Cranbrook, BC – The Kootenay ICE Hockey Club has announced that the 2008 – 2009 Early Bird Season Tickets are on sale now.  Individuals wishing to purchase Early Bird Season Tickets will have until Friday, May 30 at 5:00 pm to buy their tickets at the Kootenay ICE Office. 

Early Bird Prices are as follows:
Adults $449
Senior / Student $359
Youth $230

By purchasing the Early Bird tickets fans are savings anywhere from between $100 to $200 over walk up pricing.

Calgary, AB – Garnet Kazuik, Director of Scouting for the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club today announced Left Winger Brendan Hurley has been selected 15^th overall by the club in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft.  The 19^th annual WHL Bantam Draft began at 8:30 am today in Calgary and is for players born in 1993 and playing in the four Western Provinces and selected regions of the United States.

“Hurley is a Left Winger that is a power forward and has exceptional skating skills that have developed with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers,” commented Kazuik.  “He was rated top three in the Top Prospects summer camp in Regina last year and will be a great asset to the Kootenay ICE organization.”

Hurley becomes the 13^th first round draft pick in the history of the ICE franchise.

1996 Draft - Defenseman Steve McCarthy - 1^st Overall
1997 Draft – Forward Jarret Stoll – 1^st Overall
1998 Draft – Goaltender Dan Blackburn – 3^rd Overall
1999 Draft – Defenseman Andy Thompson – 7^th Overall
2000 Draft – Forward Dale Mahovsky – 17^th Overall
2001 Draft – Forward Jeremy Schenderling – 19^th Overall
2003 Draft – Forward Ben Maxwell – 2^nd Overall
2003 Draft – Defenseman Todd Panchyson – 12^th Overall
2004 Draft – Defenseman John Negrin – 7^th Overall
2005 Draft – Defenseman Jordan Wilkins – 20^th Overall
2006 Draft – Goaltender Nathan Lieuwen – 16^th Overall
2007 Draft – Forward Drew Czerwonka – 20^th Overall

Brendan Hurley

Birthdate:  May 11, 1993       * Hometown:  Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Position:  LW * Height:  6’0”   * Weight::  170 lbs.
2007-2008 Team:  Fort Saskatchewan Rangers AAA

Calgary, AB – Garnet Kazuik, Director of Scouting for the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club today announced the club has selected eleven players in the 19^th annual WHL Bantam Draft.  The 2008 WHL Bantam Draft was for players born in 1993 and playing in the four Western Provinces and selected regions of the United States.  All of the players selected today are at least one year away from playing regularly in the WHL.

“We are very happy with the selections we made today.  We added speed and skill which we felt was very important to our success on the ice.  Overall, we know that our picks still have two to three years to develop and become great players within our organization,” commented Kazuik.

Round One – 15^th Overall –BRENDAN HURLEY
Birthdate:  May 11, 1993
Hometown:  Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Position:  Left Wing
Height:  6’0”
Weight:  170 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Fort Saskatchewan Rangers AAA

Round Two – 37^th Overall – RYAN BLOOM
Birthdate:  March 23, 1993
Hometown:  Calgary, AB
Position:  Center
Height:  5’8”
Weight:  140 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Calgary Bison AAA

Round Three – 59^th Overall – MICHAEL KING
Birthdate:  January 22, 1993
Hometown:  Prince George, BC
Position: Defense
Height:  6’2”
Weight:  170 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Prince George Cougars AAA

Round Four – 81^st Overall – JARRETT ZETTNER
Birthdate:  May 31, 1993
Hometown:  Red Deer, AB
Position:  Center
Height:  6’1”
Weight:  170 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Red Deer Rebels Black AAA

Round Six – 128^th Overall – BRETT TESKY
Birthdate:  June 21, 1993
Hometown:  Regina, SK
Position: Goaltender
Height:  6’0”
Weight:  173 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Regina Hurricanes AA

Round Seven – 147^th Overall – ADAM ROSSIGNOL
Birthdate:  October 16, 1993
Hometown:  Cloverdale, BC
Position:  Center
Height:  5’9”
Weight:  152 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Cloverdale Colts

Round Eight – 169^th Overall – DYLAN SCHELLENBERG
Birthdate:  March 22, 1993
Hometown:  Drumheller, AB
Position:  Defense
Height:  6’0” 
Weight:  170 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Airdrie Xtreme AAA

Round Nine – 191^st Overall – SCOTT HELMKAY
Birthdate:  November 1, 1993
Hometown:  Colonsay, SK
Position:  Defense
Height:  5’9”
Weight:  155 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Warman Wildcats AA

Round Ten – 216^th Overall – CODY BISBING
Birthdate:  May 5, 1993
Hometown:  Phoenix, AZ
Position:  Right Wing
Height:  5’7”
Weight:  130 lbs.
07-08 Team:  DYHA Firebirds AAA

Round Eleventh – 235^th Overall – JAGGER DIRK
Birthdate:  May 4, 1993
Hometown:  Penticton, BC
Position:  Defense
Height:  5’11”
Weight:  160 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Okanagan Hockey Academy

Round Twelfth – 257^th Overall – RILEY SIMPSON
Birthdate:  November 30, 1993
Hometown:  Innisfail, AB
Position:  Left Wing
Height:  5’6”
Weight:  129 lbs.
07-08 Team:  Red Deer Rebels White AAA