Ice woes continue as they fall to Medicine Hat

With another chance to solidify the fourth position in the Eastern Conference, the Kootenay Ice struggled to find the back of the net, falling to the Medicine Hat Tigers 2-1 inside Cranbrook's RecPlex Friday night.

The Tigers pounced quickly when Joey Frazer put the puck past Ice netminder Todd Mathews only 26 seconds into the opening period.

Jesse Ismond tied it up for Kootenay with his 20th goal of the season at 9:18 of the first period. Matt Fraser picked up the assist.

Tiger captain Wacey Hamilton scored what would turn out to be the game winner at 2:31 of the second period.

Both teams kept referees Sean Raphael and Ryan Thompson busy in the middle frame, splitting a total of eight penalties, but neither squad was able to connect of the power play, with Kootenay fruitless at game's end after going 0 for 5 and Medicine Hat missing all four of their opportunities when they had the the man advantage. The only serious infraction came from a fight at the hands of Medicine Hats' Bretton Cameron and Kootenay's Brayden McNab 3:38 into the middle frame.

Kootenay has now lost four out of five games heading down into the last week before play-offs. The team has four games left before WHL playoffs kick off later this month.