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WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...

Published on January 21, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League schedule enters its fourth weekend of play in January with 23 games on tap for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

WHL Clubs and their fans have all been saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the country of Haiti last week. Many Clubs have hosted or will be hosting fundraising events to collect funds for disaster relief efforts in the Caribbean country.

In Brandon, MB, the Wheat Kings are teaming up with Brandon's McDonalds restaurants for a Fundraising Campaign on Friday night when the Wheat Kings host the Prince Albert Raiders. Money raised will go to the Canadian Red Cross' International Response Fund for Haiti.

In Prince Albert, SK, the Raiders will be showing how Hockey Helps Haiti when they host the Kootenay Ice on Saturday night. Donations can be made to the Canadian Red Cross' International Response Fund for Haiti at the game.

In Prince George, B.C., the Cougars and their fans rallied to raise Over $2000 for aid relief for Haiti at their game last Saturday versus the Vancouver Giants.

In Swift Current, SK, the Broncos hosted a fundraising event at their game on Wednesday versus the Kootenay Ice.

Elsewhere around the WHL, the Seattle Thunderbirds will host their Teddy Bear Toss event when they welcome the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night.

TIGERS' EMERSON ETEM HELPS TEAM CHERRY TO TOP PROSPECTS WIN...

Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers scored a shorthanded marker to help lead Team Cherry to a 3-2 victory over Team Orr at the 2010 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game on Wednesday night in Windsor, ON.

Regina Pats' forward Jordan Weal also scored and Red Deer Rebels' defenseman Alex Petrovic chipped in two assists for Team Cherry while Nino Niederreiter of the Portland Winterhawks scored for Team Orr.

BLAZERS' NETMINDER KURTIS MUCHA SETS WHL RECORD...

20 year old goaltender Kurtis Mucha of the Kamloops Blazers has set the record for most minutes played by a WHL goaltender with 12,775 minutes played.

Mucha surpasses Kyle Moir's 12,774 minutes that he played, all with the Swift Current Broncos, from 2002-2006. Mucha broke this record against his former team the Portland Winterhawks in Wednesday night's 5-2 loss.

"We're thrilled for Kurtis to break this record in a Blazer uniform" says Blazers' General Manager Craig Bonner. "Kurtis has been a tremendous goaltender throughout his WHL career and has earned everything that he has accomplished ".

HURRICANES' "PINK THE RINK" RAISES $23,000 FOR CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY...

Lethbridge, AB -- The night ended as a 3-0 loss for the Lethbridge Hurricanes on home ice as they fell to the Calgary Hitmen. But in the end, everyone came out winners - especially the Canadian Cancer Society.

Saturday marked the end of the 1st annual Lethbridge Hurricanes "Pink in the Rink" Event - a two game event in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. In total, the Hurricanes were able to raise an amazing total of $23,000 dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY, LIVE ON SHAW...

Ian Schultz and the Calgary Hitmen (30-15-1-1) welcome Brendan Rowinski and the Moose Jaw Warriors (25-15-2-3) on Friday night.

Friday's game between the Hitmen and the Warriors can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW (7:00pm MST).

The Hitmen are coming off a 7-5 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Tuesday night for their second victory in their last three games, and currently share first place in the Central Division with Medicine Hat. The Hitmen are 14-6-0-1 on home ice this season. Schultz has just two assists over his last seven games.

The Warriors are coming off a 5-3 victory over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday for their second straight victory, and are 8-0-1-1 over their last 10 games. The Warriors have dropped five of their last seven road games. Rowinski, a former member of the Hitmen, leads the Warriors with 26 goals and shares the team lead in points with 49 this season.

It's the fourth and final meeting of the regular season between the Hitmen and Warriors. The Warriors won the first two meetings, but the Hitmen won the most recent encounter.

WINTERHAWKS HOST SILVERTIPS, LIVE ON FSN

Nino Niederreiter and the Portland Winterhawks (28-18-1-1) host Shane Harper and the Everett Silvertips (29-16-2-1) for a key U.S. Division battle on Friday night.

Friday's contest between the 'Tips and Hawks can be seen live throughout the Pacific Northwest on FSN (7:30pm PST).

The Winterhawks defeated the visiting Kamloops Blazers 5-2 on Wednesday night, improving them to 6-3-1 over their last 10 outings, and currently sit three points behind the Silvertips for second place in the U.S. Division. Niederreiter, along with Winterhawks' teammates Brad Ross, Troy Rutkowski and Ryan Johansen, participated in the 2010 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game on Wednesday in Windsor, ON, scoring a goal for Team Orr.

The Silvertips edged the visiting Vancouver Giants 3-2 on Wednesday night to stretch their winning streak to 10 games, but currently sit 10 points behind Tri-Cities for top spot in the U.S. Division. Harper scored the game-winner, his 29th of the season, on Wednesday night, which tied him with Zach Hamill for the Silvertips' all-time franchise leader in goals with 87.

It's the seventh meeting of the season between the 'Tips and Hawks. The Winterhawks won four of the first six meetings versus the Silvertips, but the 'Tips won the most recent encounter in Portland with a 2-1 win on January 3rd.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...

Saskatoon Blades vs Kootenay Ice

Friday, January 22nd

The WHL's hottest team pays a visit to the Eastern Conference's top dogs as Dustin Sylvester and the Kootenay Ice (29-15-1-2) drop in on Walker Wintoneak and the Saskatoon Blades (32-9-2-3) on Friday night.

The Blades are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers last Saturday, snapping a three-game winning streak, and currently sit in first place in the Eastern Conference. The Blades have dropped only three games in regulation at home all season. Wintoneak shares the Blades' team lead with 20 goals this season.

The Ice are coming off an 8-6 win over the Broncos in Swift Current on Wednesday night, stretching their winning streak to a WHL-best 13 games, and have climbed to within one point of a share of the Central Division lead. Five of Kootenay's 13 consecutive wins have come on the road. Sylvester enjoyed a five-point outing on Wednesday night, notching a goal and four assists in the team's win in Swift Current.

It's the third meeting of the season between the Blades and Ice. The teams split the first two meetings, with the home team winning on each occasion. In each of the previous two meetings, the winning team has put up eight goals.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - January 22-24

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV

Friday, Jan. 22

Prince Albert @ Brandon; 7:30

Moose Jaw @ Calgary; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**

Chilliwack @ Kamloops; 7:00

Edmonton @ Lethbridge; 7:00

Everett @ Portland; 7:30 **Live on FSN**

Kelowna @ Prince George; 7:00

Swift Current @ Regina; 7:00

Kootenay @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Vancouver @ Tri-City; 7:05

Saturday, Jan. 23

Kamloops @ Chilliwack; 7:00

Edmonton @ Medicine Hat; 7:30

Kootenay @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Kelowna @ Prince George; 7:00

Moose Jaw @ Red Deer; 7:30

Brandon @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Portland @ Seattle; 7:05

Regina @ Swift Current; 7:30

Spokane @ Tri-City; 7:05

Sunday, Jan. 24

Lethbridge @ Calgary; 2:00

Medicine Hat @ Edmonton; 5:00

Spokane @ Everett; 7:05

Vancouver @ Portland; 5:00

Kootenay @ Regina; 6:00

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2010


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