ICE Look to Even Season Series with Wheat Kings
December 28, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Winnipeg Ice News Release
The Winnipeg ICE and the Brandon Wheat Kings meet for the eighth time in 35 games to start the season. The teams wont meet again after tonight until the last two games of the season. The ICE look to draw the season series even tonight after winning 4-0 last night in Brandon.
After each team spoiled one another's home openers early in the season, it was the Wheat Kings who found early success in the series. The ICE have battled back winning two of the last three meetings between the two clubs. Tonight's game is sure to be a battle if last night's meeting was any indication of what's to come. The third period started to get very chippy as the rivalry was heating up.
After tonight the ICE travel to the division leading Prince Albert Raiders who they will see three times in their next four games. Safe to say a win tonight would go a long way in the standings.
WINNIPEG ICE
BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
Record:
20-13-1-0
15-16-1-2
Last 10 Games:
7-3-0-0
4-3-1-2
Power Play:
31/149 (20.9%)
33/149 (22.2%)
Penalty Kill:
79/110 (71.8%)
109/131 (83.2%)
GF-GA:
120-126
124-109
Ranking:
2nd East Division | 5th Eastern Conf.
4th East Division | 8th Eastern Conf.
LAST GAME - 4-0 WIN IN BRANDON: After the teams traded turns on the man-advantage it was the ICE who struck first just as their penalty was expiring. Peyton Krebs chipped the puck out of the zone and Connor McClennon chased it down for a breakaway and deposited the puck into the back of the net to give the ICE a 1-0 lead. The 1-0 lead would hold up taking the ICE into the second period up a goal.
The second period saw some end to end action with both goaltenders doing their part to keep the game at 1-0 heading into the third.
It didn't take long for the ICE to make it a two goal lead in the third. Just 1:22 into the period, Peyton Krebs was sprung on a breakaway by Nolan Orzeck to make the ICE lead 2-0. Just over 10 minutes later, Isaac Johnson was the recipient of a great pass from Jackson Leppard which left him all alone in front of the Wheat Kings net where he extended the ICE lead to 3-0. Isaac Johnson put the icing on the cake with his second of the night with just under two minutes remaining.
Liam Hughes earns his first career WHL shut out as he stopped all 28 shots he faced in the win.
ICE 2019-20 Club Leaders:
Goals: Connor McClennon (16)
Assists: Isaac Johnson (20)
Points: Connor McClennon (34)
PIMS: Jackson Leppard (48)
Plus/ Minus: Carson Lambos (+7)
Wins: Jesse Makaj (9)
WHEAT KINGS 2019-20 Club Leaders:
Goals: Cole Reinhardt (22)
Assists: Luka Burzan (21)
Points: Luka Burzan (36)
PIMS: Ben McCartney (55)
Plus/ Minus: Cole Reinhardt (+14)
Wins: Jiri Patera (8)
VS BRANDON THIS SEASON: The Winnipeg ICE are 3-4-0-0 against the Wheat Kings this season.
NEXT UP: Below are the next three games for the Winnipeg ICE:
Monday, December 30 - Winnipeg @ Prince Albert
Wednesday, January 1st - Winnipeg @ Saskatoon
Saturday, January 4th - Winnipeg vs Prince Albert
The rivalry returns to Winnipeg tonight as the ICE get set to host the Wheat Kings for the 4th time on home ICE this season.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2019
- ICE Win 3-2; Sweep Home-And-Home Series with the Wheat Kings - Winnipeg Ice
- Tigers Hold on to Win 3-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Sogaard Tough on Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Weekend Ends with Loss at the Brandt Centre - Moose Jaw Warriors
- T-Birds Fall to Portland in Last Home Game of 2019 - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hawks Throttle Seattle in Rivalry Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Raiders Fall to Blades in Saskatoon - Prince Albert Raiders
- Paddock Earns Shutout as Pats Grab Win on Big First - Regina Pats
- Game Day Hub: December 28 - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Look to Even Season Series with Wheat Kings - Winnipeg Ice
- Game 35 vs Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, December 28 at Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Preview: Raiders & Blades Meet for Third Time in Three Games - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Rematch with Warriors Saturday at the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- Break Doesn't Slow Cougars who Take Third Straight Win - Prince George Cougars
- T-Birds Blast Chiefs for Three Game Win Streak - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Return from Break Snaps Winning Streak - Everett Silvertips
- Blazers drop Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Edge Victoria Royals 2-1 Friday on the Island - Vancouver Giants
- Americans Hold on for Overtime Point, Fall to Winterhawks in OT - Tri-City Americans
- Preview: Broncos Head to Lethbridge Looking for Back to Back Wins - Swift Current Broncos
- Slow Start Stifles Spokane at Seattle - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Edged by Giants - Victoria Royals
- Rebels Push Oil Kings to the Limit, But Come up Short - Red Deer Rebels
- Winterhawks Come back to Extend Point Streak to Eight - Portland Winterhawks
- Broncos End Slide with Shootout Win over Tigers - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Can't Complete Comeback and Fall 4-3 in a Shootout - Medicine Hat Tigers
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