ICE Triumph in Shootout
March 25, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Winnipeg Ice News Release
Zack Ostapchuk and Connor McClennon scored in the shootout to give the Winnipeg ICE a 3-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings Friday at Westoba Place.
With the win, for the second consecutive season, and the third time in franchise history, the ICE are WHL Regular Season Champions.
Evan Friesen and Briley Wood scored during regulation time as Winnipeg improved their record to 56-10-1. Recording a franchise-record 113 points and 56 victories, the ICE claimed their third Division title, and second East Division crown in Club history March 12.
With a record of 56-10-1-0 (113 points), the ICE represent one of only two WHL Clubs to reach the 50-win plateau this season. This is the fourth consecutive campaign in which Winnipeg has secured a record with a points percentage of .600 or better. This is also the 10th campaign in franchise history in which the ICE have notched at least 40 wins.
Brandon outshot Winnipeg 39-33. Mason Beaupit earned the victory in goal while Carson Bjarnason suffered the loss.
With 113 points, the ICE set a new franchise record for points in a 68 game regular season schedule.
With 59 points, the ICE are one point shy of tying the franchise record for points on home ice. The current record of 60 points in 34 games was set last season.
With 54 points, the ICE set a new franchise record for points on the road. They eclipsed last season's 51 in 34 games.
With 56 wins, the ICE set a new franchise record for most wins in a single season eclipsing last season's 53.
With 56 wins, the ICE set a new WHL record for most wins by a team playing a 68 game regular season schedule. The previous record of 54 was held by the 2018-19 Prince Albert Raiders.
With 29 wins on home ice, the ICE have equalled the franchise and WHL records for home ice wins by a team playing a 68 game regular season schedule during the internet era. They share the current record of 29 wins set last season by the ICE and Edmonton Oil Kings.
With 27 wins on the road, the ICE set a WHL record for road wins by a team playing a 68 game regular season schedule during the internet era. The 2018-19 Prince Albert Raiders won 26 games.
With 27 wins on the road, the ICE set a new franchise record eclipsing last season's 24 wins in 34 games.
By scoring 320 goals this season, the ICE set a new franchise record eclipsing last season's 317.
By scoring 157 goals on the road this season the ICE have set a new franchise record eclipsing the previous record of 140 during the 2000-01 season.
Defenceman Ben Zloty set a new single season franchise record for assists and points by a defenceman. Zloty has 80 points (13 goals and 67 assists). The previous record of 71 points was held by Brayden McNabb during the 2010-11 season. Zloty's 67 assists is also a new single season franchise record for assists by a defenceman.
Heading into their game tomorrow (Saturday, 6:00 at the ICE Cave inside Wayne Fleming Arena), the ICE have put together the League's most impressive offence; their 318 goals for are a franchise record and 78 more than the next nearest WHL rival, while their 172 goals against are third-fewest in the League.
The ICE previously captured the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy in 2004-05 and 2021-22 and become the first franchise to win the award in back-to-back seasons since the Calgary Hitmen in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Having earned the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL Regular Season champions, the Winnipeg ICE will finish first in the WHL's Eastern Conference. They await confirmation of their first-round opponent for the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, which are scheduled to begin Friday, March 31, 7:00 at the ICE Cave inside Wayne Fleming Arena. The ICE will also host Game 2 the following night at 6:00.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2023
- Warriors Drop Regular Season Finale Against Saskatoon - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Giants Come Back But Fall Short in Kelowna, 5-4 - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Recognize Overage Players, Hand out Team Awards in Pre-Game Ceremony Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Berezowski Sets Single-Season Goals Record, Tips Win 4-3 Shootout - Everett Silvertips
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Tigers Punch Their Ticket to the WHL Playoffs - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blades Finish 2022-23 Season with Third-Best Winning Percentage in Franchise History - Saskatoon Blades
- Hawks Hit 40 Wins with 3-1 Victory Over Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Host Medicine Hat Tigers to Open WHL Playoffs - Winnipeg Ice
- Raiders End Regular Season with 5-3 Win in Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- ICE Get Past Brandon, 5-3 - Winnipeg Ice
- ICE Win 15th Straight Over Wheat Kings to Close Season - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Saturday's Season Finale vs Tri-City Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen Secure Playoff Spot with Win over Oil Kings - Calgary Hitmen
- Oil Kings Edged by Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels and Hitmen to Meet in WHL Playoffs - Red Deer Rebels
- Oil Kings Announce 2022-23 Team Awards Winners - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Head to Spokane for Last Regular Season Home Game - Tri-City Americans
- Single Game Playoff Tickets Are on Sale Now - Saskatoon Blades
- Blazers Sign 2004-Born Defenseman Ryan Nolan - Kamloops Blazers
- Preview: Chiefs Host Americans in 2022-23 Regular Season Finale Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers Sign 2006-Born Forward Max Sullivan to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement - Kamloops Blazers
- Game Day Preview March 25 vs Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Final Regular Season Contest Goes Inside the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Topple Portland - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game Day Hub: March 25 at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Game #68 - ICE vs Brandon Wheat Kings, 6:00 at the ICE Cave Inside Wayne Fleming Arena - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Best Pats 3-2 in Front of 14,786 Fans - Saskatoon Blades
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Triumph in Shootout - Winnipeg Ice
- 7 Different Goal Scorers Lift Cougars Over Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Berezowski Nets Hat Trick in Home Regular Season Finale, Royals Win 6-4 - Everett Silvertips
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Fall to Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Sloppy Third Period Chiefs' Downfall in 7-4 Loss at Tri-City - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Drop 3-1 Decision to Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Patton Propels Royals to 6-4 Road Win Over Silvertips - Victoria Royals
- Honzek's Last Second Heroics Lift Giants to 3-2 Win - Vancouver Giants
- Uchacz Scores 50th Goal - Red Deer Rebels
- Broncos Down Tigers 3-1 in Regular Season Home Finale - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors Knock off Raiders in Prince Albert on Friday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Fall 3-2 to Blades in Playoff Preview - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes to Face Warriors in First Round - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- GAME HUB: Wheat Kings Close out Season in Winnipeg - Brandon Wheat Kings
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