Cranbrook, BC – Kootenay ICE defenseman James Martin scored the winner on a 3rd period powerplay in a 4-2 win over the Kelowna Rockets in WHL action on Tuesday night.
The 1st period was scoreless and the last time the ICE were involved in a 0-0 tie after 1 period was January 12th in Edmonton.
Early in the 2nd period the ICE opened the scoring as Hayden Rintoul put the puck towards the net and it hit Kelowna players’ leg and deflected into the net.
Midway through the period Luke Paulsen was run into the boards and left the game with an injured shoulder and did not return.
Late in the period the ICE scored on a powerplay as Brayden McNabb slap shot from the point beat the goalie high on the glove side.
Early in the 3rd period the Rockets points shot was stopped by the goalie and players crashed the crease and Geordie Wudrick got his team leading 33rd.
Then few minutes later the Rockets tied the game on the powerplay as defenseman Kevin Smith was near the crease and banged in a rebound.
ICE regained the lead on the powerplay as Jesse Ismond fed James Martin at the back door and scored with a wrist shot over the sprawling goalie.
ICE took a 4-2 lead as Cody Eakin used his speed to cut around the Rockets defense and was stopped in close and Matt Fraser was there to lift in the rebound.
The ICE set a season high with 24 shots on goal in the 3rd period and surpassed 50 shots on goal in a game for the 2nd time this season.
The last time Kelowna was in Cranbrook was October 5/08.
The players who played in that game and tonights’ game were …
ICE (8) – Hayden Rintoul, Brayden McNabb, Steele Boomer, Kevin King, Drew Czerwonka, Max Reinhart, Joe Antilla, Nathan Lieuwen.
Rockets (4) – Tyson Barrie, Evan Bloodoff, Spencer Main, Mitchell Callahan.
Kelowna coach Ryan Huska and Kootenay Assistant Coach Todd Johnson were roommates with the Memorial Cup Champion Kamloops Blazers in 1992.
ICE Head Coach Kris Knoblauch is taking a similar coaching career path to Ryan Huska. 4 years ago Huska was an Assistant Coach to the Rockets and when they were looking for a new Head Coach there was some debate to Huska having no coaching experience but he still got the job. This summer Knoblauch contacted Huska on advice from going from an Assistant to Head Coach with the same team.
Since the last time the ICE played the Rockets in Cranbrook, the ICE have played against the Red Deer Rebels 22 times.
ICE will visit Red Deer on Wednesday.
ICE Scratches – Joey Leach (15th game ankle day-to-day), Brock Montgomery (1st game pelvis 2 weeks).
Leach skated on Tuesday for the 1st time in over a month and everything went great. His return to the line-up is not too far away.
Game Summary
Kelowna 33-25-0-1 Kootenay 39-18-1-2
1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties - Main Kel (slashing) 7:43, Antilla Ktn (cross checking) 11:07.
2nd Period
1. Kootenay, Rintoul 3 (Reinhart, Czerwonka) :58
2. Kootenay, McNabb 17 (King, Fraser) 19:31 pp
Penalties – Sissons Kel (goalie interference) 13:22, Goren Kel (interference) 18:09.
3rd Period
3. Kelowna, Wudrick 33 (Smith, Barrie) 1:04
4. Kelowna, Smith 5 (Wudrick, Sissons) 3:41 pp
5. Kootenay, Martin 10 (Ismond, Reinhart) 8:45 pp
6. Kootenay, Fraser 28 (Eakin, King) 12:09
Penalties – Boomer Ktn (cross checking) 1:43, Chickie Kel (tripping) 7:07, Goren Kel (double roughing) Rossignol Ktn (roughing) Benoit Ktn (roughing) 14:32, McColgan Kel McNabb Ktn (slashing) 15:22, Severson Kel (unsportsmanlike) Antilla Ktn (holdng) 15:34, Eakin Ktn (slashing) 17:41.
Shots on goal by
Kelowna - 6 – 11 - 9 = 26
Kootenay – 14 – 13 – 2 = 51
Goal (shots-saves) – Kelowna: Jordan Cooke (L 6-5-0-0) (51-47) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W 28-13-1-1) (26-22)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Kelowna: 1/3 Kootenay: 2/4
Referees – Curtis Howe, Chad Williams
Linesmen – Bobby Bedingfiled, Jim Maniago
Attendance – 2,478