The Score - Lethbridge @ Kootenay

Ice roll over Hurricanes


The Score - Ice 5 - Hurricanes 2

What Happened - The 'Canes fell behind the eight-ball early and never recovered. Besides some second and third period bursts in which the 'Canes controlled the play in the Ice end, they were never really in this one.

The Rosters - 'A New Year's Eve Midget Game' was one tidbit heard in the crowd last night. He wasn't far off the mark as both club's couldn't ice a full 20-man roster due to players away at the World Juniors, Under-17 Challenge, suspensions and injuries.

The Boomer - 17-year-old forward Steele Boomer continues to take advantage of his opportunity with key players still out getting two goals and was the best player on the ice.

The Captain - Missing on his second game of the season due to a knee injury suffered Saturday night in Spokane. At first it was thought Da Silva would miss a month but upon further examination by the team's surgeon Dr. Chan the club's leading scorer is day-to-day. Both Da Silva and his coach said that if the game was a playoff game, he would've played. He's expected to return to the line-up Friday. As for the club's other sniper, Ben Maxwell, he's scheduled to start reps on the bike Wednesday. If all goes well they expect him back in four weeks.

The World Juniors - Kootenay's only participant, RW Arnaud Jacquemet has played well for a disapointing showing for the Swiss, who at 0-4 throught the preliminary round, will try to avoid relegation to the B-pool. Jacquemet has two goals and an assist in four games.

The U-17 Challenge - Brayden McNabb's Team Western dropped a 7-4 game to the powerful U.S. U-17 squad December 31 after holding a 4-1 lead late in the second period. Team Western is fifth in the standings while Team Pacific - with Ice list players G Nathan Lieuwen and forward Clayton Jardine - is sixth in the standings with still two games to play.

The Schedule - It doesn't get any easier with a date with the Hitmen at the Saddledome Friday night and Moose Jaw here Saturday but the Ice managed to get through a tough stretch of the Hurricanes three times and the Chiefs twice, getting four out of five wins.

The Crowd - Festive, ringing in 2008 at 3232.

Rec Plex Three Stars
1. Steele Boomer - Two goals and a threat all night.
2. Michael Stickland - Continues scoring streak (5g, 3a -8pts) now at six games.
3. Paul Kurceba - Solid on the blueline.

Kootenay improves to 23-13-3; good for 49 points. They remain one point back of the Hurricanes (24-14-1-1; 50 pts) and four back of the Calgary Hitmen.

Up Next: The club travels to Calgary Friday night while Moose Jaw visits the Rec Plex Saturday night.

Game Summary:

Hurricanes 2 @ Ice 5

CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Kootenay Ice; December 31, 2007.
Steele Boomer scored two goals to lead the Kootenay Ice to a 5-2 win in WHL action New Year's Eve. Kootenay jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Michael Stickland, with his 12th, and Dustin Sylvester with his 18th. Boomer pushed the lead to three when he buried his 6th of the season at 6:57 of the second. The Hurricanes got back into the game when Dwight King batted his 17th a minute later. Boomer restored the three-goal lead at 14:45 with his 7th. Andrew Bailey added another late in the second period to give the Ice a 5-1 lead. The Hurricanes got one back in the third period with Colton Sceviour's 16th on the season but wouldn't get any closer.
Kris Lazaruk stopped 22 of 24 shots to get the win while Mike Maniago saw 33 shots, stopping 28.

First Period
1. Kootenay, Stickland 12 (Greenan, Bailey) 6:15 (pp)
2. Kootenay, Sylvester 18 (Stickland, Kurceba) 7:59

Penalties -- Wright Leth King Ktn (roughing) 5:18, Versteeg Leth (roughing) 5:33, Stickland Ktn (slashing) 13:18, Kurceba Ktn (hooking) 19:47.

Second Period
3. Kootenay, Boomer 6 (Foucault, Fraser) 6:57
4. Lethbridge, King 17 (Bancks, Hotson) 7:57
5. Kootenay, Boomer 7 (Stephens, Barteaux) 14:45
6. Kootenay, Bailey 17 18:34

Penalties -- Greenan Ktn (roughing) 3:53, Alexiuk Leth (interference) 10:18, Wiens Leth (holding) 12:41, Ryzuk Ktn (elbowing) 16:25.


Third Period
7. Lethbridge, Sceviour 16 (Craige, King) 15:22 (pp)

Penalties -- Sceviour Leth (hooking) 4:35, Bailey Ktn (roughing) 14:32, Wuchterl Leth (misconduct) Gionfriddo Ktn (holding, misconduct) 17:16.


Shots on goal by
Lethbridge: 7 9 8 - 24
Kootenay: 15 12 6 - 33

Goal -- Lethbridge: Michael Maniago (L, 15-9-1-1). Kootenay: Kris Lazaruk (W, 15-9-1).

Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Lethbridge: 1-6
Kootenay: 1-4


Referee -- Jon Stephenson, Ryan Thompson. Linesman -- Jim Lennox, Jim Maniago.

Attendance -- 3232 (4264)

Scratches --
Kootenay: Brayden McNabb (Team Western - World U-17 Challenge), Arnaud Jacquemet (World Juniors - Team Switzerland), Ben Maxwell (thigh - indefinite), Steve Da Silva (knee - day-to-day).
Lethbridge: Luca Sbisa (World Juniors - Team Switzerland), Zack Boychuk (World Juniors - Team Canada), Carter Ashton (Team Pacific - World U-17 Challenge), Adam Chorneyko (two game league suspension), Brennan Yadlowski (Team Pacific - World U-17 Challenge), Juha Metsola (Groin - day-to-day).