ICE CHIPS: Winnipeg Ice Week-in-Review for February 28, 2022

Getting you all caught up from the week that was for the Winnipeg based WHL team.

Week in Review:

ICE Record: 3-2-0 (6-3 L @EDM, 3-2 W @LET, 6-2 W @MH, 5-4 L @SC, 4-3 SOW @SC)

Finishing off their seven-game road trip with five games in a week, the Winnipeg ICE came away with more wins than losses but dropped their biggest game.

On Monday, the Edmonton Oil Kings made a statement with a strong 6-3 win over Winnipeg. The Oil Kings scored four goals in the second to take control, getting a pair from both 20-year-old Josh Williams and Florida Panthers prospect Justin Sourdif. Carson Lambos had a goal and an assist in the loss.

Winnipeg bounced back on Wednesday, taking a tight 3-2 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Matthew Savioe and Conor Geekie both had a goal and an assist while Zach Benson added two helpers to guide the ICE to the win.

Friday night, the ICE outshot the Medicine Hat Tigers 38-17 and won the game 6-2. The Tigers only had three shots in the first and third period. Connor McClennon had a goal and three assists while Benson potted two in the big win. The game was the first of three games in three nights for the ICE.

The next night, Winnipeg allowed four unanswered goals, blowing a 4-1 lead to lose 5-4 to a desperate Swift Current Broncos team. Draft-eligible Mathew Ward scored the game winner with 1:29 to go in the game to keep the Broncos above the Hurricanes for the final playoff spot and 17-year-old Ty Hurley scored his first WHL goal in the win.

In a rematch the next night, Winnipeg got revenge with a 4-3 shootout win. Down 3-1 in the third, McClennon and Chase Wheatcroft scored to tie the game, while Benson ended the game in the fourth round of the shootout. Ward had two goals for the Broncos.

Winnipeg finished the road trip with four wins and three losses and find themselves six points back of first-place Edmonton with five games in hand. The ICE ended February with seven wins and three losses.

Upcoming week (all times in central time):

Winnipeg has three games this week.

The week begins Wednesday, with their first home game since February 12. The Lethbridge Hurricanes are in Manitoba seeking revenge for last week’s game. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.

After that, the ICE go back on the road for a quick back-to-back in Saskatchewan. On Friday, the ICE matchup with the Saskatoon Blades; on Saturday, they face the Prince Albert Raiders. Both games start at 7:00 p.m.

Star of the Week – Zach Benson (Two Goals, Five Assists):

Another solid week in the continued evolution of Zach Benson into a superstar. He stretched his point streak up to 16 games before it was finally snapped against Swift Current on Sunday – even then, he ended the game with the shootout winner. Every game he’s in, he’s an x-factor player. That game-changing ability figures to be huge in this squad’s bid for a WHL Title.

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