Pats/Ice Preview

From Greg Harder and his Slap Shots blog.

KOOTENAY (35-17-1-2)
at REGINA (19-29-6-1)

Today, 7 p.m., Brandt Centre
Radio: 620 CKRM
TV: Access 7

Key injuries: REGINA — None to report. KOOTENAY — F Steele Boomer (ankle, day-to-day); D Joey Leach (ankle, 1-2 weeks).
Overview: It’s the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Pats and Ice. Kootenay has won the previous three games by a combined score of 16-8. Regina lost twice by a 7-4 tally in Cranbrook, along with a 2-0 setback on Oct. 12 at the Brandt Centre . . . Regina will be playing its third game in four days. Kootenay has been idle since Tuesday’s 7-4 decision over the visiting Pats . . . The Ice called up Regina-born D Jeff Hubic, 16, from the midget AAA Tisdale Trojans last weekend. A fourth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft, Hubic could see action in his third WHL game tonight and the second against his home-town club . . . Kootenay has four players with 25 or more goals this season and five with at least 50 points. The Pats have one: C Jordan Weal (28-44—72, 55), who’s tied for sixth in the league scoring race . . . Kootenay's top scorers are F Max Reinhart (27-33—60, 55 GP), LW Kevin King (26-34—60, 51), C Cody Eakin (25-30—55, 39) and LW Matt Fraser (25-30—55, 49). King potted a hat trick on Tuesday against Regina while D Brayden McNabb of Davidson had four assists. McNabb (14-38—52, 43) is the WHL’s third-leading scorer among blueliners. Regina’s Brandon Davidson (7-33—40, 55) is 10th while partner Myles Bell (11-23—34, 43) sits 15th . . . Veteran Damien Ketlo (4.21 GAA) and rookie Matt Hewitt (3.67 GAA) have been splitting Regina’s netminding duties in the second half of the season. Hewitt started the Pats' last game, a 6-2 loss in Lethbridge on Wednesday . . . Kootenay’s goalie tandem comprises starter Nathan Lieuwen (2.83 GAA) and backup Brett Teskey (2.90 GAA), a rookie from Regina.