WHL Western Hockey League

WHL This Week: Looking Ahead...

Published on March 4, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League regular season enters its first weekend of play in March and the second-last weekend of play before the start of the WHL playoffs. Fans can expect plenty of action as a handful of teams clamor for the final available playoff spots while others battle for key playoff positioning.

In Calgary, AB, Sunday is the Beattie Homes Hockey Mums Fight Breast Cancer Game when the Hitmen take on the visiting Saskatoon Blades. During the game the Calgary Hitmen will wear their pink themed jerseys and use pink sticks for the warm-up and first period. The goal is to make a significant contribution to support breast cancer research with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for this disease.

In Edmonton, AB, Saturday is Career Night when the Oil Kings host the Saskatoon Blades. High School-aged fans can attend an open forum with executives from the Oil Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Edmonton Capitals and Junior Achievement prior to the game.

In Kamloops, B.C., the Blazers are proud to announce that long-time Billet Coordinator Doris Rubel will be Inducted into the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame. Rubel has been a junior hockey billet coordinator in Kamloops for 41 years.

In Cranbrook, B.C., Friday night is Jersey off the Back night when the Kootenay Ice host the Medicine Hat Tigers. Fans can bid on game-worn jerseys from that night's game, with the winning bidders getting the opportunity to meet the players after the game. All proceeds go to the Kootenay Ice Scholarship Fund.

In Portland, OR, the Winterhawks will honor the Inaugural Inductees to the franchise's Hall of Fame on Friday night when the Tri-City Americans come to town. The late Brian Shaw will join Ken Hodge, Innes Mackie and Dennis Holland as the first inductees to the Hawks' Hall of Fame. Also, on Saturday night, the Winterhawks are encouraging fans to bring canned food donations in support of a Food Drive to benefit the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division.

In Prince George, B.C., Saturday night is Parents and Billets Night when the Cougars host the Everett Silvertips. Parents and billets of the Cougars' players will receive the red carpet welcome and thanks prior to the game.

EIGHT WHL GRADUATES HELP CANADA CAPTURE OLYMPIC GOLD...

The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that eight WHL alumni captured a Gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic hockey tournament in Vancouver, BC as Team Canada defeated USA in the men's hockey final. In total 28 WHL alumni participated in the men's hockey tournament.

HAWKS' LUCA SBISA REFLECTS ON OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE WITH SWITZERLAND...

Portland, OR -- Luca Sbisa allowed himself an instant to take in the moment, to take a quick look around to gather memories and experiences in his mind.

Here he was, 20 years old and representing his country in the Olympics. His underdog Swiss team was pushing the heavily favored Canadians to the brink on their home ice, with over 17,000 people in Canada Hockey Place trying to will the home side to victory, with tens of millions more watching on television..

CHIEFS' TYLER JOHNSON NAMED HUSKY WHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY...

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that forward Tyler Johnson, of the Spokane Chiefs, has been named the HUSKY WHL Player of the Month for February.

The 19-year-old forward from Spokane, Washington, notched 24 points through the month of February finding the net 10 times and accumulating 14 assists to go along with a +8 rating. Johnson led all WHL players in scoring through February, picking up points in 10 of his 13 games played, 10 of which were multi-point nights, including four three-point games.

HITMEN vs BRONCOS, THURSDAY ON ROGERS SPORTSNET...

Joel Broda and the Calgary Hitmen (46-17-1-2) host Michael Stickland and the Swift Current Broncos (34-29-0-4) on Thursday night, live on Rogers Sportsnet (7:00pm MST).

The Hitmen are coming off a 5-0 shutout win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Tuesday for their eighth victory in their last 10 games, and clinched the Central Division title for a third consecutive season in the process. Calgary's penalty killing unit ranks first in the WHL. Broda has goals in each of his last four games.

The Broncos earned a 5-2 win over the visiting Regina Pats on Tuesday for their third win in a row, and, own a five-point lead over the Raiders for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Stickland earned the WHL and CHL Player of the Week honors after piling up three goals and eight points over his last four games.

It's the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the Broncos and Hitmen. Calgary won all three previous meetings versus the Broncos, outscoring them 12-4 in the process.

