GAME DAY | ICE meet Wheat Kings for the first time this season
Cranbrook, B.C. – The Kootenay ICE (7-8-1-0) continue a three-game road trip when they travel to Brandon to meet with Wheat Kings (9-5-0-1) Friday evening.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
It’s the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
The ICE enter Friday’s contest sitting fourth in the Central Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference. The Wheat Kings are fifth in the East Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference.
The ICE are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Regina Pats Wednesday night. The Wheat Kings are well rested, not having played since October 28 in Saskatoon – a 4-1 loss.
Colton Kroeker added to his team leading point total Wednesday registering an assist against the Pats. The 1997-born forward has seven goals and 18 points in 16 games this season.
Peyton Krebs is second on the team in scoring registering three goals and 13 points in 13 games. The ICE rookie will miss his second straight game as he is representing Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
The Wheat Kings are led by 1998-born forward Ty Lewis, who has eight goals and 30 points in 15 games. 1998-born defenceman Kale Clague is second in team scoring with 24 points in 13 games followed by 1999-born forward Stelio Mattheos with 23 points.
The ICE went 2-2-0-0 against the Wheat Kings last season being outscored 15-13 in those four games.
Over the last five years, the ICE are 1-5 at Westman Communications Group Place while 3-8-1-0 against the Wheat Kings overall.
After this weekend, the next time these teams play each other will be January 26 and 27 in Cranbrook.
ICE v WHEAT KINGS COMPARISONS
| CATEGORY | ICE | WHEAT KINGS |
| PP% | 10-67 (14.9%) | 23-67 (34.3%) |
| PK% | 53-69 (76.8%) | 58-76 (76.3%) |
| GOALS FOR | 48 | 63 |
| GOALS AGAINST | 67 | 52 |
| STREAK | L-1 | L-2 |
| RECORD | 7-8-1-0 | 9-5-0-1 |
