WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...
Published on January 28, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League schedule enters its final weekend of play in January with 24 games slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In Brandon, MB, plans and preparations for the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup continue to roll along. On Monday, January 25, the Wheat Kings announced that Tom Cochrane will take the stage to rock FanFest at the tournament in May. Cochrane, a seven-time Juno award winner, will headline the Memorial Cup finals Weekend Social on May 22nd.
In Everett, WA, fans can tap their feet to some great tunes from Chance McKinney and CrossWire on Friday night when the Silvertips host the Portland Winterhawks. McKinney and his band, the CrossWires, will be performing at the Comcast Arena Ice Box prior to the game.
In Cranbrook, B.C., the Kootenay Ice are teaming up with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada to help raise funds in hopes of finding a cure for the diseases. At Friday's game versus the visiting Prince Albert Raiders, Ice players will be using Yellow Sticks during the warm-up and the first period. The sticks will be auctioned off during the game, with proceeds going to the CCFC.
The Vancouver Giants will begin a stretch of games in their "Home Away From Home" on Saturday night, when they host the Prince George Cougars at the Langley Events Centre. With the Pacific Coliseum being occupied for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Giants will play six home games in Langley in early February.
WARRIORS AND PATS: TRANS-CANADA CLASH...
WHL fans have long known about the fierce rivalry between the Regina Pats and the Moose Jaw Warriors, with the teams having been involved in countless heated and intense battles over the years.
The Pats and Warriors will hook up for a weekend home-and-home series, with the teams meeting in Regina on Friday night before renewing acquaintances on Saturday in Moose Jaw.
In addition, the event will feature an Alumni Game on Saturday afternoon at the "Crushed Can" in Moose Jaw. Former Warriors such as Blair Atcheynum, David Bararuk and Kevin Smyth will face off against former Pats Frank Kovacs, Mike Sillinger and Jamie Heward.
WHL CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD BRUCE HAMILTON INDUCTED INTO B.C. HOCKEY HALL OF FAME...
Vancouver, B.C. - Former Vancouver Canucks Captain Trevor Linden joins an impressive group of 2010 Inductees into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame. Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Drake of the Detroit Red Wings, General Manager and Owner of the WHL Kelowna Rockets Bruce Hamilton and Hockey Canada and BC Hockey executive Frank Lento are the newest BCHHF Inductees.
Bruce Hamilton is a dedicated hockey executive as President, General Manager and Governor of the WHL Kelowna Rockets. He has directed the Kelowna franchise to four Memorial Cup Tournaments winning for the first time in franchise history in 2003-04. Bruce also spent six years as Chairman of the WHL Board of Governors. He moved the Tacoma Rockets to Kelowna in 1995. The building of a rich hockey tradition and a proud alumni in Kelowna are guiding principles under Hamilton's leadership.
PATS / ICE GAME RECHEDULED...
Calgary, AB - The Regina Pats and Kootenay Ice have agreed on a make-up date for their game that was originally scheduled for Sunday, January 24th at 6pm which was postponed because of bad weather and poor driving conditions.
The two teams will play the rescheduled game on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 7pm at the Brandt Centre.
All tickets purchased for the postponed game on the 24th will be valid for the make-up game on Monday, February 1st.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY, LIVE ON SHAW...
Jordan Eberle and the Regina Pats (22-24-3-1) host Quinton Howden and the Moose Jaw Warriors to kick off the Trans-Canada Clash on Friday night.
Friday's contest between the Warriors and Pats can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW (7:00pm CT).
The Pats have been idle since picking up two wins over the Swift Current Broncos in a home-and-home series last weekend, and currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. The Pats find themselves seven points out of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Pats' power play is operating at a League-best 31.0 per cent success rate on home ice this season.
The Warriors fell 4-3 in overtime in Saskatoon to the Blades on Wednesday night for their fourth straight setback, but remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Warriors are 8-11-2-1 on the road this season, and are 0-2-2-1 in their last five road games. Howden (21g-31a) leads the Warriors with 52 points.
It's the sixth meeting of the season between the Pats and Warriors. The Warriors are a perfect 5-0 versus the Pats this season after going 1-7 versus them last year. The teams will meet up again on Saturday in Moose Jaw.
CHIEFS HOST THUNDERBIRDS, LIVE ON FSN
Kyle Beach and the Spokane Chiefs (28-18-3-1) welcome Prab Rai and the Seattle Thunderbirds (14-27-4-4) for a U.S. Division battle on Friday.
