"Opportunities always look bigger going than coming." - Anonymous
For the 2011-12 edition of the defending WHL champion Kootenay Ice, games such as Wednesday night's in Lethbridge are going to be looked back upon as missed opportunity.
The Ice let slip away leads of 3-1 and 4-2 en route to a 5-4 loss to the Canes and now find themselves even deeper into the crowded pool that is the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist as did Jesse Ismond, while John Neibrandt and Joe Antilla also scored. Mackenzie Skapski stopped 22 of 27 in a losing cause. The Hurricanes capitalized on some Ice penalty trouble in the third with two power play goals by Sutter and Tot, who got the game-winner.
Sitting 4th with 60 points and a 27-15-3-3 record, the Ice are now but a point clear of the Saskatoon Blades and the red-hot Calgary Hitmen - who they'll play five times before now and the end of the season - and two points ahead of the Regina Pats who currently occupy 7th. The Wheat Kings sit nine points back in the 8th and final playoff spot.
Not withstanding the 1-0 home loss Tuesday night to the Wheaties, after dismantling them on home ice 7-3 three nights prior, it is losses to the Canes in 11th-place that could do the most damage, especially when the two points is there for the taking with a couple of two-goal leads.
Missing F Drew Czerwonka (1-2 weeks, upper body) and D Luke Paulsen (concussion, 2-3 weeks) and now leading scorer Max Reinhart who is out with a minor injury after blocking a shot Tuesday and missed Wednesday's game in Lethbridge, three 19-year-old impact players out of the line-up at a crucial stretch could prove costly to the club.
Reinhart isn't expected to play this weekend with the club hosting the last-place Prince Albert Raiders (another lost opportunity in their previous meeting in PA when the Ice once again saw a big lead melt away) tonight at the Rec Plex and Saturday travel to Spokane for a date with the Chiefs.
But such is the ways of a team competing but rebuilding almost simultaneously. Players like 16-year-old Sam Reinhart playing minutes almost exclusively reserved for 19-year-olds anywhere else. Rookies Jon Martin, Jaedon Descheneau and on the blueline Mike Simpson, Jeff Hubic and Spencer Wand (dash-3 against the Canes) are facing a steep learning curve as the season gets longer, tougher and more intense that anything they're used to.
And while Sam's re-writing of the Ice rookie record book continues with his goal and assist Wednesday that gave him 17 goals on the season - eclipsing Czerwonka's rookie total of 16 four years ago - and 42 points on the season to move past Steve McCarthy's rookie mark set in Edmonton in 97-98 - it will be interesting to see how the young players react to the next level they'll face in the coming weeks as the playoff race tightens and the pressure cooker heats up.
The pressure on the 20-year-olds - Jesse Ismond and Joe Antilla, to be more precise, is on for them to pick up the slack left by the injuries. Both have started to score of late.
Wednesday's highlites are here while there's a write up here.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Wheat Kings here in home-end of home and home
The Brandon Wheat Kings made the 18-hour bus ride to Cranbrook for tonight's rematch of Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Ice in Brandon. Former Ice head coach Cory Clouston makes his return début as an opposing coach for the first time.
Gametime is 7PM at the Rec Plex.
The Ice are coming off a 7-3 win over the Wheaties Saturday in which Mackenzie Skapski made 33 saves for the win. Highlites are here.
Jesse Ismond scored twice as did Levi Cable. For Ismond it broke a scoring drought of some 15 games dating back to December 4 against Swift Current.
Cable, with two goals, is the second rookie to score two in as many games with Jon Martin notching a couple in the 6-5OT loss to Moose Jaw Friday.
The Ice were missing D Luke Paulsen (concussion) and F Drew Czerwonka (upper-body) and both aren't expected to play tonight. Paulsen is still indefinite and Czerwonka will be another two weeks.
Coming off a five-game road trip in which the club got eight of a possible ten points the Ice were 3-0-2 on the trip, with four of five games going to extra-time or a shootout. They sit tied for 3rd in the tight Eastern Conference with the Tigers, with a 27-13-3-3 record, two points back of the Warriors and nine back of the Central Division and Conference leading Edmonton Oil Kings.
F Max Reinhart has crept into the top 20 in WHL scoring, sitting 16th with 57 points (20 goals and 37 assists) and has 8 assists in his last four games.
F Sam Reinhart hasn't quite hold the team record for goals scored by a rookie 16-year--old yet. Seems F Drew Czerwonka might have something to say about it as he hit 16 in 08-09. F Nigel Dawes had 15 in 01-02. Sam now has 16 on the season and will break Czerwonka's mark with his next goal.
Former Ice forward Matt Fraser will make his NHL debut tonight for the Dallas Stars after being called up from the AHL Texas Stars where his second in team scoring with 21g and 14a for 35 points in 40 games, good for 22nd in the AHL. There's a story in the Dallas Morning News here.
G Peyton Lee made the most of his début with the Vancouver Giants. The 15-year-old goaltender from Cranbrook - who plays with the Pursuit of Excellence Midget program in Kelowna - was drafted by the Giants in the second round (28th overall) last May and was called up with the concussion injury to starter Adam Morrison and some indifferent play by back-up Jackson Whistle, hence the two starts over the weekend by Lee.
The Cranbrook Minor Hockey product stopped 24 of 26 shots Sunday in a 3-2 win over Seattle and 19 of 22 shots in a 4-3 win over Everett. There's highlites and coverage here, here and here.
For those who wondered, G Nathan Lieuwen's save against Edmonton did make the WHL Plays of the Week.
Mackenzie Skapski's toe-save in Brandon will likely get some consideration for Friday's version.
Gametime is 7PM at the Rec Plex.
The Ice are coming off a 7-3 win over the Wheaties Saturday in which Mackenzie Skapski made 33 saves for the win. Highlites are here.
Jesse Ismond scored twice as did Levi Cable. For Ismond it broke a scoring drought of some 15 games dating back to December 4 against Swift Current.
Cable, with two goals, is the second rookie to score two in as many games with Jon Martin notching a couple in the 6-5OT loss to Moose Jaw Friday.
The Ice were missing D Luke Paulsen (concussion) and F Drew Czerwonka (upper-body) and both aren't expected to play tonight. Paulsen is still indefinite and Czerwonka will be another two weeks.
Coming off a five-game road trip in which the club got eight of a possible ten points the Ice were 3-0-2 on the trip, with four of five games going to extra-time or a shootout. They sit tied for 3rd in the tight Eastern Conference with the Tigers, with a 27-13-3-3 record, two points back of the Warriors and nine back of the Central Division and Conference leading Edmonton Oil Kings.
