The Kootenay Ice won their seventh straight game the hard way with a 5-4 over the Brandon Wheat Kings in a shoot-out Friday night.
The Wheaties went up 3-0 in the first period when rookie Brett Teskey surrendered three goals on six shots by Brenden Walker, Brody Melnychuk and Mark Stone. Kootenay outshot the Wheat Kings 12-6 in the first.
Coach Knoblauch resisted the temptation to pull the rookie and held his defensively lacking squad responsible to redeem themselves in the second and they answered the call, pouring 21 shots on Wheat King goaltender Liam Liston and pulling within one on goals by Brayden McNabb, with his first of the season, and Joe Leach with his third.
In the third Kootenay kept the pressure on and took a 4-3 lead on markers by Christian Magnus and Drew Czerwonka. The Wheat Kings tied it on a goal by Hampus Gustafsson to send to OT and a shootout where the Ice scored all three of their goals to win it.
Czerwonka, Leach and Magnus all finished the game with a goal and an assist with Magnus, who had at least three glorious chances Friday night, a point off his season total last season at four goals and five assists.
The club resembles something of a MASH unit after D James Martin underwent surgery on his nose to fix up some loose cartilage and didn't dress. He's day-to-day. D John Neibrandt went down in the second after a spirited scrap with Mike Ferland and taking a good shot to the eye that closed it, forcing him out of the game. D Hayden Rintoul is week-to-week with a bruised collarbone while forward Brendan Hurley is still out another five weeks with a hand injury. Forward Joe Antilla drew the short stick and saw about six shifts of duty on the blueline the rest of the game. Knoblauch mentioned that the club would likely call up one of D Mike Simpson, 16, D Jeff Hubic, 16, or 15-year-old Tanner Faith, if possible.
Lots of buzz in the building with 2478 coming out. Thought the crowd might be bigger given the streak. Kootenay improves to 11-3-0-1, good for 23 points, first in the Eastern Conference and tied for first overall in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks.
Chilliwack is here Tuesday.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Ice win six
UPDATE LINKS: The one thing the WHL did by upgrading their website is providing prompt highlites. It's the one plus in a sea other sectors of the website that get the minus. The highlites are here. Matt Coxford of the Townsman has a gamer here.
Kootenay continued their early season success over the Calgary Hitmen as Nathan Lieuwen shut the Hitmen out 3-0 for the club's sixth straight win Wednesday night in Cowtown.
Max Reinhart (7), Jesse Ismond (5) and Matt Fraser (6) scored the goals while Lieuwen made 22 saves. Kootenay improves to 10-3-0-1, good for 21 points and first place in the Eastern Conference and tied with Tri-City and Portland for top spot overall.
D Brayden McNabb returned after missing eight games with a shoulder injury and made his presence felt with a wicked open ice hit in the first period on former Ice forward Kris Foucault, who left the game and did not return.
D Hayden Rintoul (collarbone - indefinite) and F Brendan Hurley (hand - 4-6 weeks) were scratched.
The WHL's website has the highlites for the Ice win over Medicine Hat Tuesday night here.
Kootenay returns home to the Rec Plex Friday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Kootenay continued their early season success over the Calgary Hitmen as Nathan Lieuwen shut the Hitmen out 3-0 for the club's sixth straight win Wednesday night in Cowtown.
Max Reinhart (7), Jesse Ismond (5) and Matt Fraser (6) scored the goals while Lieuwen made 22 saves. Kootenay improves to 10-3-0-1, good for 21 points and first place in the Eastern Conference and tied with Tri-City and Portland for top spot overall.
D Brayden McNabb returned after missing eight games with a shoulder injury and made his presence felt with a wicked open ice hit in the first period on former Ice forward Kris Foucault, who left the game and did not return.
D Hayden Rintoul (collarbone - indefinite) and F Brendan Hurley (hand - 4-6 weeks) were scratched.
The WHL's website has the highlites for the Ice win over Medicine Hat Tuesday night here.
Kootenay returns home to the Rec Plex Friday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Reinhart debut a beauty
14-year-old Sam Reinhart, who won't turn 15 until November 6, scored his first WHL goal in his first WHL on a two-on-one against his 16-year-old brother Griffen from the Oil Kings.
Matt Coxford has the Townsman piece here.
The game was played in front of the smallest crowd ever to witness a regular season game at the Rec Plex at 2189.
Wasn't a bad game as the Oil Kings, who were picked by many to be worse than they were last season, took it to the Ice in the middle frame. Only some goaltending heroics by Nathan Lieuwen kept the game tied until Reinhart notched the game-winner.
Matt Coxford has the Townsman piece here.
The game was played in front of the smallest crowd ever to witness a regular season game at the Rec Plex at 2189.
