Cranbrook, BC – Saskatoon Blades Shane McColgan scored the overtime winner and Josh Nicholls had 2 goals and 1 assist in a 3-2 win over the Kootenay ICE in WHL action on Friday night.
The ICE (4-8-1-0) opened the scoring midway through the first period as Zach McPhee fed Jordyn Boyd in the slot and he scored with a wrist shot on the glove side. Last year both players played for Everett.
The Blades (7-9-0-0) tied the game with shorthanded breakaway goal by Josh Nicholls.
Early in the second period the Blades took a 2-1 lead as Josh Nicholls got his 2nd of the game on a nice pass from Matej Stransky.
Nine times this season a opposition player has scored 2 goals in a game against the ICE and it’s the second time it was done by Nicholls.
The ICE tied the game midway through the third as Erik Benoit stepped into a wrist shot that went through the goalies’ legs.
This was the 2nd overtime game for the ICE and the 4th for the Blades.
In overtime the Blades Shane McColgan came out from behind the net and scored the game winner.
The ICE have lost 5 games in a row.
Kootenay hit the cross bar 3 times and 2 goal posts.
Blades goalie Andrey Makarov made his 10th straight start while ICE goalie Wyatt Hoflin made his 3rd career start.
Saskatoon has the oldest team in the WHL with 3 20-year-olds and 12 19-year-olds.
Kootenay is the one of the youngest with 2 20-year-olds, 8 17-year-olds and 2 16-year-olds.
This was the first game in November for the ICE who will play 6 home games and 6 on the road.
Newly acquired Austin Vetterl and Zach McPhee played in their first games with the ICE while newly added Nathan Burns played his first game for Saskatoon.
The ICE will host Vancouver on Saturday.
ICE Scratches – Matthew Thomas, Collin Shirley (day-to-day), Luke Philp (indefinite).
Game Summary
Saskatoon 7-9-0-0 Kootenay 4-9-1-0
1st Period-
1, Kootenay, Boyd 2 (McPhee, Descheneau), 10:43.
2, Saskatoon, Nicholls 13 15:49 (PP).
Penalties-Martin Ktn (hooking), 2:43; Sutter Sas (checking from behind), 12:02; McColgan Sas (slashing), 15:39; Montgomery Ktn (interference), 15:59; Dietz Sas (major-fighting), 18:39; Montgomery Ktn (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 18:39.
2nd Period-
3, Saskatoon, Nicholls 14 (Stransky, McColgan), 3:14.
Penalties-Nicholls Sas (roughing), 0:47; Martin Ktn (roughing), 0:47; Siemens Sas (holding), 4:41; Sutter Sas (interference), 8:34; Montgomery Ktn (inter. on goaltender), 18:56.
3rd Period-
4, Kootenay, Benoit 3 (Muth, Dirk), 9:11.
Penalties-Montgomery Ktn (hooking), 4:48; Siemens Sas (cross checking), 13:46.
OT Period-
5, Saskatoon, McColgan 4 (Nicholls), 3:06. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 5-10-4-1-20. Kootenay 11-14-10-1-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 1 / 6; Kootenay 0 / 5.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Makarov 6-8-0-0 (36 shots-34 saves). Kootenay, Hoflin 0-4-0-0 (20 shots-17 saves).
A-2,310
Referees-Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Cory Lundquist (128), Ian Shaver (74).