F Max Reinhart has crept into the top 20 in WHL scoring, sitting 16th with 57 points (20 goals and 37 assists) and has 8 assists in his last four games.
F Sam Reinhart hasn't quite hold the team record for goals scored by a rookie 16-year--old yet. Seems F Drew Czerwonka might have something to say about it as he hit 16 in 08-09. F Nigel Dawes had 15 in 01-02. Sam now has 16 on the season and will break Czerwonka's mark with his next goal.
Former Ice forward Matt Fraser will make his NHL debut tonight for the Dallas Stars after being called up from the AHL Texas Stars where his second in team scoring with 21g and 14a for 35 points in 40 games, good for 22nd in the AHL. There's a story in the Dallas Morning News here.
G Peyton Lee made the most of his début with the Vancouver Giants. The 15-year-old goaltender from Cranbrook - who plays with the Pursuit of Excellence Midget program in Kelowna - was drafted by the Giants in the second round (28th overall) last May and was called up with the concussion injury to starter Adam Morrison and some indifferent play by back-up Jackson Whistle, hence the two starts over the weekend by Lee.
The Cranbrook Minor Hockey product stopped 24 of 26 shots Sunday in a 3-2 win over Seattle and 19 of 22 shots in a 4-3 win over Everett. There's highlites and coverage here, here and here.
For those who wondered, G Nathan Lieuwen's save against Edmonton did make the WHL Plays of the Week.
Mackenzie Skapski's toe-save in Brandon will likely get some consideration for Friday's version.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Catching up
On a sad day with the loss of Freestyle skier Sarah Burke who passed away today as a result of her injuries sustained a week ago in a training accident to the gruesome reality of a freak injury to Oiler forward Taylor Hall suffered in the pre-game warm-up, without a helmet, I try to catch up.
It's been an up and down week for the Ice as Saturday a great effort by goaltender Nathan Lieuwen ended with a 3-2 OT loss to the Oil Kings in Edmonton followed by a great show by the Reinharts in a OT win by the same score over the Pats last night in Regina.
Those games were sandwiched around a 10-hour visit to Sparwood due to the Hwy 3 closure through the Crowsnest pass earlier this week that turned into a 28-hour bus odyssey to Regina through Kootenay Park/Calgary.
The highlites are here while the Leader-Post has the gamer here.
The three helpers by Max pushed him into the WHL's Top 20 in scoring for the first time this season while the two goals and an assist by Sam ties the rookie for 5th in rookie scoring and tops among 16-year-olds. All five ahead of him are import players 2-3 years senior.
At 15 goals, 22 assist for 37 points Sam is three points from tying Steve McCarthy's team record of points by a rookie. McCarthy did when the club was still in Edmonton in 1997-98. The 15 goals ties Nigel Dawes team record of most goals by a rookie (16-year-old). Dawes notched 15 when the club won the Memorial Cup in 2002.
In the article you might notice LP writer Greg Harder makes note of Lieuwen's play and alludes to the 20-year-old being a WHL regular season MVP candidate. I'm sure players like Ty Rimmer and Adam Hughesman of the Tri-Cities Americans; Ty Rattie of the Winterhawks etc will also get consideration but the test is always this: take one of those players out of the line-up and how would that team do?
Take Lieuwen out of the line-up and what do you get?
Sam's draft day counterpart for the Pats - Morgan Klimchuk of Calgary taken 10 spots ahead of him - notched both goals for the Pats. When you see the 2013 NHL Draft rankings I'm thinking you'll see him mentioned in the first round. Sam isn't eligible until the 2014 Draft with the late November 6 birthdate. Klimchuk was Team Pacific's second leading scorer at the World U-17 tournament behind Sam.
With the win last night the Ice improve to 26-13-2-3 and 57 points, good for 3rd in the Eastern Conference, still 8 points behind the front-running and red-hot Oil-Kings (though they lost their last outing to the even hotter Calgary Hitmen) and two points up on the Moose Jaw Warriors who they'll face Friday night in the Jaw.
D Luke Paulsen remains out with a concussion indefinitely while LW Drew Czerwonka left the game Saturday just seconds into his first shift with what is being called an upper body injury but I suspect is a shoulder injury, one of at least a few for Czerwonka. He's out at least 3-4 weeks.
The game is on Shaw TV and the Warriors will be without D Dylan McIlrath (10th overall by the New York Rangers in 2010) who is awaiting the discipline to be doled out by the WHL after a check on Victoria forward Jesse Zgraggen. McIlrath is a repeat offender and it was definitely a high hit but by the same token, Taylor Crunk's blindside head-hit on the Warriors Andrew Johnson should suffer the same result.
With the resurgence of the Hitmen a scant six points seperate the 2nd-place Warriors from the 7th-place Hitmen so there'll be little room for error or slump going down the stretch. Curiously, every team in the East would make the playoffs in the West as all 12 teams from PA up are tied or better than the 8th-place Royals.
Last week the CHL's top ranked team in the Tri-City Americans announced that Cranbrook product Jim Hiller had his contract extended. Hiller is 123-54-3-4 with the Ams now into his 4th season with the club, sporting an impressive .688 winning percentage. After coaching stops in Alberni Valley with the BCHL's Bulldogs and the Chilliwack Bruins for that franchises first two seasons, Hiller has come into his own as a top WHL coach and, if things go as planned, a top contender for a pro job in the not-too-distance future. Hiller's name has been bandied about as moving onto the pro ranks and a championship for the number-one ranked Ams would all but salt that opportunity. Someone asked me why Scott Beattie left what could have been a good situation here - he was offered the assistant's job when Kris Knobluach took over - but turned it down instead to relocate to Tri-City to work with his very good friend and former college linemate Hiller as an assistant. Could it also have been a quicker line to a head coaching gig giving the likelihood of Hiller moving onto the pros? Hmmmm. Guess time will tell.
Have to apologize for the lack of posting as my working life and trying to get my Bantam squad prepared to battle for a spot in the T3 Provincials over the next couple of weeks has taken up most of my time.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Ice edge Rebels in Shootout, win second straight
Dylan McKinley neatly deflected his 8th of the season to tie it in the second period and in the shootout Max Reinhart scored a beauty as the Kootenay Ice edged the Red Deer Rebels 2-1 last night.
Game was televised on Shaw, but didn't get a chance to watch due to work commitments. Caught the game the old fashioned way.
The contest was a goaltender's dual as both Nathan Lieuwen and Deven Dubyk were stellar on the night as both were named stars.
Highlites are here while the Red Deer Advocate has a recap here.