Wasn't a bad game as the Oil Kings, who were picked by many to be worse than they were last season, took it to the Ice in the middle frame. Only some goaltending heroics by Nathan Lieuwen kept the game tied until Reinhart notched the game-winner.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Reinhart Trio here Tuesday...
UPDATE: G Todd Mathews is headed to the Omaha Lancers of the USHL.... The Ice announced yesterday that both Ryan Bloom and Jared Zentner have been reassigned. They're likely to go either to Alberta Midget in Calgary and Red Deer, respectively or Alberta Junior A.
As per Jeff Hollick's Blog - the link is over there, on the right - 15-year-old Sam Reinhart will be called up from the BC Major Midget League's Vancouver NorthWest Giants to play in his first ever WHL game.
Sam Reinhart will be playing with his oldest brother Max and against his other brother Griffin against the Edmonton Oil Kings Tuesday at the Plex. The youngest Reinhart is tied for fourth in BC MML scoring with 10 points (6g, 4a) in six games in the BC Major Midget league.
Still no word on which two forwards Kootenay has decided to keep (two of Rossignol, Bloom, Zentner and Benoit). I expect the decision to come down later this afternoon.
As per Jeff Hollick's Blog - the link is over there, on the right - 15-year-old Sam Reinhart will be called up from the BC Major Midget League's Vancouver NorthWest Giants to play in his first ever WHL game.
Sam Reinhart will be playing with his oldest brother Max and against his other brother Griffin against the Edmonton Oil Kings Tuesday at the Plex. The youngest Reinhart is tied for fourth in BC MML scoring with 10 points (6g, 4a) in six games in the BC Major Midget league.
Still no word on which two forwards Kootenay has decided to keep (two of Rossignol, Bloom, Zentner and Benoit). I expect the decision to come down later this afternoon.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Ice over Pats
The Kootenay Ice used their newly found power play prowess, scoring three goals on five opportunities to beat the Regina Pats 7-4 at the Rec Plex Saturday
The Ice also gave up two goals on the PK and three straight goals in the second period to go down 4-3 before Kootenay tied it late in the frame on a goal by Matt Fraser and then Steele Boomer scored an early power play goal in the third for the eventual game-winner.
Kevin King, Joe Antilla, James Martin, Jesse Ismond and Christian Magnus got the other markers.
Kootenay is now 5-3-0-1 on the season, good for 11 points and tied for second in the Central and fourth the Eastern Conference.
Brayden McNabb missed his fourth game with a shoulder injury. Ice head coach Kris Knoblauch said that McNabb probably could play Tuesday if they needed him but they will err on the side of caution and wait until Friday when they host Red Deer.
Jared Zentner, Ryan Bloom and Elgin Pearce were the other scratches, all healthy. The latter of which it seems the coach is clearly trying to send a message.
Knoblauch also mentioned that the club will get down to the 22-man roster and make their final decision on which two of the four forwards - Ryan Bloom, Jared Zentner, Erik Benoit and Adam Rossignol, all 17 - the team will keep. The latter two of which are my picks, if anyone's asking.
I'm told that G Todd Mathews has garnered some interest from his old Junior A club in Saskatchewan, Notre Dame, as well as many USHL calls but also the Barrie Colts of the OHL are also keenly interested.
Griffen Reinhart and the Edmonton Oil Kings are here Tuesday.
The Blog is going to be kind of quiet for the next week as I'm off to Pittsburgh for work commitments. If anything earth-shattering happens I'll post from afar.
The Ice also gave up two goals on the PK and three straight goals in the second period to go down 4-3 before Kootenay tied it late in the frame on a goal by Matt Fraser and then Steele Boomer scored an early power play goal in the third for the eventual game-winner.
Kevin King, Joe Antilla, James Martin, Jesse Ismond and Christian Magnus got the other markers.
Kootenay is now 5-3-0-1 on the season, good for 11 points and tied for second in the Central and fourth the Eastern Conference.
Brayden McNabb missed his fourth game with a shoulder injury. Ice head coach Kris Knoblauch said that McNabb probably could play Tuesday if they needed him but they will err on the side of caution and wait until Friday when they host Red Deer.
Jared Zentner, Ryan Bloom and Elgin Pearce were the other scratches, all healthy. The latter of which it seems the coach is clearly trying to send a message.
Knoblauch also mentioned that the club will get down to the 22-man roster and make their final decision on which two of the four forwards - Ryan Bloom, Jared Zentner, Erik Benoit and Adam Rossignol, all 17 - the team will keep. The latter two of which are my picks, if anyone's asking.
I'm told that G Todd Mathews has garnered some interest from his old Junior A club in Saskatchewan, Notre Dame, as well as many USHL calls but also the Barrie Colts of the OHL are also keenly interested.
Griffen Reinhart and the Edmonton Oil Kings are here Tuesday.
