ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE advanced to the WHL HUSKY MOHAWK EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES to face the MEDICINE HAT TIGERS, after a 4-0 series victory versus the SASKATOON BLADES…The ICE advanced to the SEMI FINAL after a 4-2 series victory versus the MOOSE JAW WARRIORS…KOOTENAY finished the 2010-2011 regular season 46-21-1-4 (26-8-1-1 at home, 20-13-0-3 on the road, 1-1 in overtime, 4-4 in shootouts) and in fourth place in the EASTERN CONFERENCE and sixth in the WHL…The ICE clinched a playoff spot for the 13th consecutive season which is the longest active streak in the WHL.
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: The ICE have a career playoff record of 77-58 (42-25 at home, 35-33 on the road, 20-10 in overtime)…KOOTENAY has 382 games of playoff experience…KEVIN KING (37), CODY EAKIN (33) and BRAYDEN MCNABB (30) lead the ICE in games played in the playoffs…MCNABB recorded his first WHL playoff goal on March 26 against MOOSE JAW…JOE ANTILLA recorded his first WHL playoff goal against the WARRIORS on March 26…NATHAN LIEUWEN recorded his first WHL playoff shutout on March 30 against MOOSE JAW…MATT FRASER recorded his first WHL playoff hat trick in MOOSE JAW on April 2…ADAM ROSSIGNOL recorded his first career WHL playoff point with an assist against the WARRIORS on April 2…NATHAN LIEUWEN recorded his second WHL playoff shutout on April 12 against SASKATOON.
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Games Three and Four of the WHL HUSKY MOHAWK EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP vs. MEDICINE HAT will be played in CRANBROOK Tuesday, April 26th and Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00 pm…If necessary, Game Six will be played at home on Sunday, May 1st at 6:00 pm…For ticket information please call the KOOTENAY ICE Office at 250-417-0322.
DID YOU KNOW: The ICE have swept a playoff series five times in franchise history (SASKATOON – 2011, EVERETT – 2005, SEATTLE – 2002, MOOSE JAW – 2001, RED DEER – 2000)…The last time KOOTENAY won a series at home was in 2003 against KAMLOOPS defeating them in six games…The ICE have won a franchise tying seven consecutive playoff games (2005 – March 30 – April 12; 2002 – April 2 – April 20) …MATT FRASER is tied for first in the WHL in goals scored during the playoffs with ten…JOE ANTILLA is first in the League in short handed goals in the playoffs with two…STEELE BOOMER, JOEY LEACH and BRAYDEN MCNABB are tied for first in the WHL for short handed assists during the playoffs with two…MCNABB, who is tied for first in the League in plus / minus with a plus 12, was named WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK for the week ending April 17th…MCNABB has been named to the FIRST WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAM…CODY EAKIN has been named to the SECOND WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAM.
SCORING STREAKS: BRAYDEN MCNABB (2-9-11) and MATT FRASER (8-2-10) have each recorded at least a point in their last five games…JOE ANTILLA (2-2-4) has recorded at least a point in his last three games.
ONE YEAR AGO: After Game Six of the 2009-2010 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL series versus the MEDICINE HAT TIGERS, the ICE were eliminated from the playoffs with a 2-4 record.
UPCOMING WEEK:
Tuesday April 19 Practice 3:45 – 5:45pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Wednesday April 20 Practice 3:45 – 5:45pm Cranbrook Rec Plex
Thursday April 21 Travel Day
Friday April 22 ICE @ Medicine Hat 7:30 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Saturday April 23 ICE @ Medicine Hat 7:30 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Tuesday, April 12 – Kootenay 3 vs Saskatoon 0 – Record 3-0-0 – Attendance: 3,065
Goals:
1 – Ismond (1) from McNabb and Fraser
2 – McNabb (3)
3 – Antilla (6) from Czerwonka and McNabb
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (22 Saves, 0 GA)
Wednesday, April 13 – Kootenay 5 vs Saskatoon 2 – Record 4-0-0 – Attendance: 3,021
Goals:
1 – Reinhart (6) from Fraser and McNabb
2 – Fraser (9) from Eakin and Ismond
3 – Reinhart (7) from McNabb
4 – Fraser (10) from Antilla and Pearce
5 – Eakin (3) from McNabb and Leach
Goalie: Nathan Lieuwen (33 Saves, 2 GA)