2017-18 season previews: Kootenay ICE

When it comes to the Kootenay Ice this season, the only constant is change.

The organization has new ownership, new branding, new coaches, new players…

You see the theme here?

Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell, a pair of Winnipeg investors, purchased the team from Jeff Chynoweth over the summer, whose father, Ed Chynoweth, had brought the team to Cranbrook in 1998.

Cockell, who is serving as president and general manager, reshaped hockey operations, bringing in a new head coach in James Patrick, an NHL alum with a 1,000 games under his belt as a player and 11 years with NHL assistant coaching experience.

Cranbrook native and NHL alum Jon Klemm joined the coaching ranks, while specialists in mental skills, sport performance, strength and conditioning and health and wellness were also brought on board.

Cockell also hasn’t been shy about putting his stamp on the roster, making no less than eight deals. Some of those deals involved conditional draft picks, while others have involved Ice veterans who brought back draft picks or prospects.

On the ice, the team has struggled the last two seasons, finishing out of the playoffs and in the league basement. While nobody likes to lose, the silver lining to those tough seasons was the opportunity to land high WHL Bantam draft picks in Peyton Krebs (1st overall, 2016) and Connor McClennon (2nd overall, 2017).

Lately, scoring has been particularly hard to come by.

The Ice finished in last place in goal production in 2016/17 with 177, a slight improvement  over 155 the season prior. On the flip side, the team has also given up 319 and 335 goals, respectively, over the last two years as well.

Their task for improvement sounds relatively simple — score more goals than the other team, but don’t get scored on.

Easier said than done.

Vince Loschiavo led the Ice in scoring last year, notching 29 goals and 57 points. Only Colton Kroeker, who came in after a midseason trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, posted higher numbers combined between the two teams at 18 goals and 41 assists for 59 points.

Cale Fleury was the top-scoring defenceman with 11 goals and 27 apples to his name, while Brett Davis, another mid-season acquisition from the ‘Canes, tallied 18 goals and 15 assists.

All of those players should be returning this year and will look to make an impact on the stats sheet.

The forward ranks will also get a boost from Krebs, who looks ready to make his debut in the WHL, posting two goals and an assist in five preseason games.

CHL Import Draft pick Gilian Kohler will also be an intriguing new weapon in Patrick’s arsenal. After recovering from an injury sustained in Europe and missing training camp, Kohler notched two goals and a helper in two exhibition matchups.

Look to the Taphorn twins — Keenan and Kaeden — to take some steps offensively as well, as they go into their sophomore year.

Additionally, with only a few days to go before the regular season opens, the 20-year-olds on the roster have been settled — for now — as F Colton Kroeker, F Alec Baer and F Colton Veloso are occupying the three overage spots.

Defensively, Fleury is the leader of the defence corps, as well as the whole squad. He will be joined by returning vets Ryan Pouliot, Sam Huston and Dallas Hines. Martin Bodak, another CHL import selection from the Czech Republic, has a good chance of earning a permanent spot, leaving a few open spots for younger rookies to fight over.

The biggest question mark will be in goal, in terms of who gets the starter job.

The Ice have two new netminders this year in Bailey Brkin and Kurtis Chapman, both of whom were with different WHL organizations last year.

Chapman was a seventh-round draft pick by the Regina Pats in 2013 but the bulk of his work was in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League last year, winning a league title with the Portage Terriers. Chapman, 19, posted a 2.07 GAA and 0.931 save percentage during a 12-game playoff run.

The Ice acquired Bailey Brkin in a recent trade with the Swift Current Broncos, bringing in the 18-year-old netminder who spent last year playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

  • 2016/17 season: 14-46-10-2 = 40 pts and missed WHL playoffs.
  • Key departures: G Payton Lee (graduated), D Troy Murray (school), F Austin Wellsby (BCHL)
  • New additions: F Cameron Hausinger, F Michael King, F Sebastian Streu, F Colton Veloso, D Martin Bodak, F Gilian Kohler.
  • Player to watch: F Peyton Krebs. Skated circles around peers at prospects camp. Looked comfortable when integrated into scrimmages with veteran players at main camp. Has nice wheels and excellent vision on the ice for a 16-year-old.