The Blog is going to be kind of quiet for the next week as I'm off to Pittsburgh for work commitments. If anything earth-shattering happens I'll post from afar.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Mathews released
Kootenay did the expected today when the club announced that they have released G Todd Mathews. Mathews was waived throughout the league but as of now there were no takers. There is no word on where he'll end up.
Had heard some scuttlebutt around the league about interest in Boomer and to a lesser extent, or earlier in the year, King but it became obvious that the club was going to sorely need their offensive contribution.
Brayden McNabb will wear the C this season with Fraser, King and Boomer the assistants.
Had heard some scuttlebutt around the league about interest in Boomer and to a lesser extent, or earlier in the year, King but it became obvious that the club was going to sorely need their offensive contribution.
Brayden McNabb will wear the C this season with Fraser, King and Boomer the assistants.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
More Cow Bell....
That, was fun.
For the first time in a lot of years I enjoyed the game from a fan's perspective at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge last night in a 6-3 Kootenay win.
It was Cow Bell night and all fans received a cow bell from Best Buy. To coin a frase from an old Will Farrell/Christopher Walken SNL skit, the Canes could've used more cowbell.
The Canes, who were without leading scorer Austen Fyten who broke his foot the night prior against the Cougars, scored the first goal but gave up the next six as Drew Czerwonka got two goals and James Martin, Max Reinhart, Christian Magnus and Jesse Ismond got singles in the 6-3 rout.
The game was the first of the season that saw all of the club's eligible veterans play, save for 20-year-old goaltender Todd Mathews who was the fourth 20. D Jagger Dirk and Forwards Ryan Bloom, Jared Zentner and Erik Benoit were healthy scratches.
For the first time in a lot of years I enjoyed the game from a fan's perspective at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge last night in a 6-3 Kootenay win.
It was Cow Bell night and all fans received a cow bell from Best Buy. To coin a frase from an old Will Farrell/Christopher Walken SNL skit, the Canes could've used more cowbell.
The Canes, who were without leading scorer Austen Fyten who broke his foot the night prior against the Cougars, scored the first goal but gave up the next six as Drew Czerwonka got two goals and James Martin, Max Reinhart, Christian Magnus and Jesse Ismond got singles in the 6-3 rout.
The game was the first of the season that saw all of the club's eligible veterans play, save for 20-year-old goaltender Todd Mathews who was the fourth 20. D Jagger Dirk and Forwards Ryan Bloom, Jared Zentner and Erik Benoit were healthy scratches.
- Nathan Lieuwen was solid in the nets, making a couple of spectacular glove saves when it was close and when it was 6-1.
- The club's top line of King, Fraser and Reinhart was dominant every shift all night.
- James Martin is the club's early d-man of the year. Offensively the Winnipegger has the hot hand.
- Brayden McNabb left the game in the second on a hit against the boards that looked like a shoulder problem. He is day-to-day with an upper body injury? Cripes, it's only October and we're into upper and lower body injuries?
- Enmax centre wasn't as jumpin as the night before when there were 4900 there. Saturday's game drew just over 2900. Big swing.
- With the 20-year-old deadline fast approaching I just can't see Mathews not being the odd-man out. And with today's waiving of PG goaltender Morgan Clark the market isn't exactly hopping for 20-year-old puck-stoppers. It's really too bad as another quality player and quality kid - who always had time to stop by the Peewee practice to help out - is going to be on the outside looking in because of what's becoming an archaic rule. There was a regular reader who posted here and on GD's blog a while back on a good idea with 20's. Please feel free to post it again.
On another note, still haven't heard what the punishment will be for Ams leading scorer Brendan Shinnimin on Blades D Josh Nicholls last week. Here's the crime. I sincerely hope the WHL doesn't let up because Shinnimin is a top player. Hits that dangerous must be stopped at all costs. 15-20 games should do it.
Ice are in Swift for a Thanksgiving Matinee tommorrow at 2:30PM
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Ice lose to Cougars at home....
For the first time in about seven years the Prince George Cougars got a win at the Rec Plex with a 6-3 victory over the Ice. Then again, I think they've only played there five or six times in that span and haven't been there in the last two seasons.
I was on-shift and missed the game but Matt at the Daily Townsman has a recap here.
The crowd was the smallest ever to witness a game at the Rec Plex at 2281.
Kootenay now heads out on the road starting Saturday in Lethbridge for a four game set through the Prairies. I'm at the game in Lethbridge due to the Peewee's playing there so I'll have some thoughts following the game.
I was on-shift and missed the game but Matt at the Daily Townsman has a recap here.
The crowd was the smallest ever to witness a game at the Rec Plex at 2281.
Kootenay now heads out on the road starting Saturday in Lethbridge for a four game set through the Prairies. I'm at the game in Lethbridge due to the Peewee's playing there so I'll have some thoughts following the game.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ice-Chiefs gamer....