D Luke Paulsen (concussion - indefinite) and D Jeff Hubic were the scratches.
On that note Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings were released and they are here. D Jeff Hubic checks in at the #110 spot among North American Skaters and G Mackenzie Skapski - both of which are 17 - is 14th among North American goaltenders.
With the win the Ice improve to 25-13-1-3 and 54 points, 3rd in the Eastern Conference Standings, one back of Moose Jaw and five back of Edmonton who the team will play Saturday night. Medicine Hat, two back of the Ice, will host the Oil Kings tonight.
Edmonton, Regina (next Wednesday), Moose Jaw and Brandon (Friday, Saturday, Jan 20,21) are on the docket as all key games in the schedule that will give us a glimpse of things to come in the Eastern Conference standings as all will be tough tests with the new-look line-ups following the trade deadline.
Just a thought, but looking at the conference standings, the 8th-place team in the West is the Victoria Royals with 31 points. All four non-playoff teams in the East; the Rebels, Broncos, Hurricanes and Raiders would make the playoffs in the West where only two of the ten teams won't make the post-season. In the East it's 8 of 12. If that holds out, how much discussion will that generate around the board table of the off-season league meetings?
Is it me or are the highlites out of Red Deer the best in the league? TV angle is great and there's a lot of time and effort put into them.
D Tanner Muth got into another tussle last night and that bout is right here.
It brings us to the discussion of the day; it's early but how much has the addition of Muth done for overall team toughness?
Last night F Charles Inglis didn't like the check Muth put on his into the end boards. It was a marginal call but nevertheless, the redhead (Swift, redheads - another trend?) isn't afraid to drop them. Maybe it's me but the Ice haven't had a player such as that in a while.
I know it's not politically correct but hey, I'm a bit old school and still think there's a place for it in the game.
Something to discuss for coffee row....
Game was televised on Shaw, but didn't get a chance to watch due to work commitments. Caught the game the old fashioned way.
The contest was a goaltender's dual as both Nathan Lieuwen and Deven Dubyk were stellar on the night as both were named stars.
Highlites are here while the Red Deer Advocate has a recap here.
D Luke Paulsen (concussion - indefinite) and D Jeff Hubic were the scratches.
On that note Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings were released and they are here. D Jeff Hubic checks in at the #110 spot among North American Skaters and G Mackenzie Skapski - both of which are 17 - is 14th among North American goaltenders.
With the win the Ice improve to 25-13-1-3 and 54 points, 3rd in the Eastern Conference Standings, one back of Moose Jaw and five back of Edmonton who the team will play Saturday night. Medicine Hat, two back of the Ice, will host the Oil Kings tonight.
Edmonton, Regina (next Wednesday), Moose Jaw and Brandon (Friday, Saturday, Jan 20,21) are on the docket as all key games in the schedule that will give us a glimpse of things to come in the Eastern Conference standings as all will be tough tests with the new-look line-ups following the trade deadline.
Just a thought, but looking at the conference standings, the 8th-place team in the West is the Victoria Royals with 31 points. All four non-playoff teams in the East; the Rebels, Broncos, Hurricanes and Raiders would make the playoffs in the West where only two of the ten teams won't make the post-season. In the East it's 8 of 12. If that holds out, how much discussion will that generate around the board table of the off-season league meetings?
Is it me or are the highlites out of Red Deer the best in the league? TV angle is great and there's a lot of time and effort put into them.
D Tanner Muth got into another tussle last night and that bout is right here.
It brings us to the discussion of the day; it's early but how much has the addition of Muth done for overall team toughness?
Last night F Charles Inglis didn't like the check Muth put on his into the end boards. It was a marginal call but nevertheless, the redhead (Swift, redheads - another trend?) isn't afraid to drop them. Maybe it's me but the Ice haven't had a player such as that in a while.
I know it's not politically correct but hey, I'm a bit old school and still think there's a place for it in the game.
Something to discuss for coffee row....
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Youth served in deadline deals for Ice
The WHL's Trade Deadline came and went with nary a whimper this season considering the amount and magnitude of deals in years gone by and, as predicted, here at home the Kootenay Ice decided to stay on the sidelines for the most part and let the kids play.
That was accentuated with the deal that the Ice made/announced right at the deadline that sent 18-year-old forward Brendan Hurley to Medicine Hat to a 3rd round pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft.
Hurley, playing on the fourth line of late, wanted more ice-time. The former first round Bantam pick never seemed to get into the role of goal-scorer, defensive forward or power forward with the Ice and it was becoming clear that the rookies were passing him on the depth chart. The trade does two things; replacing the 3rd round pick lost to Swift Current in the Eakin deal last season - as mentioned by GM Chynoweth in the release - and coupled with the fact that F Eric Benoit - a training camp invite/list player who made the team - had more upside. It also gives the likes of Jaedon Descheneau, Jon Martin and Levi Cable the chance to stay in the line-up full-time in a fourth-line role. The young D-men; Wand, Hubic and Simpson - once Paulsen is healthy - could rotate through the line-up. The fact Hurley was sent to a divisional rival further demonstrates the commitment the club is making to the young players.
Around the league however - especially the Eastern Conference - there were teams who upped the anti with deals that make they'll hope make their clubs better.
Edmonton had already done their damage with the acquisition of Maxwell for a prospect and two picks as well as the addition of Samuelsson (son of former NHLer Ulf) and D Cody Corbett, 18, from Minnesota for nothing as both players were on the club's list. The Oil Kings are on a big roll and could run away with the top seed in the East.
Red Deer added F Charles Inglis, 19, for the relatively low price of F Daulton Siwak, 18, and a 3rd pick, which should help the club compete for a playoff spot.
Regina threw down the gloves and decided to add a big-name D-man as Martin Marancin, a 19-year-old import D who is a draft pick of the NHL's Oilers was dealt from PG to Regina for import D Ricard Bildstrand and the Pats' 1st and 2nd round picks in 2012 and a 5th in 2013. Going with Marancin are 4th and 7th picks in 2012 and a 4th in 2013.
Brandon, who most thought would upgrade on the goaltender position decided to go with the offensive upgrade with the addition of F Kevin Sundher from Victoria in exchange for D Jordan Fransoo, F Dakota Conroy and a 1st round pick in 2012.
Moose Jaw added two 20-year-old forwards to their line-up that will give them a ton of depth on offense as they got Cam Braes from Lethbridge for a 1st round pick in 2012 and a 2nd round pick next year. Then they added Vancouver Giant captain James Henry for a 2nd round pick in 2012 and a 3rd round pick in 2013.
