The wins and losses column of exhibition season is relatively meaningless.
The preseason is generally billed as a chance for coaches and hockey operations staff to get a good look at their organizational depth and to throw line combinations at the wall to see what sticks.
However, ask a player what they think of exhibition wins and losses and the answer is obvious.
“Every time you step on the ice, you’re trying to win,” said Kootenay ICE captain Cale Fleury. “Doesn’t matter if it’s exhibition, regular season or playoffs. We’re all competitive people and we’re trying to win out there.”
In four preseason games in Kennewick, the ICE came out with a single win and two shutout losses.
But again, it’s all about perspective.
“That last game [a 6-0 loss to Tri City Americans], we played four young defenceman,” said ICE Head Coach James Patrick. “The last half of the game I played Blake Allen more than any 16-year-old forward. Payton [Krebs] also got a lot of ice time. Eli Leiffers played a lot.”
“We were trying to evaluate and see how they’d stand up and it was a tough test, playing the biggest team in the WHL and the team that’s one of the top preseason picks.”
However, after four games scheduled in the U.S., the ICE got a chance to face off closer to home during their annual Crowsnest Pass tournament this weekend against the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Both outings resulted in wins.
On Saturday night, Ryan Pouliot and Swiss import Gilian Kohler both scored twice on the way to a 5-2 win over the Hitmen.
Kurtis Chapman, who was recently acquired from the Regina Pats for a conditional draft pick, went the distance in goal with 25 saves.
The night before, the Ice offence exploded for an 8-4 rout over the Hurricanes.
Fleury and Krebs both scored twice, while Pouliot, Dallas Hines, Czech import Martin Bodak and Jake Elmer added goals for the Kootenay squad. Bailey Brkin, who also recently came over in a trade that sent Ice veteran Max Patterson to the Swift Current Broncos, made 45 saves for the win.
Brkin played for half a game in Tri City, however, his win against the ‘Canes was his first full 60-minute outing in an ICE uniform.
“It’s a great opportunity to come here and play and show what I got,” Brkin said, before hitting the road for the Crowsnest Pass tournament. “Definitely going to play more than over a great goalie like Taz Burman over in Swift Current, so I’m just thankful for the ICE to get some playing time to show what I have.”
The regular season opens next weekend with a home-and-home series with the Hitmen.
NOTES: The Ice have reduced their roster down to 25 skaters, notably releasing two 20-year-old players in D Jordan Henderson and G Mario Petit. G Jesse Makaj (2001), Tyler Strath (2001), Blake Allen (2001) and Evan Thomas (1999) were also released. Though the ICE released two 20-year-olds, they also picked one up in Colton Veloso from the Portland Winterhawks, giving up a conditional fourth round draft pick. The ICE have appointed Colin Sinclair as Director of Alumni Experience. Sinclair, a former captain for the club, played five seasons with the team from 1998-2003, winning two league titles and a Memorial Cup. Sinclair will be responsible for communication, events and working with front office and hockey operations staff to support alumni experience.