For the Daily Townsman Monday...
Kootenay finds scoring touch; doubles Chiefs
by Jeff Bromley
Headed into the 2010-11 season the defensively loaded Kootenay Ice heard the early critiques; scoring could be a concern. Friday night against the Spokane Chiefs the Ice answered those critics with a 6-3 doubling of the visitors. Forward Kevin King, 20, scored two goals including a short-handed marker that tied the game less than a minute into the second period, and added an assist to lead the Ice to their second win of the season. “We didn’t want to get into a game of river hockey,” said King, who sat out Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to Red Deer as the extra 20-year-old. “But it’s early in the season and we’re still working on things but it’ll come around. Guys are stepping and putting up numbers where maybe they weren’t expected to but there are a lot of guys on this team that can put the puck in the net.”
The run-and-gun Chiefs opened the scoring Friday 1:39 into the game when Mitch Holmberg was the beneficiary of an Elgin Pearce pass straight up the middle in the defensive zone in which Holmberg was grateful and returned the favour by dekeing Todd Mathews to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. The Chiefs almost made it 2-0 when Mathews did the same thing, this time sending a clearing attempt up the boards that Chief Captain Tyler Johnson intercepted and sent to the net, only a desperation pad save by Mathews kept the deficit at one. The home side got on the board just over a minute later when James Martin’s point-shot came off the end boards to where Max Reinhart was parked. The 18-year-old then banked his third of the season off Chief goaltender James Reid’s leg to tie the game at one. The ice-cold Kootenay power play, with quarterback Brayden McNabb back from the NHL at the point almost managed to break the goose-egg of 0-15 through the club’s first three games but when Martin’s point-shot finally found the back of the net to make it 2-1 at the 10:50 mark, Steve Kuhn had already left the box. Kootenay would get themselves into penalty trouble after that and it cost them when Kuhn returned the favour three minutes later with King off for cross-checking by burying his first of the season past Mathews to tie it. The Chiefs took a 3-2 lead, this time with D Hayden Rintoul in the bin, on a wicked Tyler Johnson slapshot that sent the visitors into the break with the lead and first-year head coach Kris Knoblauch into the break in a foul mood over his club’s penchant for penalties. “I can’t repeat that,” said the normally reserved Knoblauch on what he said to his troops during the break. “They seemed to get the message. After that the shots were blocked, we stayed out of the box and limited our turnovers.”
It was Max Reinhart, while killing another penalty to start the second, who streaked into the Chief zone one-on-one, and waited until he found King in the slot who potted his second of the season to tie the game and turn the tide. The Ice seemed to find their legs after the goal and revved up the firewagon hockey for the rest of the night. Brock Montgomery stuffed his first of the season past Reid, this time off a Chief turnover at 12:11 to give the home side a 4-2 lead after two periods. In the third Matt Fraser scored on a 120-foot breakaway feed from Pearce to make it 5-2 at the 1:40-mark. Six minutes later King notched his second of the night on a pretty three-way passing play that sealed the win for the Ice.
The back-and-forth action, with less attention to defensive detail normally served up, delighted the small gathering of 2454 at the Rec Plex. “It had a lot to do with the way Spokane played,” said Knoblauch of Kootenay’s run and gun style Friday. “I like it and it’s entertaining but what we have right now is a strong, fast team but I don’t know if I’d classify us as a skilled team. Tonight we had way too many turnovers and it cost us. Luckily it didn’t cost us the game.”
For the Chiefs the offensive display wasn’t as entertaining and they could’ve used number one d-man Jared Cowen, who was returned from the NHL’s Ottawa Senators Saturday. “We have some young players back there and we got into some tough situations,” offered Chiefs assistant coach Jon Klemm, a Cranbrook product. “Especially giving up that many breakaways. We didn’t deal with adversity really well after we gave up that short-handed goal in the second right off the hop but we’re a young club and we want to play to our strengths. We didn’t do that after that goal.”
Quick Hits – Todd Mathews stopped 24 of 27 shots for the Ice while James Reid turned aside 13 of 19… Pearce atoned for his earlier gaffe with three assists and arguably his best game in an Ice uniform... Both James Martin and Max Reinhart finished the game with a goal and an assist... The game saw the return of former Ice d-man Tyler Vanscourt, who was released at the beginning of last season, and resurfaced with the Chiefs after a season in the NAHL in the U.S. Vanscourt didn’t endear himself to any of his former teammates when he dragged his knee on Ice forward Matt Fraser late in the third. After serving the two minutes he paid for it in a late game tussle with the Ice forward… The Prince George Cougars make their first appearance at the Rec Plex in two seasons Wednesday. Gametime is 7PM
Kootenay finds scoring touch; doubles Chiefs
by Jeff Bromley
Headed into the 2010-11 season the defensively loaded Kootenay Ice heard the early critiques; scoring could be a concern. Friday night against the Spokane Chiefs the Ice answered those critics with a 6-3 doubling of the visitors. Forward Kevin King, 20, scored two goals including a short-handed marker that tied the game less than a minute into the second period, and added an assist to lead the Ice to their second win of the season. “We didn’t want to get into a game of river hockey,” said King, who sat out Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to Red Deer as the extra 20-year-old. “But it’s early in the season and we’re still working on things but it’ll come around. Guys are stepping and putting up numbers where maybe they weren’t expected to but there are a lot of guys on this team that can put the puck in the net.”