So as the deadline comes to a close, it's clear that Edmonton and Moose Jaw clearly tried to load up for a long spring while Brandon - who fit into that underachiever role so far this season - along with Regina made deals that they feel will vault them into contenders this season.
In the West Bob Tory took a flyer on the chance F Brett Connolly will be returned by the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightnight and sent a conditional 1st round pick in 2013 and conditional 2nd round pick in 2014 and a 5th round pick in 2013. That's a small price to pay in the off-chance the Lightning send him back. If they do, the Ams become even more of a loaded juggernaut than they already are - in my opinion they're the best team that have visited the Rec Plex this season - and if not, it's a 5th round pick that the club could get back later in other deals.
Saskatoon, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Kootenay, save for the Muth/Rossignol deal and the Hurley deal is more a depth deal than a big splash, all look to be staying the course.
Swift Current, Lethbridge and PA, while not throwing in the towel by any stretch, are looking at nextyearland.
All the deals leading up to the deadline are here.
Should make for an interesting run down the stretch.
That was accentuated with the deal that the Ice made/announced right at the deadline that sent 18-year-old forward Brendan Hurley to Medicine Hat to a 3rd round pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft.
Hurley, playing on the fourth line of late, wanted more ice-time. The former first round Bantam pick never seemed to get into the role of goal-scorer, defensive forward or power forward with the Ice and it was becoming clear that the rookies were passing him on the depth chart. The trade does two things; replacing the 3rd round pick lost to Swift Current in the Eakin deal last season - as mentioned by GM Chynoweth in the release - and coupled with the fact that F Eric Benoit - a training camp invite/list player who made the team - had more upside. It also gives the likes of Jaedon Descheneau, Jon Martin and Levi Cable the chance to stay in the line-up full-time in a fourth-line role. The young D-men; Wand, Hubic and Simpson - once Paulsen is healthy - could rotate through the line-up. The fact Hurley was sent to a divisional rival further demonstrates the commitment the club is making to the young players.
Around the league however - especially the Eastern Conference - there were teams who upped the anti with deals that make they'll hope make their clubs better.
Edmonton had already done their damage with the acquisition of Maxwell for a prospect and two picks as well as the addition of Samuelsson (son of former NHLer Ulf) and D Cody Corbett, 18, from Minnesota for nothing as both players were on the club's list. The Oil Kings are on a big roll and could run away with the top seed in the East.
Red Deer added F Charles Inglis, 19, for the relatively low price of F Daulton Siwak, 18, and a 3rd pick, which should help the club compete for a playoff spot.
Regina threw down the gloves and decided to add a big-name D-man as Martin Marancin, a 19-year-old import D who is a draft pick of the NHL's Oilers was dealt from PG to Regina for import D Ricard Bildstrand and the Pats' 1st and 2nd round picks in 2012 and a 5th in 2013. Going with Marancin are 4th and 7th picks in 2012 and a 4th in 2013.
Brandon, who most thought would upgrade on the goaltender position decided to go with the offensive upgrade with the addition of F Kevin Sundher from Victoria in exchange for D Jordan Fransoo, F Dakota Conroy and a 1st round pick in 2012.
Moose Jaw added two 20-year-old forwards to their line-up that will give them a ton of depth on offense as they got Cam Braes from Lethbridge for a 1st round pick in 2012 and a 2nd round pick next year. Then they added Vancouver Giant captain James Henry for a 2nd round pick in 2012 and a 3rd round pick in 2013.
So as the deadline comes to a close, it's clear that Edmonton and Moose Jaw clearly tried to load up for a long spring while Brandon - who fit into that underachiever role so far this season - along with Regina made deals that they feel will vault them into contenders this season.
In the West Bob Tory took a flyer on the chance F Brett Connolly will be returned by the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightnight and sent a conditional 1st round pick in 2013 and conditional 2nd round pick in 2014 and a 5th round pick in 2013. That's a small price to pay in the off-chance the Lightning send him back. If they do, the Ams become even more of a loaded juggernaut than they already are - in my opinion they're the best team that have visited the Rec Plex this season - and if not, it's a 5th round pick that the club could get back later in other deals.
Saskatoon, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Kootenay, save for the Muth/Rossignol deal and the Hurley deal is more a depth deal than a big splash, all look to be staying the course.
Swift Current, Lethbridge and PA, while not throwing in the towel by any stretch, are looking at nextyearland.
All the deals leading up to the deadline are here.
Should make for an interesting run down the stretch.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Lieuwen stops 31 shots as Ice beat Tigers
The Score – Medicine Hat 1 – Kootenay 3
What Happened – The Tigers had their chances but couldn't solve Lieuwen more than Etem's marker in the second. The 20-year-old shut the door the rest of the night.
The Turning Point – Up 2-1 in a tight game Hunter Shinkaruk was awarded a penalty shot at the 7:41 mark of the third period. Lieuwen stopped him and everything else the Tigers threw at him.
The Goals – Streaking down the wing with speed after getting a nice chip off the wall from Martin, Brendan Hurley ripped his 3rd past Tyler Bunz as the fourth line started things off… In the second after Etem’s line was caught icing the puck after a long change, Reinhart’s line came-on and controlled the play in the Tiger zone – almost like it was a power play with the Tiger top unit gassed – and after almost a minute of the Ice ragging the puck, Sam scored his 12th on a bad angle shot through a maze of legs. Etem ended up coming off the ice leaking from an errant stick. 2-0 Ice… Joe Antilla took his second straight penalty – this one 200 feet from his own net – and on the breakout James Bettauer found Emerson Etem through the neutral zone and he split the D with NHL-type speed and roofed his 34th of the season past Lieuwen to halve the Ice lead… In the third when Etem took a silly penalty skating into a scrum and landing on Nathan Lieuwen, Jesse Ismond gain possession below the redline and found Elgin Pearce on a one-timer to make it 3-1.
The Fight – Off a scrum in front of Lieuwen Boston Leier and Jagger Dirk skated off and decided to go at it. Leier tagged Dirk with a straight right that rocked Dirk and sent him to the ice. To his credit he got right back up and kept going. He landed a couple before both went to the ice.
The Saves – There were two on this night that I liked. In the second Nathan Lieuwen had to stretch his left leg across the net to stop Curtis Valk and preserve a 2-1 lead and in the third Elgin Pearce got loose with some room but his shot was snatched with a great glove save by Bunz.
