ICE HOST TIGERS – Jaedon Descheneau and the Kootenay Ice (21-25-1-0) take on Elgin Pearce and the Medicine Hat Tigers (23-22-2-1) for a battle between Central Division clubs in WHL action on Wednesday.
The Ice are coming off a four-game road trip through Saskatchewan where they posted four straight wins, and currently sit six points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Three of the Ice’s four wins on their road trip came in a shootout or overtime. Descheneau is enjoying a 10-game point streak, having netted seven goals and 15 points in that span.
The Tigers are coming off a 3-0 shutout win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Sunday for their third win in three weekend games, and currently sit tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, just six points up on Kootenay. The Tigers allowed just one goal through three weekend wins over Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton. Pearce, a former Member of the Ice, has 21 goals and 56 points this season for the Tigers.
It’s the third meeting of the season between the Ice and Tigers. The teams split the first two meetings, with the home team winning on each occasion.
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Tim Bozon and the Kamloops Blazers (30-14-2-3) welcome Josh Winquist and the Everett Silvertips (20-26-0-2).
The Blazers are coming off a 5-4 defeat to the visiting Victoria Royals on Saturday for their third loss to the Royals in the last week, and currently sit six points behind Kelowna for first place in the B.C. Division. The Blazers are 16-4-1-1 on home ice this season.
The Silvertips downed the Giants 4-0 in Vancouver on Sunday for their third win in three weekend contests, and currently occupy seventh place in the Western Conference. Winquist has points in six of his last seven games, including a hat trick on Sunday in Vancouver.
In Prince George, B.C., Troy Bourke and the Prince George Cougars (14-26-2-4) take on Josh Morrissey and the Prince Albert Raiders (27-15-1-3) on Wednesday.
The Cougars dropped a 6-1 decision to the Oil Kings in Edmonton on Sunday for their second defeat over three weekend contests in Alberta, and remain in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Cougars dismissed head coach Dean Clark on Monday.
The Raiders edged the Wheat Kings 3-2 in Brandon on Friday night to improve to 3-1-1 over their last five games, and remain in first place in the East Division. The Raiders are 13-8-0 through their first 21 road games this season.
In Saskatoon, SK, Matej Stransky and the Saskatoon Blades (23-20-0-3) battle Trevor Cheek and the Edmonton Oil Kings (32-11-2-3) on Wednesday.
The Blades downed the Wheat Kings 4-1 in Brandon on Tuesday night for their second victory over their last three games, and currently sit tied with Medicine Hat for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Stransky has 23 goals and 51 points in 46 games this season.
The Oil Kings shut out the Warriors 7-0 in Moose Jaw on Tuesday night for their fifth shutout victory over their last 10 games, and currently sit three points ahead of Calgary for the Eastern Conference lead. Cheek scored a hat trick and picked up two assists in Tuesday’s win in Moose Jaw.
In Spokane, WA, Todd Fiddler and the Spokane Chiefs (29-16-2-0) host Nic Petan and the Portland Winterhawks (37-7-1-1) for the second of three straight meetings between the U.S. Division rivals.
The Chiefs skated to a 5-2 win over the Winterhawks in Portland on Monday, snapping a three-game losing skid, and currently sit 16 points back of the Hawks for first place in the U.S. Division. Fiddler scored three goals on Monday, giving him a WHL-leading 33 goals on the season.
The Winterhawks suffered their season-high third straight loss on Monday, but remain in first place in the overall standings. Petan currently leads the WHL in scoring with 80 points this season, and is one of three Hawks among the WHL’s top 10 scorers.