The run-and-gun Chiefs opened the scoring Friday 1:39 into the game when Mitch Holmberg was the beneficiary of an Elgin Pearce pass straight up the middle in the defensive zone in which Holmberg was grateful and returned the favour by dekeing Todd Mathews to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. The Chiefs almost made it 2-0 when Mathews did the same thing, this time sending a clearing attempt up the boards that Chief Captain Tyler Johnson intercepted and sent to the net, only a desperation pad save by Mathews kept the deficit at one. The home side got on the board just over a minute later when James Martin’s point-shot came off the end boards to where Max Reinhart was parked. The 18-year-old then banked his third of the season off Chief goaltender James Reid’s leg to tie the game at one. The ice-cold Kootenay power play, with quarterback Brayden McNabb back from the NHL at the point almost managed to break the goose-egg of 0-15 through the club’s first three games but when Martin’s point-shot finally found the back of the net to make it 2-1 at the 10:50 mark, Steve Kuhn had already left the box. Kootenay would get themselves into penalty trouble after that and it cost them when Kuhn returned the favour three minutes later with King off for cross-checking by burying his first of the season past Mathews to tie it. The Chiefs took a 3-2 lead, this time with D Hayden Rintoul in the bin, on a wicked Tyler Johnson slapshot that sent the visitors into the break with the lead and first-year head coach Kris Knoblauch into the break in a foul mood over his club’s penchant for penalties. “I can’t repeat that,” said the normally reserved Knoblauch on what he said to his troops during the break. “They seemed to get the message. After that the shots were blocked, we stayed out of the box and limited our turnovers.”
It was Max Reinhart, while killing another penalty to start the second, who streaked into the Chief zone one-on-one, and waited until he found King in the slot who potted his second of the season to tie the game and turn the tide. The Ice seemed to find their legs after the goal and revved up the firewagon hockey for the rest of the night. Brock Montgomery stuffed his first of the season past Reid, this time off a Chief turnover at 12:11 to give the home side a 4-2 lead after two periods. In the third Matt Fraser scored on a 120-foot breakaway feed from Pearce to make it 5-2 at the 1:40-mark. Six minutes later King notched his second of the night on a pretty three-way passing play that sealed the win for the Ice.
The back-and-forth action, with less attention to defensive detail normally served up, delighted the small gathering of 2454 at the Rec Plex. “It had a lot to do with the way Spokane played,” said Knoblauch of Kootenay’s run and gun style Friday. “I like it and it’s entertaining but what we have right now is a strong, fast team but I don’t know if I’d classify us as a skilled team. Tonight we had way too many turnovers and it cost us. Luckily it didn’t cost us the game.”
For the Chiefs the offensive display wasn’t as entertaining and they could’ve used number one d-man Jared Cowen, who was returned from the NHL’s Ottawa Senators Saturday. “We have some young players back there and we got into some tough situations,” offered Chiefs assistant coach Jon Klemm, a Cranbrook product. “Especially giving up that many breakaways. We didn’t deal with adversity really well after we gave up that short-handed goal in the second right off the hop but we’re a young club and we want to play to our strengths. We didn’t do that after that goal.”
Quick Hits – Todd Mathews stopped 24 of 27 shots for the Ice while James Reid turned aside 13 of 19… Pearce atoned for his earlier gaffe with three assists and arguably his best game in an Ice uniform... Both James Martin and Max Reinhart finished the game with a goal and an assist... The game saw the return of former Ice d-man Tyler Vanscourt, who was released at the beginning of last season, and resurfaced with the Chiefs after a season in the NAHL in the U.S. Vanscourt didn’t endear himself to any of his former teammates when he dragged his knee on Ice forward Matt Fraser late in the third. After serving the two minutes he paid for it in a late game tussle with the Ice forward… The Prince George Cougars make their first appearance at the Rec Plex in two seasons Wednesday. Gametime is 7PM
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Score: Ice - Chiefs
The Score – Spokane 3 – Kootenay 6
What Happened – Firewagon hockey - defence be dammed, these two clubs played as entertaining hockey as you’ll see. Not always pretty but sure fun to watch.
