WHL this Week: Looking Ahead
Published on January 27, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB ¬" The 2010-11 Western Hockey League regular season enters its fifth weekend of action in January with a schedule of 23 games set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In Everett, WA, the Silvertips will host the second annual Snohomish County Law Enforcement Memorial Fundraiser on Friday night when the Seattle Thunderbirds come to town. The fund was created last year for the sole purpose of providing immediate financial assistance to the surviving spouse and children of any officer in Snohomish County killed in the line of duty.
In Moose Jaw, SK, the Warriors will be Signing Hockey Cards on Sunday at Sobey ¬â¢s. Fans can get the autograph of their favorite Warriors player.
In Saskatoon, SK, the NHL is Coming to the home of the Saskatoon Blades. The Chicago Blackhawks announced they will host the Edmonton Oilers for a pre-season contest at Credit Union Center on September 20, 2011.
In Kent, WA, Saturday is Teddy Bear Toss night when the Seattle Thunderbirds host the Portland Winterhawks.
In Vancouver, B.C., the Giants continue to celebrate their 10th Anniversary with another installment of Giants Alumni Night on Friday when the Kamloops Blazers come to town. Fans can take home a Gilbert Brule bobblehead doll as the Giants pay tribute to one of the best players to wear the Giants ¬â¢ jersey
BLADES ¬â¢ HEAD COACH LORNE MOLLEKEN REACHES 500-WIN MARK ¬Â¦
Edmonton, AB ¬" (Courtesy the Saskatoon StarPhoenix) Saskatoon Blades head coach Lorne Molleken has joined some pretty elite company. After his Blades defeated the hometown Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 on Wednesday night, Molleken became just the fifth coach in WHL history to record 500 regular season wins.
"Everybody was fighting for that one because it was a very good milestone and he deserved that one because he's a very good coach." said Marek Viedensky. "I think this is just a small step for him and I think that he will get 1,000 wins."
WHL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT ¬â¢S DREAM COMES TRUE ¬Â¦
Vancouver, BC (Courtesy CP) -- Jordan White got the best seat in the house to watch a goaltending clinic last Thursday night.
The former Prince George Cougar, recipient of the WHL Scholarship and University of British Columbia netminder signed a one-game amateur tryout contract to be the emergency backup for the San Jose Sharks before their 2-1 NHL shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
He got to watch Shark goalie Antti Niemi make 36 saves and stone Canucks Mason Raymond, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler in the shootout.
WHL GRAD BUTLER NAMED CANADA WEST MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK ¬Â¦
Dustin Butler continues to lead Canada West goaltenders statistically ¬" but of his eight wins on the season, none were bigger than the two he earned over the No. 3 Alberta Golden Bears last weekend.
Over the two-game sweep by the Dinos, Butler posted a sparkling 1.00 goals-against average, a .957 save percentage, and a shutout as Calgary came out on top in the latest edition of the provincial rivalry with a 3-2 win in Edmonton and a 1-0 shutout in Calgary.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW ¬Â¦
Tyson Barrie and the Kelowna Rockets (27-20-0-0) welcome Brett Connolly and the Prince George Cougars (24-21-2-1) for a clash between B.C. Division rivals on Friday night
Friday ¬â¢s contest between the Cougars and Rockets can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm PST).
The Rockets are coming off a successful weekend where they won three games in as many nights on a three-day US. Division tour, beating Seattle, Spokane and Tri-Cities, and currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Rockets own a 14-10 record on home ice this season. Barrie ranks eighth among all WHL defensemen in scoring with 37 points in just 30 games.
The Cougars earned their second win in a row with a 9-5 victory over the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday night, and currently sit three points behind the Rockets in sixth place in the Western Conference. The Cougars snapped a six-game losing skid on the road with Saturday ¬â¢s 4-3 shootout win in Chilliwack. Connolly notched two goals and four points in his return to the lineup on Wednesday after missing five games with an injury.
It ¬â¢s the seventh meeting of the season between the Cougars and Rockets. Kelowna won five of six previous meetings versus the Cougars this season.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON FSN NORTHWEST ¬Â¦
Brendan Shinnimin and the Tri-City Americans (29-13-2-1) host Ty Rattie and the Portland Winterhawks (33-14-0-3) for a match-up between top Western Conference teams on Friday, LIVE on FSN Northwest (7:00pm PST).
The Americans fell 4-3 to the visiting Kelowna Rockets on Sunday after having won their previous two contests, and currently sit in third place in the U.S. Division and fourth in the Western Conference. Sunday ¬â¢s defeat to the Rockets was just the fourth loss at home for the Ams all season. Shinnimin carries a 17-game point streak into Friday ¬â¢s contest, having piled up an impressive 38 points in that span.
The Winterhawks blasted the visiting Chilliwack Bruins 9-2 on Wednesday, stretching their winning streak to six games and keeping them in first place in the Western Conference. The Hawks boast an eight-point lead over Tri-Cities, but have played five more games. Rattie has scored three goals and nine points over his last four games.
It ¬â¢s the sixth meeting of the season between the U.S. Division rivals. The Americans won three of five previous meetings between the teams.
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UP ¬Â¦
Regina Pats vs Moose Jaw Warriors
Friday, Jan. 28 @ Moose Jaw; Saturday, Jan. 29 @ Regina
Quinton Howden and the Moose Jaw Warriors take on Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats for a home-and-home series this weekend in what is one of the fiercest rivalries in the WHL.
The Warriors earned a 4-3 win in Swift Current on Tuesday night for their fourth victory in their last five games, and currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Howden leads the Warriors with 28 goals this season.
The Pats are coming off a hard-fought 4-3 loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday for their second straight setback, and currently sit just two points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Weal, the Pats ¬â¢ scoring leader, has racked up three goals and eight points over his last four outings.
This weekend ¬â¢s meetings mark the fourth and fifth encounters of the season between the Pats and Warriors. Moose Jaw won all three previous meetings versus Regina this season, and boasts a 10-1 record versus the Pats over the last two seasons.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE ¬" January 28 - 30
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Jan. 28
Brandon @ Calgary; 7:00
Seattle @ Everett; 7:35
Prince George @ Kelowna; 7:05 **Live on Shaw and Shaw Direct
Kootenay @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Regina @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Edmonton @ Red Deer; 7:30
Swift Current @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Chilliwack @ Spokane; 7:00
Portland @ Tri-City; 7:05 **Live on FSN Northwest
Kamloops @ Vancouver; 7:30
Saturday, Jan. 29
Kamloops @ Chilliwack; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Edmonton; 7:00
Prince George @ Everett; 7:05
Vancouver @ Kelowna; 7:05
Lethbridge @ Kootenay; 7:00
Brandon @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Calgary @ Red Deer; 7:30
Moose Jaw @ Regina; 7:00
Portland @ Seattle; 7:05
Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:00
Saskatoon @ Swift Current; 7:00
Sunday, Jan. 30
Prince Albert @ Calgary; 5:00
Everett @ Seattle; 5:05
Western Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2011
- Americans Announce Nuclear Night Jersey Auction Details - Tri-City Americans
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- Rivalry Heats Up - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Shutout Silvertips - Spokane Chiefs
- Oil Kings Lose Bold Battle with Blades - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Winterhawks Earn Runaway Win with 9-2 Victory Over Chilliwack - Portland Winterhawks
- Spokane Defeats Everett, 3-0 - Everett Silvertips
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