Kingdom Cranbrook awaits as Payton Lee comes home

Payton Lee, pictured with the Edmonton Oil Kings during the 2015-16 WHL season. – Taylor Rocca Photo

Originally published in the Cranbrook Townsman/Kimberley Bulletin (May 10, 2016)

Payton Lee has taken to the ice at surface at Western Financial Place plenty of times over the course of his hockey career.

So while the friendly confines of his hometown Western Hockey League barn aren’t unfamiliar territory, the 19-year-old locally-grown goaltender is excited to spend a little more time here than he has in recent winters while playing across the province with the Vancouver Giants.

Interview: Payton Lee

New Kootenay Ice goaltender Payton Lee discusses returning to his hometown of Cranbrook to finish out his Western Hockey League career.

Ice acquire hometown kid Payton Lee from Oil Kings

Payton Lee, pictured with the Edmonton Oil Kings during the 2015-16 WHL season. – Taylor Rocca Photo

Originally published in the Cranbrook Townsman/Kimberley Bulletin (May 9, 2016)

From Peyton Krebs to Payton Lee, the Kootenay Ice have provided plenty for fans to be excited about since Thursday morning.

After selecting the highly-touted Krebs with the first-overall pick at the WHL Bantam Draft, the Ice announced the acquisition of the hometown kid Lee Monday afternoon, sending a conditional sixth-round pick (2017) to the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for the 19-year-old goaltender.

Ice recall Morison ahead of four-game road trip

Originally published in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman/Kimberley Daily Bulletin (Feb. 29, 2016)

With four forwards on the shelf and a defenceman also in recovery, the Kootenay Ice announced the call up of forward Reed Morison (1998) ahead of a four-game road trip, which begins Tuesday in Medicine Hat.

Morison, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound native of Calgary, was acquired by the Ice Nov. 29 in a deal that saw Austin Gray also come to Cranbrook from the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

Kootenay Ice recall Taphorn twins ahead of meeting with Regina Pats

Originally published in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman/Kimberley Daily Bulletin (Feb. 18, 2016)

Head coach Luke Pierce is about to get a look at a pair of highly-touted prospects that could add a lot to the Kootenay Ice come the 2016-17 WHL season.

Ahead of Friday’s tilt with the Regina Pats, the Kootenay Ice have recalled 16-year-old twin forwards Keenan Taphorn (2000) and Kaeden Taphorn (2000) from the Yorkton Maulers of the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League.