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WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...

December 17, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League schedule enters the last weekend of play before the Christmas break, with 19 games on tap for Friday and Saturday night.

More Teddy Bear and Toque Toss events are in store for fans this weekend, with the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Moose Jaw Warriors set to hold their events on Friday, December 18th, and the Prince George Cougars holding their event on Saturday, December 19th.

In Calgary, AB, on Friday, it's Teddy Bear Toss Jersey Auction night when the Hitmen host the Regina Pats. Fans can bid on special Christmas jerseys the team wore during last Sunday's Teddy Bear Toss game, with net proceeds from the auction going to the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank.

In Portland, OR, Saturday night is the Great Airplane Toss when the Winterhawks host the Tri-City Americans. Fans can purchase paper airplanes to throw at targets on the ice for the chance to win great prizes, including $10,000. Proceeds from paper airplane sales go to the Portland Schools Foundation.

In Prince George, B.C., Friday night is "Ugly Blazer" night when the Cougars host the Kamloops Blazers.

In Vancouver, B.C., Friday night is Gordie Howe Night when the Giants host the Chilliwack Bruins. Fans in attendance will have the chance to win an autographed copy of "Nine: A Salute to Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe".

EIGHT WHL PLAYERS NAMED TO CANADA'S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM...

Regina, SK -Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Wednesday that 22 players that will make up Canada's National Junior Team for the upcoming 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatchewan, from December 26, 2009 to January 5, 2010.

Eight of the 22 players announced to the roster are from the Western Hockey League, including 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medalists Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert, both members of the Regina Pats. Also named to the roster is Brandon Wheat Kings forward Brayden Schenn, Calgary Hitmen's Martin Jones and Brandon Kozun, Kelowna Rockets forward Brandon McMillan, Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Travis Hamonic and Spokane Chiefs captain Jared Cowen.

Over the past five World Junior Championship tournaments, 49 WHL players have helped Team Canada capture five consecutive Gold medals. Over the past 10 years, WHL players have made up over 40% of Team Canada's National Junior roster, and close to 60% of Team Canada's defenseman corp.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY, LIVE ON SHAW...

Mark Pysyk and the Edmonton Oil Kings (9-19-4-4) welcome Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Red Deer Rebels (17-14-0-2) for a Central Division match-up on Friday night.

Friday's contest between the Oil Kings and Rebels can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW (7:00pm MST). It's the final SHAW broadcast of 2009.

The Oil Kings are coming off a 3-1 win over the visiting Regina Pats on Wednesday night that snapped an 11-game losing skid, and currently sit in fifth place in the Central Division. Edmonton is 5-7-2-1 on home ice this season. Pysyk, a top prospect for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, scored his sixth goal of the season in Wednesday's victory.

The Rebels are coming off a 3-2 victory over the visiting Pats on Tuesday night to improve to 4-0-0-2 over their last six games, and currently sit tied with Swift Current for eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Rebels' power play ranks second among all WHL teams on the road this season at 28.0 per cent efficiency. Nugent Hopkins (17g-18a) ranks fourth among all WHL rookies in scoring with 35 points this season.

It's the first meeting of the season between the Oil Kings and Rebels. Last season, the teams split six encounters. The Oil Kings and Rebels will meet up again on Saturday night in Red Deer.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...

Prince Albert Raiders vs Saskatoon Blades

Friday, Dec. 18 at Prince Albert, Saturday, Dec. 19 at Saskatoon

Craig McCallum and the Prince Albert Raiders (19-15-1-2) take on Walker Wintoneak and the Saskatoon Blades (23-6-1-3) for a home-and-home series between the East Division rivals this weekend.

The Raiders shut out the visiting Kelowna Rockets 3-0 on Tuesday night for their 14th home-ice victory of the season, and currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Raiders have posted a solid 14-7-1-2 record since October 20th. McCallum has tallied three goals and 15 assists for 18 points over his last nine games.

The Blades skated to a 4-1 win over the visiting Rockets on Wednesday night for their second straight victory, and moved into sole possession of top spot in the East Division with the win. The Blades have posted an outstanding 38-10-1-4 record on the road since the start of the 2008-09 season. Wintoneak leads the Blades with 17 goals and ranks second in points with 38 this season.

The Blades and Raiders have met up twice already this season, with each team winning once. Both games were decided by a shootout, and the home team won on each occasion.

Calgary Hitmen @ Medicine Hat Tigers

Saturday, December 19th

Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers (21-11-2-4) welcome Joel Broda and the Calgary Hitmen (25-8-1-1) for a battle between the top two teams in the Central Division on Saturday night.

The Tigers saw a five-game winning streak come to an end with a 6-4 loss to the Kootenay Ice on Tuesday night, but remain in second place in the Central Division and tied with Brandon for third place in the Eastern Conference. The Tigers have scored a WHL-best 156 goals this season. Rookie Emerson Etem has scored 26 goals this season, including four in three games versus the Hitmen.

The Hitmen edged the visiting Kootenay Ice 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday for their sixth victory in their last seven games, and currently hold a four-point lead over the Tigers for first place in the Central Division. The Hitmen have won a WHL-leading 15 road games this season. Broda has four goals and 12 points through six games in December.

It's the fourth meeting of the season between the Tigers and Hitmen. The Hitmen won the first two, but the Tigers won the most recent encounter last Friday. All three games between the teams have been decided in a shootout.

The Hitmen will host the Regina Pats prior to Saturday's meeting versus the Tigers.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - December 18 - 19

All times local

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WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV

Friday, Dec. 18

Regna @ Calgary; 7:00

Red Deer @ Edmonton; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**

Tri-City @ Everett; 7:35

Kootenay @ Lethbridge; 7:00

Brandon @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Swift Current @ Portland; 7:30

Saskatoon @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Kamloops @ Prince George; 7:00

Seattle @ Spokane; 7:00

Chilliwack @ Vancouver; 7:30

Saturday, Dec. 19

Moose Jaw @ Brandon; 7:30

Everett @ Chilliwack; 7:00

Lethbridge @ Kootenay; 7:00

Calgary @ Medicine Hat; 7:30

Tri-City @ Portland; 7:00

Kamloops @ Prince George; 7:00

Edmonton @ Red Deer; 7:30

Prince Albert @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Swift Current @ Seattle; 7:05

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2009


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