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WHL this Week: Looking Ahead ...

November 24, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its final weekend of play in November with 22 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...

In Brandon, MB, the Wheat Kings will Honor Former General Manager Glen Lawson at Friday night's game versus the Moose Jaw Warriors. Lawson, who was the Wheat Kings' first general manager when they joined the WHL in 1967, was recently inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and will be the first recipient of the Atom-Jet Group Innovator of the Month award in Friday's presentation.

In Edmonton, AB, Saturday night is Minor Hockey Night when the Oil Kings host the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Meanwhile, on Friday night, the Oil Kings will welcome a New Face to the line-up...in the form of a 41-goal scorer.

In Everett, WA, the Silvertips' annual Christmas House Holiday Drive is underway. Christmas House representatives will be at both ‚¬ËœTips' home games this weekend collecting new toys, stuffed animals and monetary donations to help provide a Merry Christmas to low-income families.

In Kamloops, B.C., Saturday night is the Blazers' Movember Stache Bash Shave Off.

In Portland, OR, the Winterhawks will let the Daylight Shine In at Veterans Memorial Coliseum when they host the Spokane Chiefs for an afternoon contest on Thanksgiving Weekend.

In Red Deer, AB, Saturday night is Toque Toss night when the Rebels host the Medicine Hat Tigers.

In Saskatoon, SK, Friday night is Secret Santa Night when the Blades host the Calgary Hitmen. Fans are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys to the contest for donation to help those less fortunate in the city. Meanwhile, Saturday night is Saskatoon Quakers Jersey night and Prostate Cancer Awareness Night when the Blades host the Vancouver Giants.

In Kent, WA, it's Marcel Noebels Bobblehead Night when the Seattle Thunderbirds host the Prince George Cougars.

In Spokane, WA, the Chiefs welcome Toys for Tots at their game on Saturday night versus Prince George. Toys for Tots will be at Chiefs' home games until December 17th collecting new, unwrapped toys for donation to needy children in the Spokane community.

In Kennewick, WA, the Americans will host their second annual Go Purple On Black Friday Fundraiser at Friday's contest versus the visiting Swift Current Broncos. The event aims to raise awareness and fund for the local chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

WHL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER - FALL ISSUE...

The WHL Alumni Association Executive Committee is proud to release the first edition of the WHL Alumni Association newsletter.

This newsletter will be a way for WHL Alumni Association members to stay up to date on WHL news, what fellow Alumni have been up to since graduating from the League, as well as much more. New features will be added to the newsletter as it grows during the coming months, as this is just another step in building strength and notoriety to the WHL Alumni Association.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW

Mark McNeill and the Prince Albert Raiders take on Brendan Gallagher and the Vancouver Giants on Friday night from the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, SK.

Friday's contest between the Raiders and Giants can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm CT).

The Raiders are coming off Wednesday night's 6-1 loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers for their sixth straight setback, and currently sit in sixth place in the East Division. The Raiders have dropped six of their last seven games on home ice. McNeill ranks second on the Raiders in scoring with 20 points this season.

The Giants suffered a 4-1 loss to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Sunday, stopping their winning streak at six games, but remain in first place in the B.C. Division. The Giants have won just four of 11 road games this season. Gallagher leads the Giants with 19 goals and 36 points.

It's the first and only meeting of the season between the Giants and Raiders. The Raiders won last year's lone encounter with a 5-3 victory in Vancouver on October 13, 2010.

SHAW will broadcast 32 WHL games during the 2011-12 WHL regular season.

FRIDAY NIGHT CHL HOCKEY ON ROGERS SPORTSNET

Michael St. Croix and the Edmonton Oil Kings host Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers for a Central Division showdown on Friday night.

Friday's contest marks the first WHL broadcast on Friday Night Hockey on Sportsnet. The contest can be seen live on Rogers Sportsnet One (7:00pm MT).

The Oil Kings cruised to a 10-3 victory over the Hurricanes in Lethbridge on Wednesday night, snapping a four-game losing skid on the road, and currently sit in fourth place in the Central Division. The Oil Kings have won six of eight home games this season. St. Croix racked up three goals and five points in Wednesday's win over the Hurricanes, and leads the Oil Kings with 28 points this season.

The Tigers snapped a five-game losing skid with a 6-1 victory in Prince Albert over the Raiders on Wednesday night, and currently sit four points up on Edmonton in second place in the division. The Tigers have scored the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference. Etem and Hunter Shinkaruk have combined for 51 of the Tigers' 102 goals this season.

It's the third meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals. The Tigers won both previous meetings versus Edmonton this season.

KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...

Calgary Hitmen @ Saskatoon Blades

Friday, November 25th

Josh Nicholls and the Saskatoon Blades host Cody Sylvester and the Calgary Hitmen on Friday for a battle between two of the WHL's hottest teams.

The Blades edged the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 4-3 in a shootout on Tuesday night to earn their eighth straight victory, and currently sit tied for first place in the overall WHL standings. Tuesday's win improved the Blades to 10-0 on home ice this season. Nicholls leads the Blades with 16 goals and 30 points.

The Hitmen claimed a 5-2 win in Moose Jaw over the Warriors on Wednesday for their second victory in as many nights, and currently sit in fifth place in the Central Division. The Hitmen have won six of their last nine games, and are 11-6-1 since October 16th. Sylvester has piled up eight goals and 15 points in nine games through November.

It's the third meeting of the season and third encounter in November between the Blades and Hitmen. The Blades won both previous meetings versus the Hitmen, most recently with a 6-5 triumph in Calary last weekend.

Spokane Chiefs @ Portland Winterhawks

Friday, November 25th

Sven Bartschi and the Portland Winterhawks take on Anthony Bardaro and the Spokane Chiefs for a U.S. Division battle on Friday night.

The Winterhawks fell 7-6 in a wild affair versus the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday, and currently sit in second place in the U.S. Division. The Winterhawks lead the Western Conference with 106 goals this season. Bartschi has three goals and six points in his last two games, and has piled up five goals and 22 points in just nine games through November.

The Chiefs edged the visiting Swift Current Broncos 3-2 on Wednesday for their second straight victory over a visiting East Division club, and currently sit in third place in the U.S. Division. The Chiefs trail the Hawks by seven points in the standings, but have played seven fewer games. Bardaro scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season on Wednesday.

It's the third meeting of the season between the Winterhawks and Chiefs. The Hawks won both games of a weekend double-header versus the Chiefs on November 11th and 12th, with both games being contested in Portland.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Nov. 25 - Nov. 27

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND

Friday, Nov. 25

Moose Jaw @ Brandon; 7:30

Medicine Hat @ Edmonton; 7:00 **Live on SPORTSNET**

Regina @ Everett; 7:35

Victoria @ Kamloops; 7:00

Kootenay @ Kelowna; 7:05

Spokane @ Portland; 3:00

Vancouver @ Prince Albert; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**

Lethbridge @ Red Deer; 7:30

Calgary @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Prince George @ Seattle; 7:35

Swift Current @ Tri-City; 7:05

Saturday, Nov. 26

Lethbridge @ Edmonton; 7:00

Swift Current @ Everett; 7:05

Seattle @ Kamloops; 7:00

Victoria @ Kelowna; 7:05

Brandon @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Calgary @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Red Deer; 7:30

Vancouver @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Prince George @ Spokane; 7:05

Regina @ Tri-City; 7:05

Sunday, Nov. 27

Swift Current @ Portland; 5:00

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