ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter this week’s action with a 10-50-6-0 record (8-20-4-0 at home, 2-30-2-0 on the road, 3-6 in overtime, 1-0 in shootouts)…The ICE will not qualify for the playoffs this season for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign, while also ending a WHL record 16 year run of seasons with a .500 or better record (1999-2015)…KOOTENAY will play four of their final six regular season games at home beginning March 8 versus LETHBRIDGE.

ROSTER UPDATE: KOOTENAY is currently carrying 22 players (two goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards)…The ICE roster is made up of two 1995-born players, two 1996-born players, ten 1997-born players, seven 1998-born players and one 1999-born player…KOOTENAY has ten first-year players on its roster.

2 FOR 1 TUESDAYS: Take advantage of great savings with KOOTENAY ICE 2 FOR 1 TUESDAYS…At every Tuesday regular season home game, fans can enjoy 2 FOR 1 deals on walk-up tickets and select concession items from COYOTE JACK’S…The next 2 FOR 1 TUESDAY is March 8 when the ICE host the LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES.

AWARDS NIGHT: The KOOTENAY ICE will present their annual team awards for the 2015-16 season on March 18…Presentations will be made on-ice prior to the game against the CALGARY HITMEN.

FAN BUS: The KOOTENAY ICE FAN CLUB has organized a FAN BUS to see the ICE take on the CALGARY HITMEN March 20…Bus trip packages are $60.00 for FAN CLUB members and $70.00 for non-members and include transportation and tickets to the game…For more information, visit the FAN CLUB TABLE during upcoming home games or contact CAROLIN at 250-417-6593.

DID YOU KNOW: REED MORISON scored his first career WHL goal March 2 in REGINA…MORISON made his ICE debut March 1 in MEDICINE HAT…ELI LIEFFERS recorded his first career WHL point (assist) March 2 against the PATS…ZAK ZBOROSKY scored his third short-handed goal of 2016 March 5 in SASKATOON…Forward MATT ALFARO is one game shy of 200 career appearances…JESSE ZAHARICHUK played in his 100th career regular season game March  2 in REGINA…AUSTIN WELLSBY is one appearance shy of 100 career games played…MARIO GRMAN is three games away from 100 career WHL appearances…WYATT HOFLIN has made 40 or more saves in 11 starts this season…Each of the last six games for KOOTENAY will be played against CENTRAL DIVISION opponents…Former ICE forward LEVI CABLE (UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN) scored the game-winning goal as the HUSKIES defeated the UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA to win the CIS CANADA WEST championship March 5.

TRANSACTIONS / INJURIES: KOOTENAY has returned Forward ELI LIEFFERS (March 26, 2000) to the SASKATOON CONTACTS of the SASKATCHEWAN MIDGET HOCKEY LEAGUE…The ICE have returned Forward REED MORISON (June 9, 1998) to the CALGARY CANUCKS of the ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE…Defenseman TROY MURRAY will be out of the KOOTENAY lineup day to day with an upper body injury…Forward ROMAN DYMACEK will be out of the ICE lineup day to day with a lower body injury…Forward DYLAN STEWART will be out of the KOOTENAY lineup day to day with an upper body injury…Forward AUSTIN WELLSBY will be out of the ICE lineup one week with an upper body injury…Forward MATT ALFARO will be out of the KOOTENAY lineup week to week with an upper body injury…Forward JAEDON DESCHENEAU will be out of the ICE lineup indefinitely with an upper body injury.

ONE YEAR AGO: After 66 games of the 2014-15 season the ICE were 33-29-1-3, after 67 games 34-29-1-3 and after 68 games 35-29-1-3.

UPCOMING WEEK:
Monday, March 7    Practice 3:45 – 5:45 pm    Western Financial Place
Tuesday, March 8    ICE vs. Lethbridge    7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Wednesday, March 9    Practice 3:45 – 5:45 pm    Western Financial Place
Thursday, March 10    Practice 3:45 – 5:45 pm    Western Financial Place
Friday, March 11    ICE at Medicine Hat    7:30 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)
Saturday, March 12    ICE vs. Medicine Hat    7:00 pm (102.9 FM – The Drive)

WEEK IN REVIEW:
Tuesday, March 1 – Kootenay 0 at Medicine Hat 3 – Record 10-47-6-0 – Attendance: 4,073
Goals:
Goaltender: Declan Hobbs (34 Saves, 3 GA)

Wednesday, March 2 – Kootenay 3 at Regina 5 – Record 10-48-6-0 – Attendance: 3,556
Goals:
1 – Fleury (7) from Zborosky and Zaharichuk
2 – Zborosky (26) from Lieffers and Lishchynsky
3 – Morison (1) from Fleury and Hines
Goaltender: Wyatt Hoflin (41 Saves, 4 GA)

Friday, March 4 – Kootenay 1 at Prince Albert 7 – Record 10-49-6-0 – Attendance: 2,609
Goal:
1 – Lishchynsky (6) unassisted
Goaltenders: Wyatt Hoflin (21 Saves, 7 GA), Declan Hobbs (9 Saves, 0 GA)

Saturday, March 5 – Kootenay 1 at Saskatoon 4 – Record 10-50-6-0 – Attendance: 4,554
Goal:
1 – Zborosky (27) from Wenzel (SH)
Goaltender: Declan Hobbs (33 Saves, 3 GA)