The Goals – The visitors opened the scoring on a Kootenay gaffe when forward Elgin Pearce sent a beautiful pass up the middle, right to Chief forward Mitch Holmberg who deked Mathews to make it 1-0… The Chiefs almost made it 2-0 when Mathews’ clearing attempt went right to Tyler Johnson. Only a desperation pad save kept the score 1-0… Kootenay would tie it when James Martin’s point shot went off the side of the net, right to a waiting Max Reinhart. He banked his third of the season from behind the net past Chief goalie James Reid… After Steve Kuhn got the nod for hooking, Kootenay’s power play with McNabb back in the lineup looked that much better but it was James Martin, just as the man-advantage expired who wired a wrist shot past a screened Reid to give the home side a 2-1 lead… Kuhn tied three minutes later with Kevin King off for cross-checking with a great shot that hit the top corner over Mathews who had little chance… The Chiefs then took the lead, this time with Hayden Rintoul in the box, on a wicked slapshot by Chief captain Tyler Johnson that beat Mathews over his left shoulder… In the second the Ice got a short-handed goal when Max Reinhart streaked into the Chief zone one-on-one and found a trailing Kevin King who got his second of the year to tie the game at three… On a night of giveaways this time it was the Chiefs who turned it over, Corbin Baldwin to be exact, right to Brock Montgomery, who fed Elgin Pearce, who deked and then while falling gave it back to Montgomery for the easy tap-in…. The Hail Mary worked early in the third when Pearce found Matt Fraser for a 120-foot breakaway. He deked Reid to give the Ice a 5-3 lead… A pretty three-way passing play finished off the scoring for the Ice when King fired his second of the night past Reid.
The Entry Song – Could’ve sworn it was the Chiefs entry song I heard when the Ice and Chiefs took to the ice this evening. You know, the one that’s played in uh…. Spokane? And Kansas City. And Atlanta (Braves). Sorry, didn't get the inference.
Familiar Faces – Besides Chiefs assistant coach Jim Hiller, a Cranbrook product, D Tyler Vanscourt, 18, started on the Chiefs blueline. Vanscourt was an Ice 16-year-old rookie two years ago before being released. D Tanner Mort was also a camp invite two seasons ago. Late in the third Vanscourt, who was fingered for kneeing that nearly touched off a line-brawl, stepped out of the penalty box only to have Matt Fraser to answer for it.
The Fight – After asking Matt Marantz to go earlier, and getting the unsportsmanlike penalty after Marantz declined for his troubles, TC Cratsenberg obliged Brock Montgomery in a spirited battle that had both combatants landing a few blows. Montgomery got the last shot and the win when he switched to a southpaw and tagged Cratsenberg in the nose.
Hide-a-puck – Killing a penalty – when weren’t they on this night? – James Martin rimmed a clearing pass around the glass only to have the puck careen off the divider and onto the back of referee Derek Zalaski’s neck, and stay there. Might’ve hit him in the head, in the third Zalaski missed a clear high-stick on Elgin Pearce by Anthony Bardaro and instead gave the Ice bench a too-many-men minor. So much so that Bardaro headed to the penalty box only to be just as surprised when he wasn't getting the gate.
The Hit – Ice rookie forward Erik Benoit, on only his second shift of the night, made the most of it with a solid check on Chief import Marek Kalus, sending him to the ice and then standing over him for a second, likely not extending a warm welcome to the WHL.
The Save – Not long after the fourth Ice goal, on a two-on-nothing – yes two – Reinhart fed Matt Fraser for the easy goal only to have Reid come up with the miraculous glove save.
The Crowd – 2454 – Nine goals, two fights - the small gathering was treated to an entertaining hockey game. Who knows, maybe it's the HST.
The Skinny – Kootenay improves to 2-1 while the Chiefs fall to 0-2. The Ice are off now until Wednesday when they host the Prince George Cougars.
Rec Plex Three Stars
1. Kevin King – Two goals, assist; a force too good to keep out of the lineup as a 20
2. Elgin Pearce – Three helpers; made up for giveaway on the Chiefs first goal
3. James Martin – Offensive spark from the blueline.
Chiefs 3 @ Ice 6
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Spokane Chiefs and the Kootenay Ice; October 1, 2010
Kevin King had two goals and added an assist as the Kootenay Ice doubled the Spokane Chiefs 6-3 in WHL action Friday.
Spokane took a 3-2 first period lead on goals by Mitch Holmberg, Steve Kuhn and Tyler Johnson, all with their first goals of the season. Kootenay replied with markers by Max Reinhart and James Martin.
In the second Kootenay tied the game with King's first of the night, a short-handed marker, 46 seconds into the middle frame. Brock Montgomery scored the eventual game-winner at 12:11, banging home a pass by Elgin Pearce for his first of the season.
In the third the Ice got two more goals by Matt Fraser and another by Kevin King to give the Ice the 6-3 win.