The Penalty Shot – With the Ice holding a 2-1 lead Joe Leach had his shot blocked and Shinkaruk was off to the races. Leach caught him and slashed him but he got the shot off that went wide but referee Jeff Ingram – doing his second straight game in Cranbrook – decided it warranted a penalty shot, much to the dismay of the Ice faithful. Like all but Etem’s goal on this night, Lieuwen stopped him.
The Muth – Kootenay’s acquisition from Swift Current played his second game with the Ice and notched his first point, an assist on the game-winner. He also played some serious minutes and saved a goal late in the game by clearing a puck sitting on the goal-line. Oh, and on the topic of Bronco-Ice trades there were a few I forgot: D Mike Busto in 2004 for C Jeremy Schenderling; G Jeff Harvey (as part of the Jaffray/Milroy deal); D Donny Lloyd for a 6th round pick in 2005 (D Brad Ryan); F Kris Foucault for a 6th round pick in 2008 and just for good measure, current Ice F Eric Benoit was in the Broncos camp two years ago but wasn’t listed by the Broncos.
The Crowd – 2568; The club is averaging 2765/game through 21 home dates, an increase of almost 300 per game through the same period over last season, if you were wondering.
Rec Plex Three Stars:
1. G Nathan Lieuwen – Carried his team on both nights this weekend. Sunday got the win he deserved.
2. D Joey Leach – Rearguard bounced back with a strong night
3. F Emerson Etem – His NHL speed is a treat to watch
What it means – The Ice improve to 24-13-1-3, 52 points and back into a tie with the Tigers for 3rd in the Eastern Conference.
Up Next: The trade deadline is Tuesday afternoon while the Ice are in Red Deer Wednesday night to start a five-game road trip over two weeks.
Summary:
Tigers 1 @ Ice 3
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Kootenay Ice; January 8, 2012
Sam Reinhart's 12th of the season stood up as the game-winner as the Kootenay Ice beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1 in WHL action Sunday night.
The Ice opened the scoring 3:30 into the game when Brendan Hurley streaked down the left-wing and rifled a wrist-shot past Tyler Bunz for a 1-0 lead. Sam Reinhart's goal off a behind the net feed from his brother Max at 8:44 of the second period gave the Ice a 2-0 lead before Emerson Etem cut the lead in half with the Tigers on the power play at the 14:00 minute mark with his 34th of the year as he split the Ice defense and beat Nathan Lieuwen.
With the Ice on the power play in the third Elgin Pearce got his 17th of the season on another behind-the-net feed, this time by Jesse Ismond.
Nathan Lieuwen was stellar on the night, stopping 31 of 32 shots in getting the win while Tyler Bunz stopped 21 of 24 shots in taking the loss.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Hurley 3 (Martin, Niebrandt) 3:30
Penalties -- Benoit Ktn (kneeing) 7:30, Kessy MH (unsportsmanlike conduct) 15:01, Ismond Ktn (hooking) 16:15.
Second
2. Kootenay, S. Reinhart 12 (M. Reinhart, Muth) 8:44
3. Medicine Hat, Etem 34 (Bettauer) 14:00 (pp)
Penalties -- Antilla Ktn (slashing) 3:51, Antilla Ktn (holding) 13:32, Leier MH Dirk Ktn (fighting) 15:23,
Third Period
4. Kootenay, Pearce 17 (Ismond, Reinhart) 12:56 (pp)
Penalties -- Leach Ktn (cross-checking) 2:33, Grbavac MH (tripping) 8:05, Etem MH (roughing), Konan MH (misconduct) 11:07, Dirk Ktn (tripping) 13:26, Dirk Ktn (high-sticking) Hurley Ktn Etem MH (roughing) 17:19.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 4 14 6 - 24
Medicine Hat: 8 9 15 - 32
Goal -- Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W, 18-10-1-2); Medicine Hat: Tyler Bunz (L, 23-11-2).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-3
Medicine Hat: 1-7
Penalty Shot - Shinkaruk MH 7:41 of second (stopped).
Referee -- Jeff Ingram, Brett Montison. Linesman -- Ian Shaver, Jim Maniago.
Attendance -- 2568 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Jeff Hubic, Luke Paulsen (concussion - indefinite), Jaedon Descheneau, Jesse Wood-Schatz.
Medicine Hat: Tyler Lewington, Gavin Broadhead, Kyle Becker, Jayden Hart.
What Happened – The Tigers had their chances but couldn't solve Lieuwen more than Etem's marker in the second. The 20-year-old shut the door the rest of the night.
The Turning Point – Up 2-1 in a tight game Hunter Shinkaruk was awarded a penalty shot at the 7:41 mark of the third period. Lieuwen stopped him and everything else the Tigers threw at him.
The Goals – Streaking down the wing with speed after getting a nice chip off the wall from Martin, Brendan Hurley ripped his 3rd past Tyler Bunz as the fourth line started things off… In the second after Etem’s line was caught icing the puck after a long change, Reinhart’s line came-on and controlled the play in the Tiger zone – almost like it was a power play with the Tiger top unit gassed – and after almost a minute of the Ice ragging the puck, Sam scored his 12th on a bad angle shot through a maze of legs. Etem ended up coming off the ice leaking from an errant stick. 2-0 Ice… Joe Antilla took his second straight penalty – this one 200 feet from his own net – and on the breakout James Bettauer found Emerson Etem through the neutral zone and he split the D with NHL-type speed and roofed his 34th of the season past Lieuwen to halve the Ice lead… In the third when Etem took a silly penalty skating into a scrum and landing on Nathan Lieuwen, Jesse Ismond gain possession below the redline and found Elgin Pearce on a one-timer to make it 3-1.
The Fight – Off a scrum in front of Lieuwen Boston Leier and Jagger Dirk skated off and decided to go at it. Leier tagged Dirk with a straight right that rocked Dirk and sent him to the ice. To his credit he got right back up and kept going. He landed a couple before both went to the ice.
The Saves – There were two on this night that I liked. In the second Nathan Lieuwen had to stretch his left leg across the net to stop Curtis Valk and preserve a 2-1 lead and in the third Elgin Pearce got loose with some room but his shot was snatched with a great glove save by Bunz.
The Penalty Shot – With the Ice holding a 2-1 lead Joe Leach had his shot blocked and Shinkaruk was off to the races. Leach caught him and slashed him but he got the shot off that went wide but referee Jeff Ingram – doing his second straight game in Cranbrook – decided it warranted a penalty shot, much to the dismay of the Ice faithful. Like all but Etem’s goal on this night, Lieuwen stopped him.
