ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE have advanced to the EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINAL after defeating the CALGARY HITMEN in six games (4-2) in the first round of the playoffs...KOOTENAY finished the 2013-2014 regular season with a 39-28-2-3 record (22-11-0-3 at home, 17-17-2-0 on the road, 0-2 in overtime, 5-3 in shootouts) and in sixth place in the EASTERN CONFERENCE...The ICE finished the 2013-2014 regular season with a .500 or better record for a League record 15th consecutive season (KAMLOOPS BLAZERS - 1982 - 1996 - previous record)...KOOTENAY is in the playoffs for a 16th consecutive season (longest active streak in the WHL).
TIM BOZON TRUST FUND: A Trust Fund has been set up for TIM BOZON to assist with medical and rehabilitation costs...Donations can be made at any BMO BANK OF MONTREAL in WESTERN CANADA...Donations outside of this area can be mailed to the WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE, c/o TIM BOZON, FATHER DAVID BAUER ARENA, 2424 UNIVERSITY DRIVE NW, CALGARY, AB, T2N 3Y9.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINAL: Games One (April 5th at 7:30 pm) and Two (April 6th at 6:00 pm) of the EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINAL vs MEDICINE HAT presented by KAL-TIRE will be played on the road...Games Three and Four will played in CRANBROOK on Wednesday, April 9th and Thursday, April 10th...The puck will drop for both home games at 7:00 pm...Individual game tickets are on sale now at the KOOTENAY ICE Office or by phone at 250-417-0322.
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: KOOTENAY has a career playoff record of 90-69 (48-30 at home, 42-39 on the road, 24-12 in overtime)...The ICE have played in 30 playoff series in franchise history and have a 18-12 career record...JAGGER DIRK (34), ZACH FRANKO (26), SAM REINHART (20) and LANDON CROSS (20) lead KOOTENAY in games played in the playoffs...The ICE are facing MEDICINE HAT in the post season for the fourth time in franchise history (2-1 career playoff series record)…JAGGER DIRK set a franchise record for most playoff points in a game by defenseman with four against CALGARY on March 24...JAEDON DESCHENEAU, who set a franchise record for most points in a game with six on March 24, became the tenth player in franchise history to record a hat trick during the playoffs on March 29 against the HITMEN...The ICE tied a franchise record for the most power play goals scored in one game with five against CALGARY on March 24 (RED DEER - March 30, 2000)…MATT ALFARO recorded his first WHL playoff goal on March 27 against the HITMEN...AUSTIN VETTERL recorded his first WHL playoff goal against CALGARY on March 29.
DID YOU KNOW: JAEDON DESCHENEAU, who was named DENNY'S WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the week ending MARCH 30 (7-8-15 in the four game span), has been named to the WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM...DESCHENAU is first in goals scored during the playoffs with seven...SAM REINHART, who has been named to the WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM, is the EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALIST for MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER (BRAD HORNUNG TROPHY)…REINHART is tied for second in goals scored in the playoffs with five...DESCHENAU (7-10-17) and REINHART (5-12-17) lead the League in scoring after the first round of the playoffs with 17 points each... ZACH FRANKO (5-4-9), who is tied for fifth in the WHL in scoring during the playoffs is also tied for second in goals scored with five...JAGGER DIRK (2-7-9) is tied for fifth in the WHL in scoring during the playoffs with nine points...The ICE were 3-3-0-0 against MEDICINE HAT during the regular season (3-0-0-0 at home, 0-3-0-0 on the road, 0-0 in overtime, 0-0 in shootouts)...JAEDON DESCHENAU (5-3-8) and SAM REINHART (1-6-7) led the team in scoring against the TIGERS.
SCORING STREAKS: JAEDON DESCHENEAU (7-8-15), SAM REINHART (3-11-14) and ZACH FRANKO (3-4-7) have each recorded a point in their last four games...AUSTIN VETTERL (1-3-4) and MATT ALFARO (1-2-3) have both recorded a point in their last three games.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday April 1 Practice 3:45-5:45 pm Western Financial Place
Wednesday April 2 Practice 3:45-5:45 pm Western Financial Place
Thursday April 3 Practice 3:45-5:45 pm Western Financial Place
Friday April 4 Travel Day
Saturday April 5 ICE @ Medicine Hat 7:30 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Sunday April 6 ICE @ Medicine Hat 6:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Monday, March 24 – Kootenay 6 vs Calgary 7 - OT - Record 1-1-1 - Attendance: 1,992
Goals:
1 – Philp (2) from Descheneau and Reinhart
2 – Franko (3) from Descheneau and Dirk
3 – Reinhart (3) from Descheneau and Philp
4 – Dirk (1) from Reinhart and Descheneau
5 – Descheneau (2) from Reinhart and Dirk
6 - Dirk (2) from Descheneau and Reinhart
Goalies: Mackenzie Skapski (21 Saves, 7 GA), Wyatt Hoflin (2 Saves, 0 GA)
Tuesday, March 25 – Kootenay 5 vs Calgary 4 - Record 2-1-1 - Attendance: 2,102
Goals:
1 – Philp (3) from Vetterl and Alfaro
2 – Reinhart (4) from Franko and Peel
3 – Franko (4) from Descheneau and Dirk
4 – Cable (1) from McPhee and Vetterl
5 – Descheneau (3) from Valiev
Goalies: Mackenzie Skapski (14 Saves, 4 GA), Wyatt Hoflin (20 Saves, 0 GA)
Thursday, March 27 – Kootenay 6 @ Calgary 5 - Record 3-1-1 - Attendance: 6,826
Goals:
1 – Descheneau (4) from Franko and Reinhart
2 - Reinhart (5)
3 – Cable (2) from Descheneau and Reinhart
4 – Alfaro (1) from Franko and Vetterl
5 – Philp (4) from Murray and Reinhart
6 - Descheneau (4) from Reinhart and Cable
Goalie: Wyatt Hoflin (26 Saves, 6 GA)
Saturday, March 29 – Kootenay 5 vs Calgary 3 - Record 4-1-1 - Attendance: 3,916
Goals:
1 – Descheneau (5) from Franko and Reinhart
2 – Franko (5) from Dirk and Descheneau
3 – Vetterl (1) from Valiev and Philp
4 – Descheneau (6) from Dirk and Reinhart
5 – Descheneau (7) from Reinhart and Valiev
Goalie: Wyatt Hoflin (36 Saves, 3 GA)