ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter tonight's action with a 20-17-0-1 record (13-6-0-0 at home, 7-11-0-1 on the road, 5-0 in overtime, 1-1 in shootouts)...Following tonight's contest KOOTENAY, who has collected points in each of the past six games, will complete a four-game road trip January 3 at EDMONTON before returning home to host the REBELS January 9.
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 59-65-13-3 lifetime record versus RED DEER (33-30-8-1 at home, 26-35-5-2 on the road, 9-8-8 in overtime)...Tonight's game marks the fourth of seven meetings this season between the ICE and REBELS with RED DEER having won two of the three prior encounters...Forward SAM REINHART (CANADA) and Defenseman RINAT VALIEV (RUSSIA) are participating in the 2015 WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS in TORONTO and MONTREAL...Goaltender WYATT HOFLIN set a new franchise record for most consecutive appearances in goal (26) December 30 at MEDICINE HAT…HOFLIN set a new career high for saves in a game with 51 December 27 against the HITMEN...HOFLIN leads all WHL goaltenders in both minutes played (2,053) and saves (1,021)...With a four-point effort December 30 against the TIGERS, forward JAEDON DESCHENEAU moved into fifth place among all-time franchise points leaders (238 points)...DESCHENEAU is also tied with MAX REINHART for fourth among career franchise assist leaders (141 assists)...DESCHENEAU is three goals shy of 100 career regular season goals scored...Forward LUKE PHILP is three assists short of 100 career regular season assists...Forward LEVI CABLE set a new career high for goals in a game (four) and points (five) December 27 versus CALGARY…Defenseman TROY MURRAY appeared in his 100th career WHL regular season game December 27 versus CALGARY...Defenseman TYLER KING is two appearances short of 200 career WHL regular season games played...KOOTENAY has been assessed the fewest penalty minutes (392) in the EASTERN CONFERENCE.
SCORING STREAKS: JAEDON DESCHENEAU has registered points in his past six games (4-8-12)...DESCHENEAU has scored at least one point in 18 of his past 19 games...TIM BOZON has recorded at least one point in each of his past six games (1-7-8).
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 38 games of the 2013-14 season the ICE were 18-17-2-1, after 39 games 19-17-2-1 and after 40 games 19-18-2-1.
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).