ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter tonight's action with a 20-17-0-0 record (13-6-0-0 at home, 7-11-0-0 on the road, 5-0 in overtime, 1-0 in shootouts)...Following tonight's contest KOOTENAY, who has won its last five games, will continue a four-game road trip January 2 at RED DEER.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: KOOTENAY is currently carrying 23 players (two goaltenders, eight defensemen and 13 forwards)...The ICE roster is made up of three 1994-born players, ten 1995-born players, three 1996-born players, five 1997-born players, and two 1998-born players...KOOTENAY has seven first-year players on its roster.
DID YOU KNOW: KOOTENAY holds a 64-40-9-1 lifetime record versus MEDICINE HAT (38-16-4-1 at home, 26-22-5-0 on the road, 5-6-6 in overtime)...Tonight's game marks the fourth of seven meetings this season between the ICE and TIGERS with MEDICINE HAT having won two of the three prior encounters...The visiting team has won each game in the season series...Forward SAM REINHART (CANADA) and Defenseman RINAT VALIEV (RUSSIA) are participating in the 2015 WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS in TORONTO and MONTREAL...Forward LEVI CABLE set a new career high for goals in a game (four) and points (five) December 27 versus CALGARY…Goaltender WYATT HOFLIN set a new career high for saves in a game with 51 December 27 against the HITMEN, eclipsing a previous personal best of 48 set November 22 against the TIGERS…HOFLIN has played in 25 consecutive games, which is equal to the ICE franchise record set in 2009 by TODD MATHEWS…HOFLIN leads all WHL goaltenders in minutes played (1,988) and saves (995)...Forward JAEDON DESCHENEAU is four goals shy of 100 career regular season goals scored...Defenseman TROY MURRAY appeared in his 100th career WHL regular season game December 27 versus CALGARY...Defenseman TYLER KING is three appearances short of 200 career WHL regular season games played...The ICE are one of two WHL teams (PRINCE GEORGE) who remain undefeated in overtime and shootouts this season.
SCORING STREAKS: TIM BOZON has recorded at least one point in each of his past five games (1-6-7)...JAEDON DESCHENEAU has compiled points in his past five games (3-5-8)...DESCHENEAU has scored at least one point in 17 of his past 18 games...ZAK ZBOROSKY has registered points in his last five games (4-3-7).
TRANSACTION / INJURIES: KOOTENAY has added Defenseman TANNER LISHCHYNSKY (January 5, 1995) from the FLIN FLON BOMBERS of the SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE...Defenseman TANNER FAITH will be out of the ICE lineup indefinitely with an upper body injury...Defenseman DYLAN OVERDYK will be out of the KOOTENAY lineup day to day with an upper body injury.
ONE YEAR AGO: After 37 games of the 2013-14 season the ICE were 18-16-2-1, after 38 games 18-17-2-1 and after 39 games 19-17-2-1.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: SAM REINHART - Buffalo Sabres (1st Round, 2014 NHL Draft), TIM BOZON - Montreal Canadiens (3rd Round, 2012 NHL Draft), RINAT VALIEV - Toronto Maple Leafs (3rd Round, 2014 NHL Draft), JAEDON DESCHENEAU - St. Louis Blues (5th Round, 2014 NHL Draft), TANNER FAITH – Minnesota Wild (5th Round, 2014 NHL Draft).