The Muth – Kootenay’s acquisition from Swift Current played his second game with the Ice and notched his first point, an assist on the game-winner. He also played some serious minutes and saved a goal late in the game by clearing a puck sitting on the goal-line. Oh, and on the topic of Bronco-Ice trades there were a few I forgot: D Mike Busto in 2004 for C Jeremy Schenderling; G Jeff Harvey (as part of the Jaffray/Milroy deal); D Donny Lloyd for a 6th round pick in 2005 (D Brad Ryan); F Kris Foucault for a 6th round pick in 2008 and just for good measure, current Ice F Eric Benoit was in the Broncos camp two years ago but wasn’t listed by the Broncos.
The Crowd – 2568; The club is averaging 2765/game through 21 home dates, an increase of almost 300 per game through the same period over last season, if you were wondering.
Rec Plex Three Stars:
1. G Nathan Lieuwen – Carried his team on both nights this weekend. Sunday got the win he deserved.
2. D Joey Leach – Rearguard bounced back with a strong night
3. F Emerson Etem – His NHL speed is a treat to watch
What it means – The Ice improve to 24-13-1-3, 52 points and back into a tie with the Tigers for 3rd in the Eastern Conference.
Up Next: The trade deadline is Tuesday afternoon while the Ice are in Red Deer Wednesday night to start a five-game road trip over two weeks.
Summary:
Tigers 1 @ Ice 3
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Kootenay Ice; January 8, 2012
Sam Reinhart's 12th of the season stood up as the game-winner as the Kootenay Ice beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1 in WHL action Sunday night.
The Ice opened the scoring 3:30 into the game when Brendan Hurley streaked down the left-wing and rifled a wrist-shot past Tyler Bunz for a 1-0 lead. Sam Reinhart's goal off a behind the net feed from his brother Max at 8:44 of the second period gave the Ice a 2-0 lead before Emerson Etem cut the lead in half with the Tigers on the power play at the 14:00 minute mark with his 34th of the year as he split the Ice defense and beat Nathan Lieuwen.
With the Ice on the power play in the third Elgin Pearce got his 17th of the season on another behind-the-net feed, this time by Jesse Ismond.
Nathan Lieuwen was stellar on the night, stopping 31 of 32 shots in getting the win while Tyler Bunz stopped 21 of 24 shots in taking the loss.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Hurley 3 (Martin, Niebrandt) 3:30
Penalties -- Benoit Ktn (kneeing) 7:30, Kessy MH (unsportsmanlike conduct) 15:01, Ismond Ktn (hooking) 16:15.
Second
2. Kootenay, S. Reinhart 12 (M. Reinhart, Muth) 8:44
3. Medicine Hat, Etem 34 (Bettauer) 14:00 (pp)
Penalties -- Antilla Ktn (slashing) 3:51, Antilla Ktn (holding) 13:32, Leier MH Dirk Ktn (fighting) 15:23,
Third Period
4. Kootenay, Pearce 17 (Ismond, Reinhart) 12:56 (pp)
Penalties -- Leach Ktn (cross-checking) 2:33, Grbavac MH (tripping) 8:05, Etem MH (roughing), Konan MH (misconduct) 11:07, Dirk Ktn (tripping) 13:26, Dirk Ktn (high-sticking) Hurley Ktn Etem MH (roughing) 17:19.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 4 14 6 - 24
Medicine Hat: 8 9 15 - 32
Goal -- Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W, 18-10-1-2); Medicine Hat: Tyler Bunz (L, 23-11-2).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-3
Medicine Hat: 1-7
Penalty Shot - Shinkaruk MH 7:41 of second (stopped).
Referee -- Jeff Ingram, Brett Montison. Linesman -- Ian Shaver, Jim Maniago.
Attendance -- 2568 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Jeff Hubic, Luke Paulsen (concussion - indefinite), Jaedon Descheneau, Jesse Wood-Schatz.
Medicine Hat: Tyler Lewington, Gavin Broadhead, Kyle Becker, Jayden Hart.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Warriors edge Ice
The Score – Moose Jaw 3 – Kootenay 2
What Happened – In what turned out to be a superb hockey game, the Ice shrugged off a sub-par first period and played a firewagon style, high-risk, high-reward style of hockey. For awhile it paid off but in the end, it cost them and then the Luke Siemens show took over.
The Turning Point – After dominating for most of the second period and a good start to the third, a turnover on the half-wall cost them the eventually game-winner that went off Wand and past Lieuwen. For keeping them in the game for the first period, the 20-year-old deserved a better fate.
The Goals – For about a four minute stretch in the first the Ice couldn’t escape their zone with a clean breakout and it eventually cost them when some nice work down low by Tanner Eberle got the puck out to Kenton Miller streaking across the slot. He out waited Lieuwen and deposited his 14th to make it 1-0 Warriors… Whatever Coach K said in the first intermission he should bottle and sell because the Ice emerged with some fire. He didn’t get an assist on the play but Jesse Ismond’s hit on Warrior D Travis Brown caused a turnover that went to Eric Benoit on the fly. He stepped over the blueline and wired a beauty past Siemens to tie it at one… Just as the mess of Warrior penalties expired Sam Reinhart made the curl around the net to pick-up a missed shot – his own, from the slot – and beat Siemens short-side to make it 2-1…After carrying the play D Jeff Hubic gambled at the blueline and lost as the 2-on-1 developed the other way. F Joe Antilla, playing back on forward with the acquisition of Tanner Muth, chugged back on the backcheck but ended up taking the wrong guy as both he and Wand took the puck-carrier, leaving Tanner Eberle in alone to get the pass. He buried his 5th past Lieuwen to tie it at two… Playing with fire to start the third the Ice Eric Benoit couldn’t corral the puck along the half-wall. Eberle walked out with the puck and beat Lieuwen stick-side after it deflected off of D Spencer Wand. 3-2 Warriors.
The Save – There were two in the first period, both on 2-on-1’s. On the power play the Warriors Kenton Miller tipped a pass that Lieuwen stretched so far my groin hurt, and got a toe on, and then with about 12 minutes gone in the first another 2-on-1 developed with Fioretti the recipient of a great pass and some time. He deked and then shot but Lieuwen made a great glove save. He couldn’t bail them out forever though as the Warriors took a 1-0 lead two minutes later.
NHL Debut – Former Ice captain Ryan Russell made his NHL debut today in L.A. as Russell’s Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Kings 1-0. Russell didn’t hit the scoresheet but managed 9:18 of ice-time. Ryan joined his brother Kris in a summer trade to Columbus only to have Kris dealt to the St. Louis Blues almost two months ago.
