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WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...

February 4, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League schedule enters first weekend of play in February with 19 games slated for Friday and Saturday. With the Super Bowl being played on Sunday, no WHL games are scheduled.

In Brandon, MB, another Canadian music icon will be joining in on the festivities at the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup. Legendary guitarist Randy Bachman will kick off the 2010 Manitoba Homecoming with a performance on May 15th as part of Manitoba's 140th birthday celebrations. The Wheat Kings already announced that Tom Cochrane will take the stage to rock FanFest at the MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament. Cochrane, a seven-time Juno award winner, will headline the Memorial Cup finals Weekend Social on May 22nd.

In Calgary, AB, the Hitmen will be hosting a Skate-A-Thon on Sunday to raise funds for breast cancer awareness. The event is part of the Hitmen's "Hockey Mums Fight Breast Cancer" promotion, in conjunction with Beattie Homes.

In Everett, WA, Saturday night is Fire Fighter Appreciation / Fire Safety Night when the Silvertips host the Spokane Chiefs.

In Kamloops, B.C., Sunday is the fourth and final Blueliner Breakfast of the season for the Kamloops Blazers. Fans can enjoy breakfast with their favorite Blazers players.

In Portland, OR, Friday night is Salute the Buckaroos night when the Winterhawks host the Seattle Thunderbirds. Hawks fans can pay tribute to Portland's original hockey dynasty team.

In Prince Albert, SK, Friday night is the 6th annual McDonald 's Night when the Raiders host the Swift Current Broncos. A raffle will be held for items such as an autographed Jordan Eberle Team Canada jersey, with all proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House.

In Kent, WA, Saturday night is Valley Medical Heart Health Awareness Night when the Seattle Thunderbirds host the Portland Winterhawks. In conjunction with the Kent Fire Department, VMC is offering free blood sugar, blood pressure and peripheral artery screenings as well as CPR demonstrations.

28 WHL GRADUATES TO COMPETE FOR OLYMPIC HOCKEY GOLD

Calgary, AB -- The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 28 WHL alumni will participate in the 2010 Winter Olympic hockey tournament in Vancouver, B.C., later this month.

12 countries will compete for an Olympic Gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics including Belarus, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Seven of the 12 competing entries have at least one WHL graduate on their roster. Canada and Slovakia each boast eight WHL graduates, the Czechs have four WHL alumni, and Switzerland and Germany each have three.

WASTE MANAGEMENT CALLS ON WHL FANS TO HELP FEED THE HUNGRY...

Calgary, AB - Waste Management of Canada (WM) together with program partners the Western Hockey League (WHL) and District Food Banks have been planning food drives across WHL markets in 2010. We have been asking fans to show their support for those less fortunate in their community by bringing a non-perishable food item or cash donation to various WHL games from January through until March.

"This is the very time of year these services are needed most," says WM's Diane Kossman, Senior Communications Manager for Western Canada. "Reserves are low after the holiday season but demand remains high and as more Canadians turn to food banks in the wake of the economic recession, donations continue to decline. We're challenging WHL fans to reverse this trend and support their local food bank."

TIGERS' LINDEN VEY NAMED HUSKY WHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY...

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that forward Linden Vey, of the Medicine Hat Tigers, has been named the HUSKY WHL Player of the Month for January.

The 18-year-old forward from Wakaw, Saskatchewan, notched 25 points through the month of January finding the net eight times and accumulating 17 assists to go along with a +4 rating. Vey led all WHL players in scoring through January, picking up points in 13 of his 15 games played, six of which were multi-point nights, including two five-point games, elevating him to the Tigers' scoring lead this season.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY, LIVE ON SHAW...

Rookie phenom Shane McColgan and the Kelowna Rockets (26-25-2-2) host gritty veteran Carter Bancks and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (16-32-3-2) on Friday night.

Friday's contest between the Rockets and Hurricanes can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW (7:00pm PST).

The Rockets skated to their seventh consecutive victory with a 5-4 shootout win over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday, and currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Kelowna's power play is clicking at a 28.5 per cent clip on home ice this season. McColgan ranks second among WHL rookies in scoring with 58 points this season.

