GAME DAY | Raiders visit ICE for the first time this season
Cranbrook, B.C. – The Kootenay ICE (8-9-1-0) host the Prince Albert Raiders (7-6-3-0) Friday night, the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7 p.m. following a Remembrance Day ceremony.
Both teams enter Friday’s contest rested, not having played in five days.
The ICE are coming off a three-game road trip – including stops in Regina and Brandon – where they went 1-2 – the lone win was by a score of 4-2 over the Wheat Kings. The Raiders are starting a six-game road trip, which includes visits to Portland, Seattle, Everett, Tri-City and Spokane.
For the first time this season, the ICE will be without 1997-born forward Colton Kroeker who’s out with a lower body injury. Kroeker had his seven-game point streak snapped in a 2-0 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings last Saturday. He leads the team in goals and points with seven and 19 respectively.
2001-born forward Peyton Krebs and 1997-born forward Alec Baer are tied for second in team scoring with 13. Krebs will miss his fourth game as he is representing Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, B.C.
The Raiders are led by 1997-born forward Jordy Stallard who has 28 points (13G, 15A) in 16 games. Stallard has recorded at least one point in nine-straight games registering 17 during that stretch. 2000-born forward Cole Fonstad – a fifth overall pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft – is second on the team with 23 points (6G, 17A).
Through 18 games the ICE find themselves in a playoff spot sitting with 17 points, good for second in the Central Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Raiders also have 17 points but are fifth in the East Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference.
When it comes to WHL rankings, the ICE are tenth while the Raiders are 15th.
In the last five seasons, the ICE are 2-3-0-1 when hosting the Raiders and are 3-8-0-1 against the Raiders overall.
The next time these two teams meet is Wednesday, November 29 at Western Financial Place. The ICE don’t make their first trip to Prince Albert until January 5, 2018.
ICE v RAIDERS COMPARISONS
| CATEGORY | ICE | RAIDERS |
| PP% | 11-76 (14.5%) | 12-56 (21.4%) |
| PK% | 59-76 (77.6%) | 44-58 (75.9%) |
| GOALS FOR | 52 | 54 |
| GOALS AGAINST | 71 | 56 |
| STREAK | L-1 | L-1 |
| RECORD | 8-9-1-0 | 7-6-3-0 |