The Penalty Mix-up – The Ice ended up with a 5-on-3 not long after tying the game when Cody Beach and Joel Edmundson took consecutive cross-checking penalties. Less than a minute later Jordan Wyton took a slashing penalty – along with Dylan McIlrath taking a misconduct for beaking the ref – but the penalty box attendants let a Warrior out too early as the third penalty wouldn’t start until the first two ended (because they were consecutive). It caused about a five minute delay for the zebras to figure out. There’ll be a test on it later. The Ice didn’t score on the PP but hit the post – three times – and scored just as the penalties expired.
The Muth-man – Obtained in a straight one-for-one deal Friday with F Adam Rossignol going the Broncos, the former second round Bantam pick in 2008 made an impact. In the second he stepped up and put a shoulder into Warrior forward Brett Lyon – a clean check – that sent to Lyon to the ice. Warrior tough guy Cody Beach chased Muth down and started a fight. Muth, giving away five inches, stepped up and earned a draw with the big 19-year-old, including switching hands, landing three quality blows and drawing a loud retort from the Ice faithful.
The Trade – The aforementioned D Tanner Muth, 18, in exchange for Forward Adam Rossignol, also 18. The Ice gain depth on the blueline – some much needed depth with D Luke Paulsen out indefinitely with a concussion – and the Broncos acquire a forward with some offensive touch that wasn’t getting the time he wanted in Cranbrook. Rossignol told the Townsman that he’d asked for not only more ice-time but ultimately a trade in December when the ice-time wasn’t coming his way. Just a side note; With all the deals between the two clubs – Jaffray, Rome headed to Swift for Duncan Milroy and B.J. Boxma in 2001-02; Negrin and Stickland for Martin and Magnus, along with D Spencer Wand and D Cole Depape as draft picks (2009); the Eakin deal last season – you’d think the Broncos wouldn’t want anything to do with trading anything to Kootenay. The only deal that burned the Ice was the original deal that saw Boxma sent to the Broncos in 2000. He beat them in the 2001 WHL Playoffs in seven games. But really, the track record isn't at all in the Broncos favour. I’d be a little jumpy seeing the Ice name on the call-display if I’m the Broncos…. So, the only question now, is he done?
The Crowd – 3053.
My Three Stars:
1. F Tanner Eberle – 2 goals, assist; hot hand on this night
2. F Sam Reinhart – goal, many, many chances
3. G Luke Siemens – Was stellar in preserving the lead
What it means – The Ice fall to 23-13-1-3 and 50 points, good for fourth-place in the Eastern Conference, two back of the Tigers who won tonight and are here tomorrow. The Oil Kings, the hottest team in the WHL, won also, extending their Central Division lead to eight points over the Ice.
Up Next: The Medicine Hat Tigers, two points clear of the Ice, are in town Sunday night.
Summary:
Warriors 3 @ Ice 2
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Kootenay Ice; January 7, 2012
Tanner Eberle's second goal of the night in the third period stood up as the game-winner as the Moose Jaw Warrior edged the Kootenay Ice 3-2 in WHL action Saturday.
The Warriors opened the scoring when Kenton Miller beat Nathan Lieuwen from a behind the net feed from Eberle. In the second the Ice jumped out to a 2-1 lead on goals by Eric Benoit, with his 9th, and Sam Reinhart with his 11th of the season before Eberle struck for the first time on a 2-on-1 at 6:58 to tie it at two.
In the third Eberle's wrist shot deflected off Ice defender Spencer Wand past Lieuwen for the eventual game-winner and giving the 17-year-old a three-point night.
Luke Siemens was stellar in stopping 35 of 37 shots to get the win while Lieuwen was also sharp, stopping 19 of 22 shots to take the loss.
First Period
1. Moose Jaw, Miller 14 (Eberle) 13:36
Penalties -- McKinlay Ktn (slashing) 5:46,
Second Period
2. Kootenay, Benoit 9 0:52
3. Kootenay, S. Reinhart 11 (Czerwonka, Dirk) 5:39
4. Moose Jaw, Eberle 5 (Miller, Edmundson) 6:58
Penalties -- Edmundson MJ (cross-checking) Beach MJ (cross-checking) 1:35, Wyton MJ (slashing) McIlrath MJ (misconduct) 2:16, Benoit Ktn (boarding) 9:04, Beach MJ (instigator - served by White, fighting, misconduct) Muth Ktn (fighting) 11:43, McKinlay Ktn Wyton MJ (unsportsmanlike conduct) 13:10.
Third Period
5. Moose Jaw, Eberle 6 2:32
Penalties -- Miller MJ (tripping) 12:12, Bench Minor Ktn (too-many-men - served by Pearce) 15:12.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 7 14 16 - 37
Moose Jaw: 12 5 5 - 22
Goal -- Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (L, 17-10-1-2); Moose Jaw: Luke Siemens (W, 21-8-3-2).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-5
Moose Jaw: 0-3
Referee -- Jeff Ingram, Jason Nissen. Linesman -- Jeremi Del Campo, Ian Shaver.
Attendance -- 3053 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Luke Paulsen (concussion - indefinite), Luke Philp, Jesse Wood-Schatz, Jon Martin, Mike Simpson.
Moose Jaw: Morgan Reilly (knee - indefinite), Dallas Erhardt (flu), Tyler Vanscourt (flu), Wheaton King (flu), Brett Brooks, Eric Arnold.
What Happened – In what turned out to be a superb hockey game, the Ice shrugged off a sub-par first period and played a firewagon style, high-risk, high-reward style of hockey. For awhile it paid off but in the end, it cost them and then the Luke Siemens show took over.
The Turning Point – After dominating for most of the second period and a good start to the third, a turnover on the half-wall cost them the eventually game-winner that went off Wand and past Lieuwen. For keeping them in the game for the first period, the 20-year-old deserved a better fate.
The Goals – For about a four minute stretch in the first the Ice couldn’t escape their zone with a clean breakout and it eventually cost them when some nice work down low by Tanner Eberle got the puck out to Kenton Miller streaking across the slot. He out waited Lieuwen and deposited his 14th to make it 1-0 Warriors… Whatever Coach K said in the first intermission he should bottle and sell because the Ice emerged with some fire. He didn’t get an assist on the play but Jesse Ismond’s hit on Warrior D Travis Brown caused a turnover that went to Eric Benoit on the fly. He stepped over the blueline and wired a beauty past Siemens to tie it at one… Just as the mess of Warrior penalties expired Sam Reinhart made the curl around the net to pick-up a missed shot – his own, from the slot – and beat Siemens short-side to make it 2-1…After carrying the play D Jeff Hubic gambled at the blueline and lost as the 2-on-1 developed the other way. F Joe Antilla, playing back on forward with the acquisition of Tanner Muth, chugged back on the backcheck but ended up taking the wrong guy as both he and Wand took the puck-carrier, leaving Tanner Eberle in alone to get the pass. He buried his 5th past Lieuwen to tie it at two… Playing with fire to start the third the Ice Eric Benoit couldn’t corral the puck along the half-wall. Eberle walked out with the puck and beat Lieuwen stick-side after it deflected off of D Spencer Wand. 3-2 Warriors.
