Fonstad, Sanders Crack ICE In Shootout
Cranbrook, BC – Cole Fonstad scored in the eighth round of the shootout to lift the Prince Albert Raiders (14-38-3-2) to a 4-3 victory over the Kootenay ICE (12-34-7-2) on Saturday night at Western Financial Place.
Here’s Fonstad’s game winner in the 8th round of the shootout for the 4-3 victory pic.twitter.com/SzXfAJMkzs
— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 12, 2017
Raiders goaltender Nicholas Sanders was nearly perfect in the shootout, only allowing one goal in the eight-round affair. He made 34 saves through regulation and overtime to backstop the team to the win.
The ICE jumped out to an early lead on Saturday night. Colton Kroeker tapped in a backdoor pass from Vince Loschiavo at the 3:26 mark to take a 1-0 lead. Late in the first, the Raiders tied it up. Curtis Miske and Simon Stransky broke in on a two-on-one rush. Miske outwaited the defender and set up Stransky with a cross-ice pass for the goal, making it a 1-1 game at the first intermission.
Following a scoreless second period, Loschiavo restored the ICE’s lead 1:07 into the third. The Raiders stormed back with two goals within two minutes. First, Parker Kelly beat Payton Lee with a shot from the wing following a great defensive effort from Kolten Olynek. Then, Miske found a loose puck in front and made no mistake to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead with 4:45 to play.
However, the ICE struck back in the final two minutes. Kroeker buried his second of the game to tie it up at 3-3 after regulation.
In the overtime period, Sanders stood tall between the pipes for the Raiders. Most notably, he shut the door in the final two minutes of the extra frame when the ICE were awarded a power play.
In the shootout, Brett Davis scored as the second shooter in the second round, putting the pressure on the Raiders. Cavin Leth played to the occasion, solving Lee to send the shootout into sudden death. After four shooters on each team missed, Fonstad came in with speed to force Lee deep in his crease and beat the 20-year-old ‘tender with a backhand. Lee finished the game with 25 saves in the loss.
The Raiders return home on Wednesday for a date with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tickets are available here, the Raider Office or by calling 306-764-5348.