The Hurricanes are coming off an 11-1 thrashing at the hands of the Vancouver Giants in Langley, B.C, on Wednesday night for their sixth straight defeat. The 'Canes have been outscored 20-3 over their last two games, and by a 38-11 margin over the course of their six-game slide. Bancks leads the Hurricanes with 45 points this season.

It's the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The teams split two meetings last year, with each team winning on home ice.

WINTERHAWKS HOST THUNDERBIRDS FRIDAY NIGHT, LIVE ON FSN

Chris Francis and the Portland Winterhawks (32-20-2-1) host Prab Rai and the Seattle Thunderbirds (14-29-5-4) for a U.S. Division match-up on Friday night.

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

The Winterhawks dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime to the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday night, snapping a two-game win streak, and currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Hawks are 6-2-2 over their last 10 home games. Francis has scored eight goals and 16 points in eight games versus Seattle this season.

The Thunderbirds are coming off Sunday's 2-1 overtime setback to the visiting Kelowna Rockets for their ninth consecutive loss. The Thunderbirds are 6-16-3-2 on the road this season. Prab Rai has scored 29 goals this season, representing nearly a quarter of the entire Thunderbirds' offensive output.

It's the ninth meeting of the season between the division rivals. Portland has won all eight previous meetings versus Seattle this season. The teams will meet up again in Kent, WA, on Saturday.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...

Brandon Wheat Kings vs Saskatoon Blades

Saturday, February 6th

Stefan Elliott and the Saskatoon Blades welcome Matt Calvert and the Brandon Wheat Kings for an epic East Division battle on Saturday night.

The Blades fell 7-4 in Prince Albert on Wednesday night for their fifth defeat in their last seven outings, and currently trail the Wheat Kings by one point for first place in the East Division and Eastern Conference. The Blades have dropped four of their last five games at home. Elliott has five points (1g-4a) in five games versus Brandon this season.

The Wheat Kings skated to a 5-3 win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday for their sixth win in a row, allowing them to overtake the Blades for top spot in the division and conference. The Wheat Kings are the WHL's highest-scoring team this season, having netted 236 goals so far. Calvert has scored eight goals in five appearances versus the Blades this season.

It's the sixth meeting of the season between the division rivals. The Wheat Kings have won four of five previous encounters with the Blades this season, including both previous visits to Saskatoon.

The Wheat Kings host the red-hot Kootenay Ice and the Blades are in Regina to face the Pats on Friday prior to Saturday's head-to-head meeting.

Tri-City Americans vs Vancouver Giants

Saturday, February 6th

James Wright and the Vancouver Giants host Johnny Lazo and the Tri-City Americans for a battle between division leaders on Saturday night.

The B.C. Division-leading Giants are coming off an 11-1 thrashing of the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday for their third victory in their last four games. Wright notched a goal and three assists in Wednesday's win over the Hurricanes, giving him five points in four games since returning to the Giants from the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Americans have been idle since dropping a 3-0 decision in Calgary to the Hitmen on Sunday, but remain comfortably in first place in the U.S. Division. The Americans have surrendered the fewest number of goals of any WHL team this season.

It's the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Giants and Ams. Tri-Cities won all three previous meetings versus Vancouver this season.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - February 5 - 6

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV

Friday, Feb. 5

Kootenay @ Brandon; 7:30

Lethbridge @ Kelowna; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**

Red Deer @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

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

Swift Current @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Edmonton @ Prince George; 7:00

Saskatoon @ Regina; 7:00

Kamloops @ Spokane; 7:00

Everett @ Vancouver; 7:30 (Langley)

Saturday, Feb. 6

Medicine Hat @ Calgary; 7:00

Kelowna @ Chilliwack; 7:00

Spokane @ Everett; 7:05

Lethbridge @ Kamloops; 7:00

Edmonton @ Prince George; 7:00

Kootenay @ Regina; 7:00

Brandon @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Portland @ Seattle; 7:05

Red Deer @ Swift Current; 7:30

Tri-City @ Vancouver; 7:00 (Langley)

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