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The Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg will play host to the top two teams in the WHL tonight, with the winner taking the top spot in the league for the time being. Fans will also have a chance to see a Winnipeg Jets prospect in action.
The Winnipeg Ice host the Seattle Thunderbirds in a 7 p.m. face off at the Ice Cave inside Wayne Fleming Arena at the University of Manitoba. Both teams sit atop their conference with 58 points each, although Winnipeg has two games in hand.
The Ice are coming off a 6-3 victory over the Portland Winterhawks on Sunday. Zach Benson recorded his second hat-trick of the season, Matthew Savoie scored twice while Carson Lambos rounded out the attack. Daniel Hauser made 38 saves.
Tonight is the final regular season game against a team from the U.S. Division. Winnipeg has a 4-0 record following victories over Everett (5-4), Tri-City (5-4), Spokane (6-3) and Portland (6-3).
From October 12 to November 19, the Ice set a new franchise record with a 15-game winning streak eclipsing the previous mark of 14 games held by the 2009-10 Kootenay Ice.
From October 15 to 22, Winnipeg became the first Eastern Conference-based team to go a perfect 5-0 on the road versus the B.C. Division since the 2011-12 Kootenay Ice.
Carson Lambos was named the 24th Captain in Ice franchise history on October 6. The 19-year-old returned from Minnesota Wild Training Camp where he appeared in three NHL preseason games. Connor McClennon, Owen Pederson and Ben Zloty were named alternate captains for 2022-23.
ICE VS THUNDEBIRDS
Tonight is the lone regular season game between these two teams and the first-ever appearance by the Thunderbirds at the ICE Cave inside Wayne Fleming Arena.
The last game played between Winnipeg and Seattle was Tuesday, November 19, 2019, in Kent, Washington where the Ice earned a 5-2 victory. Karter Prosofsky, Ben Zloty, Carson Lambos, Owen Pederson and Connor McClennon are the only current members of the Ice to play in that game.
McClennon assisted on one of two goals scored by Michal Teply. Jesse Makaj made 26 saves.
Jets prospect Brad Lambert was just assigned to the Thunderbirds on Monday after spending 14 games with the Manitoba Moose. The Finnish player recorded three points in those games. The 19-year-old also picked up a pair of points while representing his home country in the recent World Juniors tournament.
WHO’S HOT
Zach Benson is on a nine-game point streak (9-10-19)
Matthew Savoie is on a five-game point streak (3-7-10)
Ty Nash is on a three-game point streak (2-3-5)
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Zack Ostapchuk is two goals shy of 50 career WHL goals and two assists shy of 50 career WHL assists.
Owen Pederson is three assists shy of 100 career WHL assists.