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

Shane McColgan and the Kelowna Rockets (30-30-2-4) host Colin Jacobs and the Seattle Thunderbirds (17-36-7-5) on Friday night.

Friday's contest between the Rockets and T-Birds can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and throughout the Pacific Northwest on FSN (7:00pm PST).

The Rockets edged the visiting Spokane Chiefs 3-2 in a shootout on Wednesday night for their second win in their last three games, and currently occupy sixth place in the Western Conference. The Rockets are 17-12-1-3 on home ice this season. McColgan (24g-42a) leads the Rockets in scoring with 66 points this season.

The Thunderbirds dropped a pair of contests on the weekend after winning their previous three games, and currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference. The T-Birds are 8-18-5-2 on the road, but won their last two road contests. Jacobs (12g-11a) leads all T-Birds' rookies in scoring with 23 points.

It's the fourth and final meeting of the season between the T-Birds and Rockets. The Rockets won two of three previous encounters with the Thunderbirds.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS...

Portland Winterhawks vs Spokane Chiefs

Friday, March 5th

Nino Niederreiter and the Portland Winterhawks (40-24-2-1) welcome Kyle Beach and the Spokane Chiefs (40-21-3-2) for an important U.S. Division battle on Friday night.

The Winterhawks are coming off a 5-1 loss to the visiting Tri-City Americans on Tuesday, snapping a two-game win streak, and currently trail the Chiefs by two points for fourth place in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage through the first playoff round. The Hawks have played one more game than the Chiefs. Niederreiter scored his 35th goal of the season in Tuesday's loss.

The Chiefs are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in Kelowna to the Rockets on Wednesday for just their second setback in their last 11 games, and currently trail Everett by four points for third place in the Western Conference. The Chiefs are 20-9-2-2 on the road this season. Beach has four goals and seven points in seven games versus Portland this season.

It's the eight meeting of the season between the U.S. Division rivals. Portland has won five of seven previous meetings versus the Chiefs.

Calgary Hitmen vs Saskatoon Blades

Sunday, March 7th

Brandon Kozun and the Calgary Hitmen take on Derek Hulak and the Saskatoon Blades on Sunday for a showdown with implications on who may wind up as the Eastern Conference champion.

The Hitmen have won three straight and 14 of their last 16 games, and currently sit in first place in the Eastern Conference. The Hitmen boast a solid 22-8-0-2 record on Saddledome ice. Kozun currently sits three points back of Regina's Jordan Eberle for the WHL scoring lead.

The Blades dropped a 5-3 decision in Brandon to the Wheat Kings on Wednesday for their second straight loss, and now sit one point back of the Wheat Kings for top spot in the East Division and two points back of Calgary for top spot in the Conference. Hulak scored his 30th goal of the season in Wednesday's loss to the Wheaties.

It's the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the Blades and Hitmen. The Blades won two of three previous meetings versus the Hitmen, including a 5-1 victory in Calgary in October.

The Hitmen host the Swift Current Broncos on Thursday and visit Kootenay on Friday before Sunday's game versus the Blades. Saskatoon is in Edmonton on Saturday to take on the Oil Kings before heading to Calgary on Sunday.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - March 5 - 7

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV

Friday, Mar. 5

Moose Jaw @ Brandon; 7:30

Tri-City @ Chilliwack; 7:00

Vancouver @ Kamloops; 7:00

Seattle @ Kelowna; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Kootenay; 7:00

Spokane @ Portland; 7:30

Everett @ Prince George; 7:00

Swift Current @ Red Deer; 7:30

Lethbridge @ Regina; 7:00

Saturday, Mar. 6

Saskatoon @ Edmonton; 7:00

Vancouver @ Kelowna; 7:00

Calgary @ Kootenay; 7:00

Red Deer @ Medicine Hat; 7:30

Lethbridge @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Tri-City @ Portland; 7:00

Everett @ Prince George; 7:00

Prince Albert @ Regina; 7:00

Spokane @ Seattle; 7:05

Sunday, Mar. 7

Saskatoon @ Calgary; 2:00

Vancouver @ Chilliwack; 5:00

Prince George @ Kamloops; 6:00

Edmonton @ Medicine Hat; 6:00

Brandon @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Tri-City @ Seattle; 5:05

Check out the Western Hockey League Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2010


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central