The Kootenay Ice seized on a chance to sweep the BC Division tonight and took it with a 4-0 shutout of the Kelowna Rockets.
Nathan Lieuwen was stellar in stopping 35 Rocket shots to reclaim the top spot in the goaltending stats with a 1.78 GAA - the only goaltender in the WHL and one of two CHL-wide - to own a GAA under 2.00/game (Malcom Subban of the Belleville Bulls, PK's younger brother at 1.97 is the other). He also owns the best save percentage in the country at .938.
Rookie Sam Reinhart continued his stellar pace with a goal and an assist to finish the first leg of the road trip at 14 points in five games. At 22 points (8g 14a) Sam is now 5th in rookie scoring in the WHL but 1st among 16-year-olds, the true rookie scoring test, imo. All four skaters ahead of him are 17-19.
Max had another great night with 3 assists as well as Brock Montgomery with two goals to round out the scoring. Ice captain Drew Czerwonka got the second goal late in the second, finishing off a pretty three-way passing play at the back door to make it 2-0.
D Luke Paulsen (team suspension), Jon Martin and Eric Benoit (upper body - one week) were the scratches.
The Ice power play went 3-4 and now sits 4th overall at 23.6%. When they left the PP was ranked 16th. On the road they sit 2nd in WHL clicking at over 30%.
At 18-5-1-2 and 39 points the Ice sit atop the WHL, two clear of the Blades who lost to the surging Calgary Hitmen, 6-2. The Tigers and Rebels also lost.
The highlites are here.
3 comments:
The road warriors did it again. What will it take to have someone say this team is the real deal (a sweep in sask)? Great job!
I don't know if their the real deal,but they sure are making some noise!
LIEUUUUUUU!!!!!!
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