WHL this Week: Looking Ahead
March 3, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB ¬" The 2010-11 Western Hockey League regular season enters its first weekend of action in March with a schedule of 22 games set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In Kamloops, B.C., the Blazers will honor one of the franchise ¬â¢s most beloved players in Friday night with Jarome Iginla Bobblehead Night. Iginla helped lead the Blazers to back-to-back Memorial Cups in 1994 and 1995, and has become one of the biggest stars in the NHL with the Calgary Flames.
In Portland, OR, Friday night is Mascot Night when the Winterhawks take on the Seattle Thunderbirds. Fans can watch Hawks ¬â¢ mascot Tom-A-Hawk and his friends take on Seattle ¬â¢s Cool Bird and his crew for a game at the Rose Garden.
In Saskatoon, SK, Friday night is Telemiracle Night when the Blades host the Kootenay Ice. Fans can bid on special edition jerseys that the team will wear for the game, with proceeds donated to the Kinsmen Telemiracle 35 Foundation. Singer Beverly Mahood will perform the national anthem at the contest.
SCHENN AND ENGEL TAKE MONTHLY AWARDS ¬Â¦
Calgary, AB ¬" The Western Hockey League announced on Tuesday that Brayden Schenn of the Saskatoon Blades has been named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for February while Mac Engel of the Spokane Chiefs has been named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month for February.
Schenn, 19, piled up a whopping 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points to go with a +9 rating in 13 games in February, leading the Blades to a 10-3 record in that span. The Los Angeles Kings prospect is in his fourth season in the WHL, having spent three and a half seasons in Brandon before coming to the Blades in a blockbuster deal at the January trade deadline.
Engel, 17, posted an impressive 9-2 record with two shutouts in 13 appearances in February, and sported a 1.83 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage in that span. The Red Deer, AB, product is in his first WHL season.
T-BIRDS ¬â¢ DILLON SIGNS WITH DALLAS STARS ¬Â¦
Kent, WA - Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Brenden Dillon signed a three-year entry level contract this afternoon with the Dallas Stars of the NHL.
"I have appreciated the attention and interest from NHL teams," said Dillon. "I am excited and looking forward to being a part of the Stars organization."
Dillon, a 20-year-old, is in his fourth season with the T-Birds. He is currently second on the team in scoring with 50 points on six goals and 44 assists. Dillon also has 128 penalty minutes this season. Dillon will remain with the T-Birds until the end of the 2010-11 season.
KOOTENAY ¬â¢S FRASER RECOGNIZED FOR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ¬Â¦
Cranbrook, B.C. -- Last Saturday night, Matt Fraser #11 of the Kootenay ICE was presented with a uniquely designed Starlite collage recognizing his outstanding efforts and leadership in raising $19,381.65 for East Kootenay Foundation for Health ¬â¢s in the 2009 and 2010 annual Starlite campaigns.
The presentation was made on ice by EKFH Executive Director Donna Grainger, Chair Linda Berukoff and ICE GM Jeff Chynoweth.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW AND FSN ¬Â¦
Brayden Schenn and the Saskatoon Blades (49-13-0-2) welcome Cody Eakin and the Kootenay Ice (40-20-1-3) for a battle between top Eastern Conference clubs in Western Hockey League action on Friday night
Friday ¬â¢s contest between the Ice and Blades can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm CST).
The Blades are coming off an 8-5 win in Edmonton over the Oil Kings on Wednesday night for their second straight victory, and currently hold a solid nine-point lead over Red Deer for top spot in the Eastern Conference. Wednesday ¬â¢s win over the Oil Kings pushed the Blades past the 100-point mark for the fourth time in franchise history. Schenn has piled up an incredible 19 goals and 47 points in 21 games this season.
The Ice are coming off a 4-0 shutout loss in Brandon to the Wheat Kings on Wednesday for their second loss in a row, and remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Ice have clinched a playoff spot for the 13th consecutive season. Eakin has scored 12 goals and 29 points in 18 games as a member of the Ice.
It ¬â¢s the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Blades and Ice. Saskatoon won all three previous meetings versus Kootenay this season, outscoring the Ice 11-6 in the process.
WINTERHAWKS WELCOME THUNDERBIRDS FRIDAY NIGHT ON FSN
Nino Niederreiter and the Portland Winterhawks (43-17-0-3) host Burke Gallimore and the Seattle Thunderbirds (24-31-4-5) for a U.S. Division match-up on Friday night.