Friday night's game between the Chiefs and Thunderbirds can be seen live throughout the Pacific Northwest on FSN.
The Chiefs are coming off Wednesday's 4-1 win in Chilliwack over the Bruins after suffering an 8-1 loss in Kamloops on Tuesday, and currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. Wednesday's game marked the end of an eight-game road trip in which the Chiefs posted a 4-3-0-1 record. Beach scored his 30th goal of the season on Wednesday.
The Thunderbirds are coming off a 4-2 loss in Kelowna to the Rockets on Wednesday in which they coughed up a 2-0 lead in the third period, and have dropped six straight contests. Seattle's penalty killing unit ranks sixth among WHL teams on the road with an 81.7 per cent efficiency rating. Rai scored his team-leading 27th goal of the season on Wednesday night.
It's the seventh meeting of the season between the T-Birds and Chiefs. The Chiefs have won five of six previous meetings versus the Thunderbirds this season.
KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...
Calgary Hitmen vs Brandon Wheat Kings
Friday, January 29th
Joel Broda and the Calgary Hitmen take on Scott Glennie and the Brandon Wheat Kings for a battle between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams on Friday.
The Hitmen have been off since their 6-2 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Sunday for their third straight victory, and currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Hitmen have scored 18 goals over their last three games, including 10 on the power play. Broda leads the Hitmen with 25 goals this season.
The Wheat Kings are coming off a 4-1 win in Lethbridge over the Hurricanes on Wednesday for their fourth straight victory, and currently share the East Division and Eastern Conference lead with Saskatoon. The Wheat Kings are 17-11-0-1 on the road this season. Glennie has racked up four goals and eight assists for 12 points over his last five games.
It's the third meeting this season between the Wheat Kings and Hitmen. The teams split the first two encounters, with both games being contested in Brandon.
Everett Silvertips vs Portland Winterhawks
Friday, January 29th
Byron Froese and the Everett Silvertips put their 12-game winning streak on the line when they host Chris Francis and the Portland Winterhawks on Friday.
The Silvertips have been idle since earning a 3-2 win over the visiting Spokane Chiefs last Sunday, stretching their winning streak to 12 games. Seven of the 'Tips' 12 wins on their current streak have been decided by one goal. Froese has netted the game-winning goal in four of the 'Tips' last 12 wins.
The Winterhawks are coming off a 3-1 win over the visiting Vancouver Giants last Sunday, thanks to a 51-save effort from goaltender Ian Curtis, and currently sit just two points back of the Silvertips for fourth place in the Western Conference. Francis (21g-37a) leads the Hawks in scoring with 58 points this season.
It's the eighth meeting of the season between the U.S. Division rivals. The Winterhawks have won four of seven meetings versus Everett this season.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - January 29-31
All times local
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WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV
Friday, Jan. 29
Brandon @ Calgary; 7:00
Medicine Hat @ Chilliwack; 7:00
Tri-City @ Edmonton; 7:00
Portland @ Everett; 7:35
Vancouver @ Kamloops; 7:00
Prince George @ Kelowna; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Kootenay; 7:00
Red Deer @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Moose Jaw @ Regina; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**
Swift Current @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Seattle @ Spokane; 7:00 **Live on FSN**
Saturday, Jan. 30
Kamloops @ Everett; 7:05
Medicine Hat @ Kelowna; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Regina @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Seattle @ Portland; 7:00
Edmonton @ Red Deer; 7:30
Kootenay @ Spokane; 7:00
Saskatoon @ Swift Current; 7:30
Prince George @ Vancouver; 7:00 (Langley)
Sunday, Jan. 31
Tri-City @ Calgary; 2:00
Prince Albert @ Edmonton; 5:00
Kelowna @ Seattle; 5:05
Portland @ Vancouver; 6:00 (Langley)
Western Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2010
- Winterhawks Hosting Salute To Buckaroos On February 5th - Portland Winterhawks
- Cougars Host Hockey In Heels Evening February 13 - Prince George Cougars
- WHL This Week: Looking Ahead... - WHL
- Busy Weekend For Giants - Vancouver Giants
- UBCO research team to perform Impact Assessment of the Kelowna Rockets on the City of Kelowna - Kelowna Rockets
- Wheat Kings Win Fourth Straight - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Feser's Two Not Enough As Rebels Come Back To Beat Tri-City 4-3 - Tri-City Americans
- Power Play Propels Rockets To Victory - Kelowna Rockets
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