A two-goal performance from Austin Vetterl helped pace the Kootenay ICE to a 5-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos Saturday at Western Financial Place.
Vetterl, playing in his 250th career WHL regular season game, put home a second-period breakaway before scoring a short-handed marker in the third period as Kootenay collected their third straight win.
The ICE went up 2-0 in the first 10:38 of the first period, opening the scoring on a nifty deflection by Luke Philp in the slot. The 19 year-old redirected Tanner Lishchynsky's point blast past Swift Current netminder Landon Bow for his 22nd goal of the season at the seven-minute mark.
Jaedon Descheneau tucked home a second goal for the home side before Jake DeBrusk rounded out the first period scoring with a marker for Swift Current in the final minute of the frame.
Kootenay went ahead 3-1 6:32 into period two, however, when Vetterl was sprung in alone on Bow from the Broncos blue line, sneaking a snapshot past the Swift Current goaltender in the process.
DeBrusk added a second goal for the Broncos on a power-play eight minutes later, deflecting a point shot of his own over the shoulder of ICE puckstopper Wyatt Hoflin.
Vetterl put his stamp on the game again early in the third period. With Kootenay short-handed, but Hoflin on the bench due to a delayed penalty against Swift Current, the Surrey B.C. native beat Bow for his second goal of the game, restoring the two-goal lead for the ICE.
Zak Zborosky added late insurance for Kootenay, snapping a puck to the top corner after a hard outlet pass from linemate Tim Bozon.
Hoflin made 22 saves for the ICE, while Bow stopped 30 shots for the Broncos.
Descheneau's first-period goal was his 100th in WHL regular-season play, while fellow forward Levi Cable recorded his 100th career point with an assist on Philp's marker.
UP NEXT: the ICE play host to the Prince George Cougars Sunday. Join us for the second Family Pack Sunday of the season; for $52.00 receive four walk-up tickets, four fountain drinks and four concession items from Coyote Jack's. Game time is 6:00 pm.