WHL Western Hockey League

WHL Hockey Live On SHAW: Wednesday, March 10 - Regina Pats at Saskatoon Blades

Published on March 10, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - Stefan Elliott and the Saskatoon Blades (45-17-3-5) host Jordan Eberle and the Regina Pats (29-33-3-4) for a battle between East Division rivals in Western Hockey League action on Wednesday.

Wednesday's match-up between the Blades and Pats can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW (7:00pm CT).

The Blades doubled up the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 4-2 on Tuesday night for their 23rd home-ice win of the season, and now sit just one point back of the Wheat Kings for first place in the East Division. The Blades own the Eastern Conference's fourth-best offense and fourth-best defense. Elliott leads all WHL defensemen in goals with 24, and ranks third in points with 62.

The Pats are coming off a 6-3 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday night for their second straight victory, but have already been resigned to no better than ninth place in the Conference. The Pats are 9-23-2-0 on the road this season. Eberle (46g-56a) leads all WHL players in scoring with 102 points this season - three points up on teammate Jordan Weal.

It's the eighth and final meeting of the season between the Pats and Blades. The Blades have won four of seven previous meetings versus the Pats this season, including two of three in Saskatoon.

In Prince Albert, SK, Craig McCallum and the Prince Albert Raiders (31-33-3-2) host Cody Eakin and the Swift Current Broncos (34-30-1-4) for a crucial East Division match-up on Wednesday.

The Raiders have dropped two straight and six of their last seven games, and currently sit six points behind the Broncos for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with only three games remaining. The Raiders need to win all three of their remaining games while hoping the Broncos lose all three of their remaining games in regulation to force a tiebreaker for the final playoff berth.

The Broncos dropped a 2-1 decision in overtime to the Rebels in Red Deer on Friday for their second loss in a row, but cling to the eighth playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Broncos could clinch the final playoff berth in the Conference with a win or an overtime or shootout loss on Wednesday versus the Raiders.

In Brandon, MB, Matt Calvert and the Brandon Wheat Kings (47-18-1-3) host Jason Bast and the Moose Jaw Warriors (33-26-5-5) for an East Division meeting.

The Wheat Kings reeled off their fifth straight win with a 4-2 victory in Prince Albert on Sunday, and currently sit just three points back of Calgary for first place in the Eastern Conference. Calvert leads the Wheaties with 42 goals and shares the team lead with 88 points.

The Warriors fell 4-2 in Saskatoon to the Blades on Tuesday for their third setback in their last four games, but remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors are 11-19-2-2 on the road this season.

In Edmonton, AB, Michael St. Croix and the Edmonton Oil Kings (16-40-4-9) host Joel Broda and the Calgary Hitmen (49-17-1-2) for the first of two straight meetings between the teams.

The Oil Kings dropped a 5-2 decision in Medicine Hat to the Tigers on Sunday for their fifth straight setback. 17-year0old St. Croix leads the Oil Kings in scoring with 17 goals and 44 points this season.

The Hitmen are coming off a 6-1 win over the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Sunday for their sixth straight victory, and currently sit in first place overall in the WHL standings. Calgary can clinch the Eastern Conference title and the Scotty Munro trophy with any combination of wins and Brandon losses totaling three.

In Cranbrook, B.C., Dustin Sylvester and the Kootenay Ice (40-24-3-2) host Landon Ferraro and the Red Deer Rebels (39-25-0-5) for the first of back-to-back meetings between the Central Division foes.

The Ice are coming off a 6-0 shutout loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Saturday for their second straight defeat and their fifth loss in six games, and now find themselves in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Sylvester (35g-55a) leads the Ice in scoring with 90 points.

The Rebels fell 5-2 in Lethbridge to the Hurricanes on Tuesday for their second straight setback, and currently trail the Ice by two points for fifth and the Tigers by three points for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Ferraro has five points over his last five games.

In Prince George, B.C., Brett Connolly and the Prince George Cougars (11-55-1-2) host Ryan Howse and the Chilliwack Bruins (31-32-1-5) for the second straight night.

The Bruins downed the Cougars 7-4 on Tuesday night for their second victory over their last three games, and trail the Kamloops Blazers by two points for seventh place in the Western Conference. Howse scored three goals in Tuesday's win, giving him 44 goals on the season.

The Cougars suffered their 14th consecutive regulation loss with Tuesday's defeat to the Bruins, having not won since February 10th. Connolly returned to the Cougars' lineup on Tuesday night, notching an assists in his first game since December 5th.

In other WHL action on Wednesday, Johnny Lazo and the Tri-City Americans (45-21-1-2) welcome Charles Wells and the Seattle Thunderbirds (18-38-7-5) for the second straight meeting between the U.S. Division rivals.

The Americans fell 4-3 in Kent, WA, to the Thunderbirds on Sunday for their third straight defeat, and now find themselves tied with Everett for the top spot in the Western Conference. Lazo needs just one more goal to hit the 40-goal plateau.

The Thunderbirds beat the Ams for a third time this season with Sunday's win while also ending a four-game losing skid. The Thunderbirds are 8-19-5-2 on the road this season.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2010


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