ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week's action with a 1-1-0 record (0-0-0 at home, 1-1-0 on the road, 0-0 in overtime) after two games of the EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINAL against the MEDICINE HAT TIGERS...The ICE 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.
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: KOOTENAY has a career playoff record of 91-70 (48-30 at home, 43-40 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 (36), ZACH FRANKO (28), SAM REINHART (22) and LANDON CROSS (22) lead KOOTENAY in games played in the playoffs...This is the fourth time in franchise history that the ICE are facing MEDICINE HAT in the post season (2-1 career playoff series record)…JON MARTIN and RINAT VALIEV each recorded their first WHL career playoff goals against the TIGERS on April 4.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINAL: Games Three (April 9th) and Four (April 10th) of the EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINAL vs MEDICINE HAT presented by KAL-TIRE will be played in CRANBROOK...
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.
DID YOU KNOW: JAEDON DESCHENEAU, who was named WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the week ending MARCH 30 (7-8-15 in the four game span), was named to the WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM...DESCHENAU is second in goals scored in 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 first in the playoffs with 12 assists...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...DESCHENAU (7-10-17) and REINHART (5-12-17) lead the League in playoff scoring with 17 points each...JAGGER DIRK (4-7-11) is tied for seventh in the WHL in scoring during the playoffs with 11 points.
SCORING STREAKS: AUSTIN VETTERL (2-4-6) has recorded at least a point in his last five games…JAGGER DIRK (2-2-4) has recorded at least a point in his last three games.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday April 8 Practice 3:45-5:45 pm Western Financial Place
Wednesday April 9 ICE vs Medicine Hat 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Thursday April 10 ICE vs Medicine Hat 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Friday April 11 Travel Day
Saturday April 12 ICE @ Medicine Hat 7:30 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Sunday April 13 Travel Day
Monday April 14 ICE vs Medicine Hat 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)*
*if necessary
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Saturday, April 5 – Kootenay 4 @ Medicine Hat 2 - Record 1-0-0 - Attendance: 3,750
Goals:
1 – Vetterl (2) from Philp and Peel
2 – Martin (1) from Cable
3 – Valiev (1) from Cross and Alfaro
4 – Dirk (3)
Goalie: Mackenzie Skapski (28 Saves, 2 GA)
Sunday, April 9 – Kootenay 2 @ Medicine Hat 5 - Record 1-1-0 - Attendance: 3,755
Goals:
1 – Cable (3) from McPhee and Martin
2 – Dirk (4) from Vetterl
Goalie: Mackenzie Skapski (32 Saves, 5 GA)