Todd Mathews stopped 24 of 27 shots to get the win while James Reid turned aside 13 of 19 shots to take the loss.
Elgin Pearce chipped in with three assist while Max Reinhart scored a goal and an assist.
First Period
1. Spokane, Holmberg 1 1:39
2. Kootenay, Reinhart 3 (King, Martin) 3:02
3. Kootenay, Martin 3 (Pearce, Leach) 10:50
4. Spokane, Kuhn 1 (Uher, Miller) 13:50 (pp)
5. Spokane, Johnson 1 (Gow) 14:59 (pp)
Penalties -- Montgomery Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct) 5:43, Gow Spo (tripping) 6:16, Kuhn Spo (hooking) 8:47, Montgomery Ktn Cratsenberg Spo (fighting) 10:52, King Ktn (cross-checking) 12:57, Rintoul Ktn (checking-from-behind) 14:36, Hurley Ktn (interference) 19:36.
Second Period
6. Kootenay, King 2 (Reinhart) 0:46 (sh)
7. Kootenay, Montgomery 1 (Pearce) 12:11
Penalties -- Antilla Ktn (tripping) 3:08.
Third Period
8. Kootenay, Fraser 2 (Pearce) 1:41
9. Kootenay, King 3 (McNabb) 7:21
Penalties -- Bench Minor Ktn (too-many-men - served by Ismond) 3:18, Hurley Ktn Aviani Spo (fighting) 8:07, Vanscourt Spo (kneeing) Marantz Spo Martin Ktn (roughing) 16:25, Vanscourt Spo Fraser Ktn (misconduct) 18:31, Aviani Spo (goaltender interference) 18:39, Hurley Ktn Koper Spo (roughing) 19:10.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 8 5 6 - 19
Spokane: 13 7 7 - 27
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 1-1); Spokane: James Reid (L, 0-2).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-4
Spokane: 2-5
Referee -- Derek Zalaski. Linesman -- Sean Donnelly, Steve Cochrane.
Attendance -- 2454 (4264)
Scratches --Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (knee - day-to-day), Adam Rossignol (healthy), Jared Zentner (healthy), Steele Boomer (wrist - one week), John Niebrandt (healthy).
Spokane: Cole Hamblin, Brenden Kichton, Brady Brassart.
What Happened – Firewagon hockey - defence be dammed, these two clubs played as entertaining hockey as you’ll see. Not always pretty but sure fun to watch.
The Goals – The visitors opened the scoring on a Kootenay gaffe when forward Elgin Pearce sent a beautiful pass up the middle, right to Chief forward Mitch Holmberg who deked Mathews to make it 1-0… The Chiefs almost made it 2-0 when Mathews’ clearing attempt went right to Tyler Johnson. Only a desperation pad save kept the score 1-0… Kootenay would tie it when James Martin’s point shot went off the side of the net, right to a waiting Max Reinhart. He banked his third of the season from behind the net past Chief goalie James Reid… After Steve Kuhn got the nod for hooking, Kootenay’s power play with McNabb back in the lineup looked that much better but it was James Martin, just as the man-advantage expired who wired a wrist shot past a screened Reid to give the home side a 2-1 lead… Kuhn tied three minutes later with Kevin King off for cross-checking with a great shot that hit the top corner over Mathews who had little chance… The Chiefs then took the lead, this time with Hayden Rintoul in the box, on a wicked slapshot by Chief captain Tyler Johnson that beat Mathews over his left shoulder… In the second the Ice got a short-handed goal when Max Reinhart streaked into the Chief zone one-on-one and found a trailing Kevin King who got his second of the year to tie the game at three… On a night of giveaways this time it was the Chiefs who turned it over, Corbin Baldwin to be exact, right to Brock Montgomery, who fed Elgin Pearce, who deked and then while falling gave it back to Montgomery for the easy tap-in…. The Hail Mary worked early in the third when Pearce found Matt Fraser for a 120-foot breakaway. He deked Reid to give the Ice a 5-3 lead… A pretty three-way passing play finished off the scoring for the Ice when King fired his second of the night past Reid.
The Entry Song – Could’ve sworn it was the Chiefs entry song I heard when the Ice and Chiefs took to the ice this evening. You know, the one that’s played in uh…. Spokane? And Kansas City. And Atlanta (Braves). Sorry, didn't get the inference.
Familiar Faces – Besides Chiefs assistant coach Jim Hiller, a Cranbrook product, D Tyler Vanscourt, 18, started on the Chiefs blueline. Vanscourt was an Ice 16-year-old rookie two years ago before being released. D Tanner Mort was also a camp invite two seasons ago. Late in the third Vanscourt, who was fingered for kneeing that nearly touched off a line-brawl, stepped out of the penalty box only to have Matt Fraser to answer for it.
