ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week’s action with a 19-14-2-4 record (11-5-1-2 at home, 8-9-1-2 on the road, 0-2-4-4 in overtime) and are in third place in the CENTRAL DIVISION and in eighth place in the WHL..This week the ICE will host BRANDON (December 31) before traveling to EDMONTON (January 2) and CALGARY (January 3).
KOOTENAY ICE OFFICE NEW YEARS HOURS:
Tuesday December 30 8:30 am –Noon and 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Wednesday December 31 8:30 am – End of Game
January 1 to 4 CLOSED
Monday January 5 Regular office hours resume
BEV EVANS / ROXI OSBORNE OF REALTY EXECUTIVES – CRANBROOK AGENCIES NIGHT: When KOOTENAY hosts the BRANDON WHEAT KINGS on Wednesday, December 31 it will be BEV EVANS / ROXI OSBORNE OF REALTY EXECUTIVES – CRANBROOK AGENCIES NIGHT…Fans will have the opportunity to win up to a framed and autographed Rob Niedermayer jersey plus much more.
SUN-RYPE NIGHT: When the ICE hosts the VANCOUVER GIANTS on Friday, January 9 it will be SUN-RYPE Night…Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win SUN-RYPE product.
MAPLE LEAF NIGHT: When KOOTENAY hosts the CALGARY HITMEN on Saturday, January 10 it will be MAPLE LEAF NIGHT…Fans at the game will have a chance to take part in the hot dog shootout, win an autographed ICE jerseys or coupons for MAPLE LEAF PRIME CHICKEN.
ICE / HOME DEPOT BACKYARD RINK CONTEST: From now until January 26 you will have the chance to enter and win a game of shinny with some of the KOOTENAY ICE players and HOME DEPOT staff…To enter you can bring your photo to HOME DEPOT, drop it off at Guest Services during a KOOTENAY ICE home game or email the ICE a photo of your backyard rink along with your phone number…Full contest details are available at www.kootenayice.net under the ‘”In the Community” page.
DID YOU KNOW: KOOTENAY is 14th in the WHL in overall power play (18.0%)…The ICE are ninth in the League in overall penalty killing (83.0%)…NATHAN LIEUWEN recorded his third WHL shutout December 17 against MEDICINE HAT (29 saves)…ANDREW BAILEY needs to record five more points to reach 200 WHL career points…JOHN NEGRIN needs to record three more points to reach 100 WHL points…MICHAEL STICKLAND needs to record nine more points to reach 100 WHL career points…MATT FRASER needs to play in two more games to record 100 games played with the ICE…NORTH AMERICAN CENTRAL SCOUTING has ranked NATHAN LIEUWEN first among WHL goaltenders and BRAYDEN MCNABB 15th among skaters in the WHL preliminary rankings for the Fall…MAX REINHART (TEAM PACIFIC) and DREW CZERWONKA (TEAM WEST) have been selected to play at the 2009 WORLD UNDER 17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE in PORT ALBERNI from December 28 – January 4… BRAYDEN MCNABB (TEAM ONE) and NATHAN LIEUWEN (TEAM TWO) have been selected to play in the 2009 HOME HARDWARE CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME on January 14 in OSHAWA, ON.
SCORING STREAK: JOHN NEGRIN (1-8-9) has recorded at least a point in his last four games.
INJURY / TRANSACTION: DUSTIN SYLVESTER will be out of the KOOTENAY line up indefinitely with an ankle injury… The ICE have acquired 18-year-old goaltender TODD MATHEWS from the LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES and a conditional seventh round pick in 2009 or 2010 WHL BANTAM DRAFT in exchange for a conditional fifth round pick in the 2009 or 2010 WHL BANTAM DRAFT.
ONE YEAR AGO: After 39 games of the 2007-2008 season the ICE were 23-13-3-0, after 40 games 23-14-3-0 and after 41 games 24-14-3-0.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday December 30 Practice 10:30 – 12:00 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Wednesday December 31 ICE vs Brandon 6:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Thursday January 1 Travel Day
Friday January 2 ICE @ Edmonton 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Saturday January 3 ICE @ Calgary 7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Saturday, December 27 – Kootenay 6 @ Lethbridge 1 – Record 19-13-2-3 – Attendance: 4,180
Goals:
1 – Stephens (12) from King and Fraser
2 – Sylvester (20) from Negrin
3 – Sylvester (21) from Negrin and Barteaux
4 – Stickland (12) from Bailey and Negrin
5 – Negrin (4) from Antilla and Cassivi
6 – Fraser (7) from Negrin and King
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (18 Saves, 1 GA)
Sunday, December 28 – Kootenay 2 vs Red Deer 3 – SO – Record 19-14-2-4 – Attendance: 3,168
Goals:
1 – Ismond (5) from Antilla and Negrin
2 – Stickland (13) from Negrin
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (18 Saves, 2 GA)