Pre Game Report Presented by Imperial Steel - ICE vs Wheat Kings - April 14, 2021
April 14, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Winnipeg Ice News Release
April 14, 2021, 9:00pm (MB)
Winnipeg ICE vs Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandt Centre, Regina SK
50/50 Tickets -> https://bit.ly/38Wpetk
LAST GAME: ICE 3 Pats 1, Monday, April 12. Connor McClennon provided the game-winner and an insurance goal as the ICE skated past the Pats for the third time in three tries this season. McClennon's first tally was his 100th Western Hockey League point. Connor Geekie opened the scoring for Winnipeg who got 22 saves from winning goalie Carl Stankowski.
SCENE SETTER: The ICE (12-4-0-0) have won six consecutive games for the first time since relocating to Manitoba, but go into tonight's matchup with the Brandon Wheat Kings (12-3-2-0) chasing their first victory of the season against their provincial rivals thanks to a pair of one-goal setbacks.
2021 SEASON SERIES:
Date Opponent Score Record PP PK Goalie Scorers
Mar. 13 @BDN L 3-2 0-1-0-0 1/4 3/4 Stankowski 22/25 28, 23
Mar. 25 vBDN L4-3 0-2-0-0 1/6 1/2 Alexander 26/30 28,19,17
NOTABLE:
ICE set season-high: Winnipeg has won six straight for the first time since arriving in Manitoba. The ICE have outscored the opposition 24-11 during their current streak with 11 power play goals.
Muir reaches 200: Forward Cole Muir is scheduled to play his 200th WHL game tonight. Muir was acquired from Regina in the 2017-18 season and has played 186 games for the ICE after skating in 13 with the Pats.
Chasing Comrie: Peyton Krebs carries a 15-game point streak (9 goals, 20 assists) into tonight's contest. Mike Comrie holds the franchise record with a 21-game point streak set in 2000.
McClennon tops 100pt mark: Connor McClennon sits on 101 career points after a pair of goals in Monday's win over Regina. The goals pushed the Wainright, AB product's current point streak to nine games (6 goals, 7 assists).
Pederson Piles 'Em Up: Forward Owen Pederson is on a six-game point streak (2 goals, 7 assists) and has 20 points in his last 14 games (7 goals, 13 assists). Pederson played his 100th WHL game versus Swift Current, Monday, March 15th.
No Small Feat: Jakin Smallwood has 12 points in his last eleven games (6 goals, 6 assists), and ten goals in 16 games to start the season. Jakin also leads the team with six powerplay goals.
Geekie Wins It: 2004-born Conor Geekie's first career game winning goal was the decider as the ICE beat Prince Albert in OT Saturday, April 10th. With a goal and an assist versus the Raiders, Geekie has three multi-point games this season.
Zach Attack: 2005-born Zach Benson had a goal and an assist versus P.A. Saturday, April 10th, it was the fourth multipoint game of the season for Winnipeg's first-round pick in the 2020 WHL Draft.
Mr. Zero: Gage Alexander picked up his first WHL shutout versus Prince Albert Friday, April 2nd stopping all 31 shots sent his way.
McClennon Logs 100th game: Connor McClennon played his 100th Western Hockey League game vs Brandon, Thursday, March 25th. The second overall pick in the 2017 WHL Draft reached a century with 88 points to his credit (39 goals, 49 assists).
Krebs Milestone Man: Krebs hit 150 WHL assists with two helpers against Moose Jaw Sunday, March 28th. Also, Peyton's goal versus Swift Current Friday, March 26th was the 200th point of his WHL career. Krebs' first point was an assist in Lethbridge in his WHL debut on November 16, 2016.
WHL Firsts From The Hub:
April 3 @ Regina, Skylar Bruce scored his first WHL goal.
March 23 vs Regina, Chase Bertholet scored his first WHL goal.
March 18th @ Moose Jaw, Skyler Bruce and Rhys Raeside each recorded their first WHL point assisting on Cole Muir's insurance goal, while goalie Carl Stankowski notched his first ICE win.
March 15th vs Swift Current, Zach Benson had his first goal, first assist, and first multi-point game. 2004-born Conor Geekie notched his first assist to earn his first point streak (2 games). After scoring 85 QMJHL goals, Anderson MacDonald notched his first Dub goal. And, 2004 born goalie Daniel Hauser collected the win in his first WHL appearance.
Powerplay Consistency: The ICE have scored a powerplay goal in 15 of their 16 games, and counted 25 powerplay goals in 72 advantages (34.7%). Winnipeg was 22.5% effective on the powerplay last season, tops in the East Division scoring 58 PPG in 63 games.
PK Boost: Winnipeg penalty killers are 46-for-57 on the season (80.7%) with two shorthanded goals.
Back-to-Back: Winnipeg has played four back-to-back sets in the Hub. The ICE are 3-1-0-0 in the second games of those sets so far. The club plays a total of six back-to-backs this season.
Home Kings: 6-2-0-0 at home to start 2021, the ICE went 20-8-1-0 within the East Division in 2019-20 for the best record among the six teams.
Winning Ways: Winnipeg's 38 total wins, and 22 home wins, were also East Division highs a season ago.
WHL Draft Dandies: six of the 26 players on the ICE roster are WHL Draft first round picks (Leppard [PG], Krebs, McClennon, Lambos, Geekie, and Benson).
Puck drops at 9:00PM CDT tonight, catch all the action live on CFRW 1290 AM, iHeartRadio App and winnipegICE.ca. Pre-game show starts at 8:30PM CDT with Mitch Peacock and Kevin Olszewski. Tonights game is also available on WHL Live on CHL TV.
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