Cranbrook, BC –  Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club announced today the Club has selected 18-year-old Defenseman Petr Senkerik (1^st round, 38^th overall) in today’s 19^th annual CHL Import Draft.

“It is very difficult to draft any Import player as for the most part teams have not had the opportunity to watch these players over the course of the season. Petr comes recommended by Allan Walsh, a player agent who we have used several times in the past for the CHL Import Draft. We now have an abundance of 1991 born defensemen competing for spots in the Fall and we hope that Petr can be a regular contributor to our Club” continued Chynoweth.

Petr Senkerik will arrive in Cranbrook in late August for Training Camp along with returning Import Forward Dominik Pacovsky.

 Petr Senkerik

Birthdate: March 13, 1991  Country: Czech Republic

Position: Defense  Shoots: Left

Height: 6’0” Weight: 180 lbs.

NHL Draft: Eligible 2010 

Cranbrook, BC --  Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club, today released the Club’s 2009-2010 tentative Western Hockey League regular season schedule. Kootenay will open the 44^th season of the Western Hockey League and their 12^th year in Cranbrook at home on Friday, September 18 at 7:00 pm against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The ICE will play a 72 game schedule (36 at home and 36 on the road) concluding Saturday, March 13 against Edmonton.

Kootenay will play the Central Division teams a total of 34 times, Calgary and Red Deer eight times (four at home, four on the road), Edmonton, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge six times (three at home, three on the road). In the East Division, the ICE will play Brandon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, and Swift Current four times each (two at home, two on the road). In the BC Division, Kootenay will play Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, and Vancouver once on the road. In the US Division the ICE will play Spokane five times (three at home, two on the road) and Everett, Portland, Seattle, and Tri-City once at home.

Of their 36 home games, the ICE will play 23 of them on weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Kootenay will play 21 games on Friday and Saturday, and two games on Sunday. The remaining games will be played on Tuesday (seven), Wednesday (five), and Thursday (one).

Start times at the Cranbrook Recreation Complex will remain the same with all Tuesday to Saturday games starting at 7:00 pm, while all Sunday home games will start at 6:00 pm. Kootenay will play their annual New Year’s Eve game Thursday, December 31 at 5:00 pm against Regina.

2009-2010 Season Tickets remain on sale at the ICE office.

Kootenay ICE 2009-2010 Schedule - TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE