WHL this Week: Looking Ahead ...
Published on November 18, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2009-10 Western Hockey League regular season enters its third weekend of action in November with a heavy schedule of 23 games set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In Cranbrook, B.C., the Kootenay Ice will wrap up their Grow-vember campaign by helping the RecPlex become a Sea of 'Staches on Saturday night when the Prince Albert Raiders come to town. Volunteers from the Canadian Cancer Society will hand out fake mustaches so all fans can sport facial hair to help support and raise awareness of mens' cancers. The Ice players will also have their 'staches shaved at center ice following the game.
In Lethbridge, AB, this weekend is Pink the Rink when the Hurricanes host the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday and the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday. Players will be sporting special pink jerseys which will be auctioned off in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
In Medicine Hat, AB, the Tigers are encouraging fans to support a Clothing Drive on Sunday when the Prince Albert Raiders pay a visit. Fans are encouraged to bring winter clothing for donation.
In Red Deer, AB, fans will be treated to a Fireworks Show following the Rebels' contest versus the Swift Current Broncos.
In Kent, WA, it's going to be a busy weekend at the ShoWare Center when the Thunderbirds host the Spokane Chiefs on Friday and the Everett Silvertips on Saturday. Several fun events are planned, including a Turkey Shoot.
In Vancouver, B.C., Friday night is the Celebrity Dash for Cash when the Giants host the Regina Pats. Some lucky fans will have the chance to pocket $10,000 worth of frozen loonies. Several local media celebrities will also participate in support of charities of their choice.
RUSSIA TOPS TEAM WHL IN GAME 5 OF SUBWAY SUPER SERIES...
Kamloops, B.C. - Russia pulled off a 7-6 victory in a shootout over Team WHL in Game 5 of the 2010 SUBWAY Super Series on Wednesday night in Kamloops, B.C. The victory improves the Russians to 3-1-1 versus the CHL through five games of the series.
The sixth and final game of the SUBWAY Super Series is set for Thursday night with the Russians taking on Team WHL in Prince George, B.C.
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING RELEASES FALL RANKINGS...
Calgary, AB - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels tops the list of Western Hockey League draft-eligible skaters in NHL Central Scouting's fall preliminary rankings for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Nugent-Hopkins, 17, is in his second season with the Rebels, and currently ranks second on the team and tied for eighth in the WHL in scoring. The Burnaby, B.C., product is the reigning WHL Rookie of the Year after putting up 24 goals and 65 points for the Rebels as a 16-year-old in 2009-10. He was the first overall selection in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft.
33 WHL PLAYERS NAMED TO UNDER-17 TEAMS...
Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 33 current WHL players have been named to Team West and Team Pacific for the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Manitoba in December and January.
20 WHL players will suit up for Team Pacific at the tournament, including Red Deer Rebels defenseman Matt Dumba and Prince George Cougars forward Troy Bourke. 13 WHLers will play for Team West, including Regina Pats forward Chandler Stephenson and Portland Winterhawks rearguard Derrick Pouliot.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW...
Scott Glennie and the Brandon Wheat Kings host Matt MacKenzie and the Calgary Hitmen for a match-up between the WHL's two Memorial Cup participants last year.
Friday's contest between the Wheat Kings and Hitmen can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:30pm).
The Wheat Kings suffered a 4-2 loss to the visiting Portland Winterhawks on Tuesday night, snapping a three-game winning streak, and currently sit in fourth place in the East Division. The Wheat Kings' power play is clicking at 21.3 per cent effectiveness at home this season. Glennie leads the Wheat Kings with 20 assists and ranks second with 25 points this season.
The Hitmen have been idle since dropping a 6-2 decision to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Sunday, stretching their losing skid to 12 games, and currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference. The Hitmen are 2-5-1 on the road this season. Calgary completed a five-player trade with Moose Jaw this week, sending Cody Beach and MacKenzie Royer to the Warriors for forwards Danny Gayle and Nathan MacMaster and goaltender Brandon Glover.
It's the first meeting of the season between the Wheat Kings and Hitmen. The Wheat Kings won three of four regular-season meetings versus the Hitmen last year, but Calgary eliminated Brandon in the Eastern Conference Championship series en route to capturing the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The Wheat Kings also defeated the Hitmen in overtime in the semi-final of the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament.
SHAW will broadcast 30 WHL games during the 2010-11 season.
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UP...
Kootenay Ice vs Saskatoon Blades Friday, Nov. 19th
Matt Fraser and the Kootenay Ice welcome Curtis Hamilton and the Saskatoon Blades for a match-up of division leaders on Friday night.
The Ice are coming off a 6-2 victory over the Hitmen in Calgary on Sunday for their fourth straight win, and currently lead the Central Division standings. Three of the four wins on the Ice's current win streak have come against the Hitmen. Fraser signed an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars this week.
The Blades are coming off a 4-3 victory over the visiting Portland Winterhawks last Friday for their third win in four games, and currently lead the East Division and sit three points back of the Ice for top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Blades are 6-4 on the road this season. Hamilton scored the game-winner in last Friday's win over the League-leading Winterhawks.
It's the first meeting of the season between the Ice and Blades. Kootenay took three of four meetings versus Saskatoon last year.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE â November 19 - 21
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON
WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Nov. 19
Calgary @ Brandon; 7:30
**Live on SHAW**
Tri-City @ Chilliwack; 7:30
Kamloops @ Everett; 7:35
Saskatoon @ Kootenay; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Kelowna @ Prince George; 7:00
Swift Current @ Red Deer; 7:30
Spokane @ Seattle; 7:35
Regina @ Vancouver; 7:30
Saturday, Nov. 20
Moose Jaw @ Brandon; 7:30
Regina @ Chilliwack; 7:00
Red Deer @ Edmonton; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Kootenay; 7:00
Saskatoon @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Swift Current @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Kamloops @ Portland; 7:00
Kelowna @ Prince George; 7:00
Everett @ Seattle; 7:05
Spokane @ Tri-City; 7:05
Sunday, Nov. 21
Prince Albert @ Medicine Hat; 6:00
Calgary @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Spokane @ Portland; 5:00
Everett @ Tri-City; 5:05
Western Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2010
- $10,000 Grand Prize up for Grabs at Great Airplane Toss - Portland Winterhawks
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead ... - WHL
- Pelss Picked to Compete at World U-20 Championship - Edmonton Oil Kings
- A&W Toque and Mitten Toss December 4 - Kootenay Ice
- Pat Chat BC Edition Day 1 and Day 2 - Regina Pats
- Rockets Deal Corbin - Kelowna Rockets
- Raiders Acquire 18 year-old Antoine Corbin from Kelowna - Prince Albert Raiders
- Cowen Assists on a Pair in WHL Loss - Spokane Chiefs
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