WHL Western Hockey League

WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...

Published on January 14, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League schedule enters its third weekend of play in January with a busy schedule of 25 games slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In Brandon, MB, three members of the Wheat Kings will be Honored for their participation at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship prior to Friday's contest versus the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. Brayden Schenn and Travis Hamonic, a former Warrior, both played for Team Canada, while Toni Rajala suited up for Finland at the tournament.

In Chilliwack, B.C., Friday night is Pink the Rink night when the Bruins host the visiting Everett Silvertips. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game, in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. The Bruins will be wearing pink for the occasion. In addition, $1 from every walk-up ticket sold to the game will be donated to the CCS.

In Kelowna, B.C., the Rockets have partnered with the RCMP to launch Project BLAST. Over the next five weeks, members of the Rockets will be making presentations at local middle schools to talk about their experience on the streets of downtown Vancouver with the Vancouver police department earlier in the season, and to talk about the dangers of using drugs.

In Lethbridge, AB, this weekend will also be a Pink the Rink weekend when the Hurricanes host the Spokane Chiefs on Friday and the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday. The 'Canes will be wearing special pink jerseys to be auctioned off at the end of the second game, and select players will also have their heads shaved with all proceeds going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition, the Olympic Torch will be on hand at the puck drop for Friday's game.

In Prince Albert, SK, members of the Raiders will hit the ice for their third practice session with a local Novice team on Monday as part of the Future Raiders program. The initiative will see the Raiders skate with every Novice team (ages 7-8) in the Prince Albert Minor Hockey system this season.

In Kennewick, WA, Saturday night is CH2M Hill Nuclear Night when the Americans host the Portland Winterhawks. The event, in conjunction with the CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company, will feature several activities to promote the atomic history of the region while raising money for the Americans' Players' Continuing Education Fund.

WHL ANNOUNCES 187 ALUMNI HAVE PLAYED IN THE NHL THIS SEASON...

The Western Hockey League is pleased to announce that over 21 percent of all players who have played in the National Hockey League this season are graduates of the WHL.

Of the 867 players who have appeared in an NHL game thus far this season, 187 are graduates of the WHL.

FLURRY OF ACTIVITY MARKS WHL TRADE DEADLINE...

The WHL's trade deadline was on Sunday, January 10th. Several WHL clubs made significant moves, with several high-profile players now wearing different jerseys.

CONNOLLY RANKED 4TH IN NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING'S MID-TERM RANKINGS...

NHL Central Scouting Service, on Monday, released their Mid-Term Rankings of 2010 Draft-Eligible players.

Prince George Cougars' forward Brett Connolly is the top-rated draft-eligible WHL prospect, coming in at No. 4 on the list. Connolly, a 17-year-old from Prince George, B.C., enjoyed a terrific season as a 16-year-old last year, scoring 30 goals and 60 points in 65 games to earn the WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year award.

Also making the top 10 is Edmonton Oil Kings' defenseman Mark Pysyk. The 17-year-old from Sherwood Park, AB, is currently the Oil Kings' leading scorer with 23 points on seven goals and 16 assists in 36 games. The smooth-skating rearguard suited up for Team WHL at the 2009 SUBWAY Super Series in November, and, along with Connolly, will take part in the 2010 Home Hardware CHL Top Prospects Game in Windsor, ON, on January 20th.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY, LIVE ON SHAW AND FSN...

Ryan Howse and the Chilliwack Bruins 20-20-1-5) take on Tyler Maxwell and the Everett Silvertips for a Western Conference match-up on Friday night.

Friday's game between the Bruins and the Silvertips can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and in the Pacific Northwest on FSN (7:00pm PST).

The Bruins suffered a 5-0 shutout loss in Kennewick, WA, to the Tri-City Americans last Sunday, wrapping up a three-game weekend U.S. Division road trip with a 1-2 record, and currently sit one point up on Kamloops for sixth place in the Western Conference. The Bruins are 11-10-0-3 at home this season. Howse leads all WHL players with 34 goals this season.

The Silvertips are coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Spokane Chiefs last Sunday to stretch their winning streak to six games, and currently sit seven points ahead of the Bruins in fifth place in the Western Conference. The 'Tips have won four straight and five of their last six games on the road. Maxwell ranks second on the 'Tips with 25 goals this season, but has gone five games without finding the back of the net.

It's the second of four meetings this season between the 'Tips and Bruins. The Silvertips edged the Bruins 4-3 in a shootout in Chilliwack on December 19th in the first encounter. The teams will meet up again in Everett on Saturday.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...

Saskatoon Blades vs Medicine Hat Tigers

Saturday, January 16th

Walker Wintoneak and the Saskatoon Blades welcome Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers for a battle between the Eastern Conference's top two teams on Saturday night.

The Blades have won their last two outings, including a 4-1 win over the visiting Calgary Hitmen in their most recent outing on Wednesday, and currently sit in first place in the East Division, the Eastern Conference and the overall WHL standings. The Blades' defense has allowed the fewest number of goals of any Eastern Conference team.

The Tigers suffered a 4-2 loss to the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday in their last outing, but remain two points ahead of the Hitmen for first place in the Central Division and second place in the Eastern Conference. The Tigers share the WHL lead for the most goals scored with 191 goals this season.

Saturday's meeting will mark the third of the season between the Blades and Tigers. The Blades won the first two encounters, defeating the Tigers 7-2 in Saskatoon on October 27th, then edging them 2-1 in a shootout in Medicine Hat on December 4th.

The Tigers are in Prince Albert on Friday night to face the Raiders while the Blades are in Swift Current to take on the Broncos prior to Saturday's head-to-head meeting.

Kootenay Ice vs Spokane Chiefs

Saturday, January 16th

Jesse Ismond and the Kootenay Ice host Mitch Wahl and the Spokane Chiefs for the continuation of their rivalry on Saturday night.

The Ice defeated the Oil Kings 4-2 in Edmonton on Wednesday in a rare afternoon contest to stretch their winning streak to a WHL-best 10 games. The Ice own an 11-3-0-1 record versus the Chiefs in 15 meetings in Cranbrook, B.C., over the last five seasons.

The Chiefs skated to a 4-2 win in Medicine Hat over the Tigers on Wednesday for their second victory in three games, and currently sit in third place in the Western Conference. The Chiefs are 13-5-2-1 on the road this season.

Saturday's encounter will be the third of the season between the Chiefs and Ice. The teams split a hard-fought home-and-home series on October 16th and 17th, with each team pulling out the win on home ice.

Spokane will be in Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes on Friday before their date with the Ice on Saturday.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - January 15-17

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV

Friday, Jan. 15

Moose Jaw @ Brandon; 7:30

Everett @ Chilliwack; 7:00 **Live on SHAW and FSN**

Red Deer @ Kamloops; 7:00

Portland @ Kelowna; 7:00

Spokane @ Lethbridge; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Vancouver @ Prince George; 7:00

Edmonton @ Regina; 7:00

Saskatoon @ Swift Current; 7:30

Seattle @ Tri-City; 7:05

Saturday, Jan. 16

Edmonton @ Brandon; 7:30

Chilliwack @ Everett; 7:05

Red Deer @ Kelowna; 7:00

Spokane @ Kootenay; 7:00

Calgary @ Lethbridge; 7:00

Prince Albert @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Vancouver @ Prince George; 7:00

Swift Current @ Regina; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Kamloops @ Seattle; 7:05

Portland @ Tri-City; 7:05

Sunday, Jan. 17

Kootenay @ Calgary; 5:00

Red Deer @ Chilliwack; 5:00

Seattle @ Everett; 5:05

Edmonton @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2010


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