARRIORS.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday March 27 Practice 3:45 - 5:45 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Wednesday March 28 ICE vs. Edmonton 7:00 pm (102.9 FM - The Drive)
Thursday March 29 ICE vs. Edmonton 7:00 pm (102.9 FM - The Drive) Friday March 30 Practice 3:45 - 5:45 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Saturday March 31 Practice 9:00 - 10:30 am Cranbrook Rec Plex
*Sunday April 1 ICE @ Edmonton 2:00 pm (102.9 FM - The Drive)
*if necessary
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Friday, March 23 – Kootenay 0 @ Edmonton 3 - Record 0-1-0 – Attendance: 8,939
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (25 Saves, 3 GA)
Sunday, March 25 – Kootenay 3 @ Edmonton 4 – Record 0-2-0 – Attendance: 8,463
Goals:
1 - Czerwonka (1) from M. Reinhart
2 - Ismond (1) from M. Reinhart and Pearce
3 - Leach (1) from Benoit and Wand
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (41 Saves, 4 GA)