The Fight – After asking Matt Marantz to go earlier, and getting the unsportsmanlike penalty after Marantz declined for his troubles, TC Cratsenberg obliged Brock Montgomery in a spirited battle that had both combatants landing a few blows. Montgomery got the last shot and the win when he switched to a southpaw and tagged Cratsenberg in the nose.
Hide-a-puck – Killing a penalty – when weren’t they on this night? – James Martin rimmed a clearing pass around the glass only to have the puck careen off the divider and onto the back of referee Derek Zalaski’s neck, and stay there. Might’ve hit him in the head, in the third Zalaski missed a clear high-stick on Elgin Pearce by Anthony Bardaro and instead gave the Ice bench a too-many-men minor. So much so that Bardaro headed to the penalty box only to be just as surprised when he wasn't getting the gate.
The Hit – Ice rookie forward Erik Benoit, on only his second shift of the night, made the most of it with a solid check on Chief import Marek Kalus, sending him to the ice and then standing over him for a second, likely not extending a warm welcome to the WHL.
The Save – Not long after the fourth Ice goal, on a two-on-nothing – yes two – Reinhart fed Matt Fraser for the easy goal only to have Reid come up with the miraculous glove save.
The Crowd – 2454 – Nine goals, two fights - the small gathering was treated to an entertaining hockey game. Who knows, maybe it's the HST.
The Skinny – Kootenay improves to 2-1 while the Chiefs fall to 0-2. The Ice are off now until Wednesday when they host the Prince George Cougars.
Rec Plex Three Stars
1. Kevin King – Two goals, assist; a force too good to keep out of the lineup as a 20
2. Elgin Pearce – Three helpers; made up for giveaway on the Chiefs first goal
3. James Martin – Offensive spark from the blueline.
Chiefs 3 @ Ice 6
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for regular season game between the Spokane Chiefs and the Kootenay Ice; October 1, 2010
Kevin King had two goals and added an assist as the Kootenay Ice doubled the Spokane Chiefs 6-3 in WHL action Friday.
Spokane took a 3-2 first period lead on goals by Mitch Holmberg, Steve Kuhn and Tyler Johnson, all with their first goals of the season. Kootenay replied with markers by Max Reinhart and James Martin.
In the second Kootenay tied the game with King's first of the night, a short-handed marker, 46 seconds into the middle frame. Brock Montgomery scored the eventual game-winner at 12:11, banging home a pass by Elgin Pearce for his first of the season.
In the third the Ice got two more goals by Matt Fraser and another by Kevin King to give the Ice the 6-3 win.
Todd Mathews stopped 24 of 27 shots to get the win while James Reid turned aside 13 of 19 shots to take the loss.
Elgin Pearce chipped in with three assist while Max Reinhart scored a goal and an assist.
First Period
1. Spokane, Holmberg 1 1:39
2. Kootenay, Reinhart 3 (King, Martin) 3:02
3. Kootenay, Martin 3 (Pearce, Leach) 10:50
4. Spokane, Kuhn 1 (Uher, Miller) 13:50 (pp)
5. Spokane, Johnson 1 (Gow) 14:59 (pp)
Penalties -- Montgomery Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct) 5:43, Gow Spo (tripping) 6:16, Kuhn Spo (hooking) 8:47, Montgomery Ktn Cratsenberg Spo (fighting) 10:52, King Ktn (cross-checking) 12:57, Rintoul Ktn (checking-from-behind) 14:36, Hurley Ktn (interference) 19:36.
Second Period
6. Kootenay, King 2 (Reinhart) 0:46 (sh)
7. Kootenay, Montgomery 1 (Pearce) 12:11
Penalties -- Antilla Ktn (tripping) 3:08.
Third Period
8. Kootenay, Fraser 2 (Pearce) 1:41
9. Kootenay, King 3 (McNabb) 7:21
Penalties -- Bench Minor Ktn (too-many-men - served by Ismond) 3:18, Hurley Ktn Aviani Spo (fighting) 8:07, Vanscourt Spo (kneeing) Marantz Spo Martin Ktn (roughing) 16:25, Vanscourt Spo Fraser Ktn (misconduct) 18:31, Aviani Spo (goaltender interference) 18:39, Hurley Ktn Koper Spo (roughing) 19:10.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 8 5 6 - 19
Spokane: 13 7 7 - 27
Goal -- Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W, 1-1); Spokane: James Reid (L, 0-2).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 0-4
Spokane: 2-5
Referee -- Derek Zalaski. Linesman -- Sean Donnelly, Steve Cochrane.
Attendance -- 2454 (4264)
Scratches --Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (knee - day-to-day), Adam Rossignol (healthy), Jared Zentner (healthy), Steele Boomer (wrist - one week), John Niebrandt (healthy).
Spokane: Cole Hamblin, Brenden Kichton, Brady Brassart.
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