The Save – There were two in the first period, both on 2-on-1’s. On the power play the Warriors Kenton Miller tipped a pass that Lieuwen stretched so far my groin hurt, and got a toe on, and then with about 12 minutes gone in the first another 2-on-1 developed with Fioretti the recipient of a great pass and some time. He deked and then shot but Lieuwen made a great glove save. He couldn’t bail them out forever though as the Warriors took a 1-0 lead two minutes later.
NHL Debut – Former Ice captain Ryan Russell made his NHL debut today in L.A. as Russell’s Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Kings 1-0. Russell didn’t hit the scoresheet but managed 9:18 of ice-time. Ryan joined his brother Kris in a summer trade to Columbus only to have Kris dealt to the St. Louis Blues almost two months ago.
The Penalty Mix-up – The Ice ended up with a 5-on-3 not long after tying the game when Cody Beach and Joel Edmundson took consecutive cross-checking penalties. Less than a minute later Jordan Wyton took a slashing penalty – along with Dylan McIlrath taking a misconduct for beaking the ref – but the penalty box attendants let a Warrior out too early as the third penalty wouldn’t start until the first two ended (because they were consecutive). It caused about a five minute delay for the zebras to figure out. There’ll be a test on it later. The Ice didn’t score on the PP but hit the post – three times – and scored just as the penalties expired.
The Muth-man – Obtained in a straight one-for-one deal Friday with F Adam Rossignol going the Broncos, the former second round Bantam pick in 2008 made an impact. In the second he stepped up and put a shoulder into Warrior forward Brett Lyon – a clean check – that sent to Lyon to the ice. Warrior tough guy Cody Beach chased Muth down and started a fight. Muth, giving away five inches, stepped up and earned a draw with the big 19-year-old, including switching hands, landing three quality blows and drawing a loud retort from the Ice faithful.
The Trade – The aforementioned D Tanner Muth, 18, in exchange for Forward Adam Rossignol, also 18. The Ice gain depth on the blueline – some much needed depth with D Luke Paulsen out indefinitely with a concussion – and the Broncos acquire a forward with some offensive touch that wasn’t getting the time he wanted in Cranbrook. Rossignol told the Townsman that he’d asked for not only more ice-time but ultimately a trade in December when the ice-time wasn’t coming his way. Just a side note; With all the deals between the two clubs – Jaffray, Rome headed to Swift for Duncan Milroy and B.J. Boxma in 2001-02; Negrin and Stickland for Martin and Magnus, along with D Spencer Wand and D Cole Depape as draft picks (2009); the Eakin deal last season – you’d think the Broncos wouldn’t want anything to do with trading anything to Kootenay. The only deal that burned the Ice was the original deal that saw Boxma sent to the Broncos in 2000. He beat them in the 2001 WHL Playoffs in seven games. But really, the track record isn't at all in the Broncos favour. I’d be a little jumpy seeing the Ice name on the call-display if I’m the Broncos…. So, the only question now, is he done?
The Crowd – 3053.
My Three Stars:
1. F Tanner Eberle – 2 goals, assist; hot hand on this night
2. F Sam Reinhart – goal, many, many chances
3. G Luke Siemens – Was stellar in preserving the lead
What it means – The Ice fall to 23-13-1-3 and 50 points, good for fourth-place in the Eastern Conference, two back of the Tigers who won tonight and are here tomorrow. The Oil Kings, the hottest team in the WHL, won also, extending their Central Division lead to eight points over the Ice.
Up Next: The Medicine Hat Tigers, two points clear of the Ice, are in town Sunday night.
Summary:
Warriors 3 @ Ice 2
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Kootenay Ice; January 7, 2012
Tanner Eberle's second goal of the night in the third period stood up as the game-winner as the Moose Jaw Warrior edged the Kootenay Ice 3-2 in WHL action Saturday.
The Warriors opened the scoring when Kenton Miller beat Nathan Lieuwen from a behind the net feed from Eberle. In the second the Ice jumped out to a 2-1 lead on goals by Eric Benoit, with his 9th, and Sam Reinhart with his 11th of the season before Eberle struck for the first time on a 2-on-1 at 6:58 to tie it at two.
In the third Eberle's wrist shot deflected off Ice defender Spencer Wand past Lieuwen for the eventual game-winner and giving the 17-year-old a three-point night.
Luke Siemens was stellar in stopping 35 of 37 shots to get the win while Lieuwen was also sharp, stopping 19 of 22 shots to take the loss.
First Period
1. Moose Jaw, Miller 14 (Eberle) 13:36
Penalties -- McKinlay Ktn (slashing) 5:46,
Second Period
2. Kootenay, Benoit 9 0:52
3. Kootenay, S. Reinhart 11 (Czerwonka, Dirk) 5:39
4. Moose Jaw, Eberle 5 (Miller, Edmundson) 6:58
Penalties -- Edmundson MJ (cross-checking) Beach MJ (cross-checking) 1:35, Wyton MJ (slashing) McIlrath MJ (misconduct) 2:16, Benoit Ktn (boarding) 9:04, Beach MJ (instigator - served by White, fighting, misconduct) Muth Ktn (fighting) 11:43, McKinlay Ktn Wyton MJ (unsportsmanlike conduct) 13:10.
Third Period
5. Moose Jaw, Eberle 6 2:32
Penalties -- Miller MJ (tripping) 12:12, Bench Minor Ktn (too-many-men - served by Pearce) 15:12.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 7 14 16 - 37
Moose Jaw: 12 5 5 - 22
Goal -- Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (L, 17-10-1-2); Moose Jaw: Luke Siemens (W, 21-8-3-2).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-5
Moose Jaw: 0-3
Referee -- Jeff Ingram, Jason Nissen. Linesman -- Jeremi Del Campo, Ian Shaver.
Attendance -- 3053 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Luke Paulsen (concussion - indefinite), Luke Philp, Jesse Wood-Schatz, Jon Martin, Mike Simpson.
Moose Jaw: Morgan Reilly (knee - indefinite), Dallas Erhardt (flu), Tyler Vanscourt (flu), Wheaton King (flu), Brett Brooks, Eric Arnold.
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