The Kootenay Ice (22-22-0-1) host the Vancouver Giants (19-23-1-1) at Western Financial Place.
Starting lineups:
Kootenay Ice
Forwards: LW Tim Bozon – C Sam Reinhart – RW Zak Zborosky
Defence: Tyler King – Rinat Valiev
Goal: Wyatt Hoflin
Vancouver Giants
Forwards: LW Tyler Benson – C Carter Popoff – RW Jackson Houck
Defence: Mason Geertsen – Dmitry Osipov
Goal: Payton Lee
Scratches:
Kootenay Ice – D Bryan Allbee, D Tanner Faith (shoulder), F Austin Wellsby, F Vince Loschiavo
Vancouver Giants –D Kole Bryks, D Clayton Kirichenko, C Alec Baer, D Shaun Dosanjh, C Thomas Foster
Line combinations:
Kootenay Ice
Tim Bozon – Sam Reinhart – Zak Zborosky
Levi Cable – Luke Philp – Jaedon Descheneau
Austin Vetterl – Matt Alfaro – Jon Martin
Ryan Chynoweth – – River Beattie
Tyler King – Rinat Valiev
Troy Murray – Tanner Lishchynsky
Lenny Hackman – Cale Fleury
Wyatt Hoflin
Keelan Williams
Vancouver Giants
Tyler Benson – Carter Popoff – Jackson Houck
Zane Jones – Jesse Roach – Matt Bellerive
David Brumm – Dalton Sward – Dakota Odgers
Jakob Stukel – Gage Ramsay – Ty Ronning
Mason Geertsen – Dmitry Osipov
Brennan Menell – Arvin Atwal
Ryely McKinstry – Josh Thrower
Payton Lee
Cody Porter
Pre-game media notes:
This is the only meeting of the 2014-15 regular season between the Giants and Ice. The last time these two teams met in the 2013-14 campaign, the Giants came away with a 3-2 victory on home ice Dec. 4, 2013.
The Ice hold a lifetime record of 18-8-0-0 against the Giants, including a mark of 7-5-0-0 in Cranbrook.
The NHL Central Scouting Service released its midseason draft rankings today, with Ice F Zak Zborosky (97) and F Luke Philp (191) making the list.
Ice F Sam Reinhart surpassed Jarret Stoll for the franchise lead in regular scoring with his goal Saturday night in Saskatoon. The tally gave Reinhart 287 career points through 223 games. Stoll finished his Ice career with 286 points in 245 games.
Ice F Luke Philp leads the team in home scoring with 25 points at Western Financial Place (8-17-25).
The Giants have lost three games in a row, while the Ice dropped two of three on a recent Saskatchewan road trip.
Giants G Cody Porter was named Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month for December with a 1.54 GAA and 0.954 SP and a record of 3-0-1-0.
Milestones: Ice F Jaedon Descheneau is one goal shy of 100 in his WHL career… Ice F Luke Philp is two games shy of 200 regular-season appearances in his WHL career… Ice F Levi Cable is two points shy of 100 career WHL points… Ice F Tim Bozon is four assists short of 150 in his WHL career… Giants F Dalton Sward is one shorthanded goal shy of the franchise record for career shorthanded goals (James Henry, 10 SHG)… Giants F Thomas Foster is two assists shy of 50 in his WHL career… Giants D Dmitry Osipov is three games shy of 100 in his WHL career… Giants G Payton Lee is four wins short of 50 in his WHL career… Giants D Clayton Kirichenkow is four games shy of 100 games in his WHL career… Giants F Carter Popoff is five goals shy of 50 in his WHL career…
Streaks: Ice F Luke Philp has seven points (3-4-7) in his previous five games…
Leading scorers:
Kootenay Ice – 1) Jaedon Descheneau (22-30-52); 2) Luke Philp (20-29-49); 3) Tim Bozon (14-20-34)
Vancouver Giants – 1) Thomas Foster (8-27-35); 2) Carter Popoff (17-17-34); 3) Jackson Houck (14-19-33)
Goaltenders:
Kootenay Ice – Wyatt Hoflin, 42GP – 22-18-0-1; 3.24 GAA; .901 SP; 2 SO
Vancouver Giants – Payton Lee, 28GP – 11-15-0-0; 3.04 GAA; .893 SP; 2 SO
Power play:
Kootenay Ice – 29-for-159 (18.2 per cent); 16th in WHL
Vancouver Giants – 40-for-175 (22.9 per cent); T-4th in WHL
Penalty kill:
Kootenay Ice – 113-for-143 (79.0 per cent); 12th in WHL
Vancouver Giants – 147-for-188 (78.2 per cent); 16th in WHL
Injuries:
Kootenay Ice – D Tanner Faith (shoulder, four to six months)
Vancouver Giants – N/A
Suspensions:
None
On-ice officials:
Referees Jeff Ingram and Trevor Shively; linesmen Tyler Jensen and Scott Sharun
The Ice Block 