WHL Western Hockey League

WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...

March 12, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2008-09 Western Hockey League schedule enters the last weekend of play with a full slate of 26 games on tap as teams tune up for the 2009 WHL playoffs.

The final weekend of regular-season play will see many teams pay tribute to their devoted followers with Fan Appreciation Night festivities.

In Brandon, Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night when the Wheat Kings host the Moose Jaw Warriors to close out the regular season.

It's also Fan Appreciation Night in Chilliwack on Friday when the Bruins meet the Prince George Cougars. The special event will include a tribute to Bruins' forward Jadon Potter.

In Edmonton, the Oil Kings will host their Fan Appreciation Night by donning the jersey of one lucky local minor hockey team at their contest versus the visiting Red Deer Rebels.

Also celebrating Fan Appreciation Night this weekend are the Everett Silvertips, the Moose Jaw Warriors, the Prince Albert Raiders, the Regina Pats, the Seattle Thunderbirds, the Swift Current Broncos and the Vancouver Giants.

In Kamloops, fans can see some of their favorite players take home hardware as the Blazers will hand out Team Awards prior to their encounter with the visiting Kelowna Rockets.

In Cranbrook, the Kootenay Ice, in conjunction with the Kootenay Ice Fan Club, will mark the end of their regular-season schedule by hosting a Tailgate Party prior to the Ice's contest versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

In Portland, the Winter Hawks will be paying tribute on Saturday to the city's original hockey dynasty and Oregon Sports Hall of Fame members the Portland Buckaroos.

In Saskatoon, it's Childrens Wish Foundation Night on Saturday night when the Blades host the Prince Albert Raiders.

In Spokane, Sunday is the Coca-Cola Regular-Season Finale when the Chiefs host the Kelowna Rockets. Events include Chiefs' award presentations.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW...

Evander Kane and the Vancouver Giants welcome Kellan Tochkin and the Everett Silvertips on Friday to kick off the final weekend of regular-season action for the 2008-09 WHL campaign.

Friday night's contest between the Giants and Silvertips can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW (7:30pm PST).

The Giants dropped a 3-1 decision to the Blazers in Kamloops on Wednesday despite firing 59 shots at Blazers' netminder Justin Leclerc, and have lost three of their last four outings to remain one point behind the Calgary Hitmen for first place overall in the WHL standings. The Giants have scored 164 more goals than they have allowed this season. Evander Kane leads all NHL draft-eligible players in the WHL with 46 goals this season.

The Silvertips are coming off a 7-2 loss in Spokane to the Chiefs on Wednesday for their third straight setback, and are already locked into seventh place in the Western Conference. Everett has made the playoffs in each of their first six seasons in the WHL. Kellan Tochkin (18g-51a) is tied for the WHL lead among rookie scorers with 69 points this season.

It's the sixth and final meeting of the regular season between the ‘Tips and Giants. The Giants won four of five previous meetings versus the Silvertips this season, but the ‘Tips did manage a 4-3 shootout win in Vancouver back in October.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...

Prince Albert Raiders vs Saskatoon Blades

The Prince Albert Raiders and the Saskatoon Blades are set for a crucial home-and-home series to close out their respective regular-season schedules with the Raiders hosting the Blades on Friday and the Blades entertaining the Raiders in the return leg on Saturday.

The Raiders are in a dogfight with the Edmonton Oil Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Currently trailing the Oil Kings by two points, and with each team having two remaining games, the Raiders need to win at least one game versus their East Division archrivals while hoping the Oil Kings lose at least once in order to secure a tiebreaker for the final playoff berth. The Raiders kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic come-from-behind win over Regina on Wednesday, which also eliminated the Pats from post-season contention.

The Blades currently hold a three-point lead over Brandon for first place in the East Division, with both teams having two remaining games. The Blades need just one more point from their remaining two games to clinch their first East Division title since 1993-94. The Blades will also be gunning for a WHL record 29th road victory when they visit the Raiders on Friday.

Edmonton Oil Kings vs Red Deer Rebels

The Edmonton Oil Kings and Red Deer Rebels hook up for a season-ending home-and-home series with the Oil Kings visiting Red Deer on Saturday and hosting the Rebels on Sunday.

The Oil Kings currently hold a two-point lead over Prince Albert for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with each team having two remaining games. The Oil Kings have their destiny in their hands as they can outright clinch the last playoff spot in the Conference by sweeping the Rebels.

Having been eliminated from playoff contention, the Rebels are looking to finish the 2008-09 season on a strong note by playing spoiler to their Central Division rivals in Edmonton. The Rebels are 4-3 over their last seven games. Landon Ferraro has 36 goals this season - the most by a Rebel since Matt Ellison tallied 40 goals during the 2002-03 season.

TIEBREAKER GAME, IF NECESSARY...

In the event that the Prince Albert Raiders and Edmonton Oil Kings finish the regular season tied on points for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, a sudden-death tiebreaker game will be played to determine the eighth and final playoff position in the Conference.

Should a tiebreaker game be necessary, it will be hosted by the Prince Albert Raiders on Tuesday, March 17th (7:30pm local).

The first tiebreaker to determine the host of the Tiebreaker game is Wins. Since the Raiders would have more victories than the Oil Kings in the event the clubs end up tied on points, the Raiders would be awarded the host team of the tiebreaker game.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - March 13 - March 15

All times local

Friday, Mar. 13

Prince George @ Chilliwack 7:00 Kelowna @ Kamloops 7:00 Kootenay @ Lethbridge 7:00 Brandon @ Moose Jaw 7:00 Saskatoon @ Prince Albert 7:30 Portland @ Seattle 7:35 Tri-City @ Spokane 7:00 Regina @ Swift Current 7:30 Everett @ Vancouver 7:30 **Live on SHAW**

Saturday, Mar. 14

Moose Jaw @ Brandon 7:30 Chilliwack @ Everett 7:05 Kamloops @ Kelowna 7:00 Lethbridge @ Kootenay 7:00 Calgary @ Medicine Hat 7:30 Seattle @ Portland 7:00 Edmonton @ Red Deer 7:30 Swift Current @ Regina 7:00 Prince Albert @ Saskatoon 7:05 Spokane @ Tri-City 7:05 Prince George @ Vancouver 7:00

Sunday, Mar. 15

Red Deer @ Edmonton 2:00 Calgary @ Lethbridge 6:00 Chilliwack @ Portland 5:00 Everett @ Seattle 5:05 Kelowna @ Spokane 6:00 Prince George @ Tri-City 5:05

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