ICE rewrite record books with regular season finale win

On a night the Winnipeg ICE honoured graduating forwards Connor McClennon and Owen Pederson along with defenceman Ben Zloty, all three players found the scoresheet in a 5-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings at the ICE Cave inside Wayne Fleming.

McClennon scored twice while Pederson and Zloty each had an assist in Winnipeg’s 57th win of the season.

Conor Geekie had the largest impression on the game with his third hat-trick of the season and two assists for a five point night.

Geekie and McClennon each had a game high four shots on goal despite Brandon outshooting Winnipeg 27-23.

Mason Beaupit earned his 16th win of the season in net while Nicolas Jones suffered the loss.

The Wheat Kings goals came courtesy Rylen Roersma, Calder Anderson and Roger McQueen.

The ICE also completed a 10 game sweep of the Wheat Kings in the Battle of Manitoba presented by Taylor McCaffery Lawyers.

With the 68 game calendar now complete, the ICE set numerous franchise and league records during the 2022-23 regular season:
– a 3-1 victory March 7th versus Medicine Hat was Winnipeg’s 50th of the season. The ICE are the first team to record back to back 50 win seasons since the Kelowna Rockets (2013-14, 2014-15).
– with 115 points, the ICE set a new franchise record for points in a 68 game regular season schedule.
– with 61 points on home ice, the ICE set a franchise record for points on home ice. They eclipsed the previous record of 60 points set last season.
– with 54 points on the road, the ICE set a new franchise record for points on the road. They eclipsed last season’s 51 in 34 games.
– with 57 wins, the ICE set a new franchise record for most wins in a single season eclipsing last season’s 53.
– with 57 wins, the ICE set a new WHL record for most wins by a team playing a 68 game regular season schedule. The previous record of 54 was held by the 2018-19 Prince Albert Raiders.
– with 30 wins on home ice, the ICE set a franchise and WHL records for home ice wins by a team playing a 68 game regular season schedule during the internet era. They eclipsed last season’s 29 wins by the ICE and Edmonton Oil Kings.
– with 27 wins on the road, the ICE set a WHL record for road wins by a team playing a 68 game regular season schedule during the internet era. The 2018-19 Prince Albert Raiders won 26 games.
– with 27 wins on the road, the ICE set a new franchise record eclipsing last season’s 24 wins in 34 games.
– by scoring 325 goals this season, the ICE set a new franchise record eclipsing last season’s 317.
– by scoring 157 goals on the road this season the ICE have set a new franchise record eclipsing the previous record of 140 during the 2000-01 season.

Defenceman Ben Zloty set a new single season franchise record for assists and points by a defenceman. Zloty has 81 points (13 goals and 68 assists). The previous record of 71 points was held by Brayden McNabb during the 2010-11 season. Zloty’s 68 assists is also a new single season franchise record for assists by a defenceman.

With 37 wins, Daniel Hauser set a new ICE franchise record for most wins by a goaltender in a single season. He eclipsed the previous record of 36 wins by Wyatt Hoflin in the 2014-15 season.

The ICE now set their sights on the Medicine Hat Tigers to open the WHL playoffs.

Three of the four regular season meetings went Winnipeg’s way, including the most recent encounter, a 3-1 ICE victory March 7 at Wayne Fleming Arena. The home side ran out winners in three of the four meetings, too, including the lone Tigers victory, a 6-4 affair March 1 at Co-op Place.

The ICE were led in scoring in the season series by veteran forward Connor McClennon, who finished with four goals and six points. Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie and defenceman Ben Zloty each added a half-dozen points versus Medicine Hat this season, while Arizona Coyotes first-rounder Conor Geekie had five goals in the four games between the two teams.

Forward Oasiz Wiesblatt finished with five points (3G-2A) in the season series to hold a share of the Tigers scoring lead versus Winnipeg, with defenceman Reid Andresen also factoring in on five Medicine Hat goals (1G-4A). Wiesblatt was the lone Tigers skater to score more than once against the ICE during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season.

San Jose Sharks prospect Mason Beaupit and Chestermere, Alta. product Daniel Hauser each earned a victory for Winnipeg in the season series, with Beaupit standing as the lone ICE netminder to appear more than once against Medicine Hat.

Rookie puck-stopper Evan May was the goaltender of record in the aforementioned Tigers win March 1, posting a 1-1-0-0 record from his three outings versus Winnipeg.

* – if necessary