Kootenay Ice - 46-21-1-4; 4th in Eastern Conference
Moose Jaw - 40-26-2-4; 5th
Season Series - Head to head; Split 2-2, both teams won the home dates.
Top Scorers - KTN - Cody Eakin 36 goals; 47 assists - 83 pts
Max Reinhart 34 goals; 45 assists - 79 pts
MJ - Dylan Hood 33 goals; 50 assists - 83 pts
Quinton Howden 40 goals; 39 assists - 79 pts
Top Defenders KTN - Brayden McNabb - 21 goals; 72 pts; +25
Joe Leach - 5 goals; 30 pts; +16
James Martin - 11 goals; 29 pts; +18
MJ - Colin Bowman - 11 goals; 49 pts; +2
Morgan Reilly - 6 goals; 28 pts; -15
Dylan McIlrath - 5 goals; 23 pts; Even
Top Goalies Ktn - Nathan Lieuwen - 33-16-1-3; GAA - 2.79; Sv% - .903
MJ - Thomas Heemskerk - 36-21-2-4; GAA - 2.94; Sv% - .908
Offense - With the addition of Cody Eakin at the deadline Kootenay's a much deeper club - obviously - and both losses in MJ were without the red-headed wonder. Moose Jaw brings to the table Eakin' WJC teammate in Quinton Howden; along with Dylan Hood, the club's leading point-getter. Import Antoine Honesjek is healthy and gives the Warriors depth. Depth will be key in this pick em series as the likes of Jesse Ismond, Elgin Pearce and Drew Czerwonka are going to have to be key contributors for any Ice chance to move on. Warriors are deeper on the tough guy/big forward department but Brett Lyon (suspended for the first two games of the series) and Cody Beach (injury - doubtful) but what they bring to the table might hinder the Warriors instead of helping them. Edge - Slight, to Kootenay.
Defense - Experience in the playoffs counts for something but in Junior Hockey it's not nearly as key as one might assume. D Colin Bowman leads the way for the Warriors with 41 games along with Beach (19 games), both of which got theirs from Kelowna (09 Champs) and Calgary (10 champs). Budding star Morgan Reilly, 16, is a former 2nd overall pick and will be a good one. Joining them is Dylan McIlrath, a New York Ranger 1st rounder, who at 6'5", is as good a shutdown d-man in the WHL as there is. For the Ice McNabb leads the way in scoring and is joined by a solid shut-down pair in Martin and Leach. Kootenay misses Luke Paulsen's speed as he's out for the first round at least. On the toughness side, the Warriors have it but Kootenay's deeper. This one's a wash - Edge - Pick 'em.
Goal - This is the most anticipated match-up of the playoffs bar none. Current starter Nathan Lieuwen - still looking to prove himself the first round pick made in 2006 - and former teammate Thomas Heemskerk, who left the Ice in late 2008 in search of a number one job that he wasn't getting here. Both have something to prove and the head-to-head battle should be the headliner in and of itself. Edge - Pick 'em
Coaching - Warrior bench boss Dave Hunchak is in his 4th year at the Warriors helm and has lost in the first round two of three chances and missed the playoffs two seasons ago. His club pushed the Hitmen to the brink in the first round last season but then dropped but then stumbled as the Hitmen found their game and launched the comeback, winning in seven. For the Ice Kris Knoblauch is running his first playoff bench. After a successful rookie season it'll be an interesting watch as the two face-off. Edge - Moose Jaw
Intangibles - In this series it'll be the crowds. Kootenay's got home ice advantage but is it with the building less than half full? In the Jaw the Crushed Can will be hopping as they'll probably stuff 3000 (capacity - 3146) in the buildings final playoff farewell. Edge - Moose Jaw
The real difference in this series will be the goaltending and in particular, whether or not Ice goaltender Nathan Lieuwen steps up and takes this series. Not to lay it all on one player but Kootenay's a team built for now and it starts and stops with the 19-year-old. Very few of the prognosticators are taking them but there's a real shot at something here. Ice in six
And for the rest....
Blades - Raiders - Saskatoon way too strong for the Raiders. Won't even be close. Saskatoon in four.
Rebels - Oil Kings - I like how the Oil have scrapped their way to a post-season berth but I think the lack of Griffin Reinhart on the blueline will hinder their chances of knocking off the Rebs. Oh, and didn't I mention they have the best goaltender in junior hockey? Rebels in five.
Tigers - Wheat Kings - I know the Wheat Kings have been red hot and can out-gun anyone in the East but the head tells me that you need defense and goaltending - especially the latter - in the post-season. The Tigers will miss Pitlick but if they take the Wheaties lightly they'll pay. Always go with the head, right? Ah screw-it, here's my upset special. Brandon in seven.
Western Conference
Winterhawks - Silvertips - Both starters - Mac Carruth for the Hawks and Kent Simpson for the Tips might not start the playoffs. Either way, the Tips will be in tough against the Hawks. Portland in five
Rockets - Cougars - This will be closer than the regular season standings will indicate and would be another upset special if the Rockets didn't have such a strong edge in the nets. Brown will hold the line against Rimmer for the Cougars but it'll be close. Rockets in seven.
Chiefs - Bruins - The Bruins are another strong finisher down the stretch but I don't think that G Lucas Gore and his heroics are going to be able to shutdown the Chiefs. Is it me or is everyone just waiting for the Chief and Hawks to duke it out in the Conference final? Too early? Chiefs in five.
Ams - Giants - The G-men are too well coached to be swept but they'll be in tough this year to advance against the Americans. Injuries are playing a part for both squads as Giant forward James Henry is day-to-day and might not play while Ams top gun Adam Hughesmen won't start the series. Giants are also missing overager Joel Rogers after a vicious hit by Rocket forward Evan Bloodoff. Rogers is out indefinitely while Bloodoff got four games. This one could go long but it'll be the Ams in six.
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