WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...
January 7, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League schedule enters its second weekend of play in January with 22 games slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In Brandon, MB, Friday night is Family Skate Night when the Wheat Kings host the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. Fans are encouraged to bring their skates and join their favorite Wheat Kings players on the ice following the game.
In Kamloops, B.C., Sunday is the third Blueliner Breakfast of the season for the Kamloops Blazers. Fans can enjoy breakfast with their favorite Blazers players.
In Prince Albert, SK, the Raiders will be wearing Special Jerseys for Saturday night's game versus the Moose Jaw Warriors in commemoration of the arrival of the Olympic torch on January 11th. Following the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Raiders Education Fund.
In Kent, WA, Northwest Harvest is continuing their quest to replenish food supplies for its network of food banks after the holiday season. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to both Seattle Thunderbirds games this weekend.
In Kennewick, WA, it's Skate with the Americans night on Sunday. Fans can lace up the skates and hit the ice with the Ams players following their contest versus the Chilliwack Bruins.
WHL PLAYERS TYLER JOHNSON AND LUKE WALKER HELP U.S.A WIN WORLD JUNIOR GOLD...
Forwards Tyler Johnson of the Spokane Chiefs and Luke Walker of the Portland Winterhawks helped Team U.S.A. defeat Team Canada 6-5 in overtime to win the 2010 World Junior Championship on Tuesday, January 5th, in Saskatoon, SK.
WHL TRADE DEADLINE APPROACHING...
The WHL's trade deadline is on Sunday, January 10th, at 3:00pm MST.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY, LIVE ON SHAW...
Mark Pysyk and the Edmonton Oil Kings (10-22-4-6) take on Craig Cunningham and the Vancouver Giants (26-14-1-2) on Friday night.
Friday's contest between the Oil Kings and Giants can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW (7:00pm MST).
The Oil Kings are coming off back-to-back losses to the Red Deer Rebels last weekend, stretching their losing skid to five games, and currently sit in sixth place in the Central Division. The Oil Kings are 6-9-2-2 on home ice this season. Pysyk (7g-15a) ranks second on the Oil Kings in scoring with 22 points this season.
The Giants are coming off a 6-2 win in Red Deer on Wednesday night for their second straight victory, and currently hold a comfortable 11-point lead for first place in the B.C. Division. The Giants are in the midst of a 10-game road trip - one of two 10-game road trips they will embark upon in the next two months. Cunningham currently leads all WHL players in scoring with 65 points this season.
It's the third meeting of the season between the Giants and Oil Kings. The Giants won both previous meetings versus Edmonton, with both games being contested in Vancouver. The Oil Kings are 0-5 all-time versus the Giants.
SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS VS EVERETT SILVERTIPS, FRIDAY NIGHT ON FSN
Calvin Pickard and the Seattle Thunderbirds (13-22-2-4) welcome Tyler Maxwell and the Everett Silvertips (23-16-2-1) for a battle between U.S. Division rivals on Friday night.
Friday's contest can be seen on FSN following the Pac-10 basketball game (9:30pm PST).
The Thunderbirds dropped a 3-2 decision to the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Sunday for their fifth straight setback, and currently sit in fifth place in the U.S. Division. Calvin Pickard ranks second among all WHL netminders with an outstanding.921 save percentage this season.
The Silvertips stretched their winning streak to four games with a 6-2 win in Kelowna over the Rockets on Wednesday night, and currently sit in fourth place in the U.S. Division. Maxwell has racked up five goals and nine points in six games versus the T-Birds this season.
It's the seventh meeting of the season between the division rivals. The 'Tips and T-Birds split the first six meetings.
KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...
Calgary Hitmen vs Vancouver Giants
Saturday, January 9th
Brandon Kozun and the Calgary Hitmen (27-11-1-1) battle Brendan Gallagher and the Vancouver Giants (26-14-2-1) in a match-up of division leaders on Saturday night.
The Hitmen have dropped three of their last four games, but remain one point ahead of Medicine Hat for top spot in the Central Division, with four games in hand on the Tigers. The Hitmen's power play has dropped to third in the WHL, operating at 27.0 percent efficiency.
The Giants are winners of two straight and currently hold a formidable 11-point cushion at the top of the B.C. Division standings. Vancouver is gunning for a fifth consecutive division title, which would make them the second team in WHL history to accomplish the feat, along with the Kamloops Blazers (83-84 to 87-88).
Saturday's meeting will be the third of the season between the Giants and Hitmen. Calgary won both previous meetings this season, with both victories coming in Vancouver.
The Hitmen host Kootenay on Thursday and the Giants are in Edmonton on Friday prior to Saturday's clash.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - January 8-10
All times local
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WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV
Friday, Jan. 8
Medicine Hat @ Brandon; 7:30
Vancouver @ Edmonton; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**
Kelowna @ Kamloops; 7:00
Lethbridge @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Swift Current @ Red Deer; 7:30
Moose Jaw @ Regina; 7:00
Everett @ Seattle; 7:35 **FSN**
Chilliwack @ Spokane; 7:00
Prince George @ Tri-City; 7:05
Saturday, Jan. 9
Vancouver @ Calgary; 7:00
Swift Current @ Edmonton; 7:00
Kamloops @ Kelowna; 7:00
Red Deer @ Kootenay; 7:00
Chilliwack @ Portland; 7:00
Moose Jaw @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Medicine Hat @ Regina; 7:00
Lethbridge @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Prince George @ Seattle; 7:05
Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:00
Sunday, Jan. 10
Spokane @ Everett; 5:05
Vancouver @ Medicine Hat; 6:00
Chilliwack @ Tri-City; 5:05
Western Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2010
- Kootenay Ice Edge Calgary Hitmen 2-1 - Calgary Hitmen
- Hutt's Season Is Finished - Regina Pats
- WHL This Week: Looking Ahead... - WHL
- Friday Is Family Skate Night - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Tomorrow Is Jordan Eberle Bobblehead Night - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes Trade For McDermott - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Warriors Reassign Scott & Recall Gayle - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Cougars And Kellogg's Host Student Night January 16 Vs. Vancouver Giants - Prince George Cougars
- Roughrider Wes Cates To Attend January 13 Game - Swift Current Broncos
- Blades Jump Two Spots To Fourth - Saskatoon Blades
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
