Saturday, May 14, 2011

5/13 Recap: McNabb's ICE take WHL title, deal next?

Brayden McNabb notched a pair of assists Friday including the primary on the game winning goal as Kootenay won the Ed Chynoweth Cup with a 4-1 win over Portland. The ICE, who earned their third WHL Championship in franchise history, will savor the flavor of victory before joining the Owen Sound Attack and host Mississauga Majors at the 2011 Memorial Cup. The QMJHL Final between Saint John and Gatineau is still being played with the Sea Dogs holding a 3-2 edge.

Moments after his nice slap pass wasn't converted, McNabb's patient power play quarterbacking found Matt Fraser in front of the Winterhawks net for the game winner at 19:16 of the 2nd period. The 6'4 defenseman would later assist on an empty-netter to finish the playoffs with a line of 3-24-27 (t2nd overall in WHL) and a +23 rating (1st). He had more assists than any other CHL defensemen had points in the postseason.

Portland's Riley Boychuk skated -1 while earnng a slashing/roughing double minor after he got his stick tangled between a Kootenay forward's legs on his way to a line change. The edgy 6'5 forward finishes his playoff year with four goals, 12 points and 50 PIM in 21 games.

With the Memorial Cup tournament set to being May 20th, McNabb may still make news before the puck drops. Back in 2009, the Sabres signed Tyler Myers to an entry-level the day after Kelowna's WHL Championship win. Keep an eye in the coming days as it's reasonable to suggest the Sabres use the short window prior to the tourney to get a deal done with Myers' former Athol Murray College of Notre Dame teammate.