Lack of scoring proves costly for Kootenay against Northeast Chiefs
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Following three straight weekends on the road, the Kootenay Ice is coming home to play a game.
The Ice meet Valley West Hawks in a two-game BC Hockey Major Midget League tilt beginning Saturday at the NDCC Arena.
“We’re so excited to play at home finally,” said Ice assistant coach Brian Jones.
“We’re feeling nicely but have struggling to find some offence so that’s currently what were trying to address.”
The Ice lost a pair of games this past weekend in Coquitlam, dropping the games to the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs — 7-3 and 6-2.
Kootenay fell behind 2-0 after one period during the opener and trailed 5-1 after 40 minutes.
“The game was a lot closer than the score says,” Jones said. “Penalty trouble in the first and second played a large part in the deficit.”
The Ice scored twice in the early part of the third to cut the lead to 5-3 but the Chiefs managed two late goals — one into an empty net — to seal the win.
Tanner Costa and Luke Madge, both of Castlegar, and Justin Podgorenko of Nelson scored for the Ice.
Jason Mailhiot of Trail was solid for the Ice in the nets.
Sunday, the Ice trailed 2-0 and 4-1 to Vancouver.
Once again the offence, or lack there of, let the Ice down.
Christian Macasso and Madge scored for Kootenay.
Solomon Burk of Castlegar was in goal for Kootenay.
Jones said the Ice were down to four defenceman, and lost another rearguard to the flu.
“Garrett Patterson (Nelson) dropped back to help out on the blueline and did a great job for us,” Jones said.
“Tanner Costa also had a strong showing up front.”
Kootenay, 2-4 on the season, now prepares to host the Valley West Hawks Saturday, with a puck drop of 9:45 a.m. at the NDCC Arena.
Sunday, game time is 9:15 a.m. at the NDCC Arena.
“Valley West will be a tough test as they are always one of the stronger teams in the league,” Jones said.
ICE CHIPS: Ice assistant Coach Brian Jones said Kootenay netminder Solomon Burk played well this weekend and was listed on Monday by the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. . . .Six games into the season and Ellis Junker of Castlegar leads the Ice in scoring with six points. Justin Podgorenko is second with five points.
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