The 2016/2017 Western Hockey League (WHL) season has officially become a re-grouping and re-building one for the Kootenay ICE after the club traded away its top two scorers Jan. 9.

ICE General Manager Jeff Chynoweth announced the ICE have acquired forwards Brett Davis, 17, and Colton Kroeker, 19, along with second and fourth round selections in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for forwards Matt Alfaro, 20, Zak Zborosky, 20, and a sixth round selection in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

“Our focus heading into this year’s trade deadline was to add to our complement of 1999-born players as well as a veteran forward who can be a two-year player for our club. Brett Davis provides youth and skill to our line-up, while Colton Kroeker will be a top-six forward. We are excited to add them both to our group. This is a trade that benefits both teams, and along with the draft selections addresses our needs as we continue rebuilding for the future,” stated Chynoweth.

“We thank Matt Alfaro and Zak Zborosky for all they have done for our club both on and off the ice over their four years in Cranbrook,” Chynoweth added.

In 41 games with the ICE this season, Zborosky scored 28 goals and added 16 helpers for 44 points, and tops on the team. He scored 32 and helped out with 36 others for 68 points last season.

Zborosky was a fifth round selection, 105th overall, by the Kootenay ICE in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. Zborosky appeared in 237 games for the ICE, recording 173 points. His 86 career tallies place him 15th among career franchise goal-scoring leaders.

With 39 points, Alfaro was second in team scoring with 13 goals, 26 assists.

He was listed by the Kootenay ICE in March of 2012 and played 243 career games with the club, scoring 50 goals and adding 84 assists for a total of 134 points.

Brett Davis, from Oakbank, Mb., was selected by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the fourth round, 78th overall, in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. In 85 career WHL games, all with the Hurricanes, Davis, a 6’1”, 181 lb., right wing, has scored 21 points (12-9-21) and accumulated 21 penalty minutes.

Colton Kroeker, a 6’2”, 189 lb. centre from Surrey, was selected by the Regina Pats in the seventh round, 134th overall, in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. In 155 career WHL games with the Pats and Hurricanes, Kroeker, turning 20 on January 21, has recorded 59 points (22-37-59) and compiled 26 penalty minutes.

He immediately slots in as leading scorer on the ICE with six goals and 21 assists for 27 points in 41 games with the Hurricanes. Three of his goals have come on the power play.

Defenseman Cale Fleury is second on the team in scoring, with 7-18-25 in 42 games.

The first chance for ICE fans to see the new team members will be Jan. 18 when the Prince Albert Raiders come to Cranbrook for a 7 p.m. tilt at Western Financial Place.

Riding a rare two game winning streak (for this season), the ICE are on the road to Swift Current for a date with the Broncos (Jan. 11) and then to Brandon for a back-to-back clash with the Wheat Kings (Jan. 13 and 14 at Westman Place).

The ICE have a 10 win, 24 loss, seven overtime loss and one shootout loss record, good for 28 points in 42 games. The club is last in the Central Division and second last in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Prince Albert.

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