Friday ¬â¢s contest between the T-Birdsand Hawks can be seen live throughout the Pacific Northwest on FSN Northwest (7:00pm PST).
The Winterhawks are coming off Tuesday ¬â¢s 6-5 road victory over the Tri-City Americans for their second straight victory, and currently hold a three-point edge over Spokane for first place in the U.S. Division and Western Conference. The Hawks are 23-7-0-2 on home ice this season. Niederreiter has scored four goals and six points over his last two games.
The Thunderbirds claimed a 4-2 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants on Tuesday for their second win in a row, and currently sit five points behind Kamloops for eighth place in the Western Conference. The T-Birds have won more games on the road than they have at home this season. Gallimore put up two goals and two assists in Tuesday ¬â¢s win over the Giants, and now has 30 goals on the season.
It ¬â¢s the 11th meeting of the season between the T-Birds and Winterhawks. Portland won six of nine previous meetings versus Seattle, including the last five encounters.
FSN Northwest will broadcast 10 WHL regular-season games this season, giving fans in the Pacific Northwest a chance to watch exciting WHL hockey action.
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS ¬Â¦
Regina Pats vs Brandon Wheat Kings
Friday, Mar. 4 @ Brandon; Saturday, Mar. 5 @ Regina
Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats take on Mark Stone and the Brandon Wheat Kings for a big home-and-home series between East Division rivals this weekend.
The Pats have dropped two straight, including a 9-3 thumping in Brandon last Saturday, and currently sit five points back of Prince Albert for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Anything less than four points from their weekend home-and-home series with the Wheaties will put a serious damper on the Pats ¬â¢ chances of earning a playoff spot.
The Wheat Kings rattled off a 4-0 shutout win over the visiting Kootenay Ice on Wednesday for their third straight victory, and now sit just one point behind Edmonton for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Two wins from their weekend series versus Regina will keep the Wheat Kings ¬â¢ train heading towards the post-season, and further build their reputation as the team nobody wants to face in the first round of the playoffs.
The weekend home-and-home set will conclude the season series between the teams. The Wheat Kings have dominated the Pats this season, winning five of six previous encounters while outscoring the Pats 30-18 in the process.
Kamloops Blazers @ Chilliwack Bruins
Saturday, Mar. 5
Ryan Howse and the Chilliwack Bruins take on Colin Smith and the Kamloops Blazers for a key B.C. Division match-up on Saturday night in Chilliwack, B.C.
The Bruins claimed a 3-1 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday for their second straight win and third victory in four games, and currently sit just three points back of the Blazers for a share of seventh place in the Western Conference. The Bruins hold three games in hand on the Blazers and two in hand on Prince George, who shares seventh place with Kamloops.
The Blazers suffered a 6-2 loss to visiting Kelowna on Wednesday, putting an end to a three-game winning streak and keeping them tied for seventh place in the Western Conference. The Blazers are 5-1-1 over their last seven games on the road.
Saturday ¬â¢s meeting marks the eighth and final encounter of the season between the Bruins and Blazers. The Bruins hold a 4-3 edge in the season series.
The Blazers host the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Bruins are in Kelowna on Friday night prior to Saturday ¬â¢s head-to-head meeting.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE ¬" March 4 - 6
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Mar. 4
Regina @ Brandon; 7:30
Medicine Hat @ Edmonton; 7:00
Lethbridge @ Kamloops; 7:00
Chilliwack @ Kelowna; 7:05
Prince Albert @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Seattle @ Portland; 7:00 **Live on FSN**
Spokane @ Prince George; 7:00
Calgary @ Red Deer; 7:30
Kootenay @ Saskatoon; 7:05 **Live on SHAW**
Everett @ Tri-City; 7:05
Saturday, Mar. 5
Swift Current @ Calgary; 7:00
Kamloops @ Chilliwack; 7:00
Lethbridge @ Kelowna; 7:05
Edmonton @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Kootenay @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Spokane @ Prince George; 7:00
Brandon @ Regina; 7:00
Moose Jaw @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Everett @ Seattle; 7:05
Portland @ Vancouver; 7:00
Sunday, Mar. 6
Portland @ Chilliwack; 5:00
Tri-City @ Vancouver; 5:00
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Western Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2011
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- WHL Tie-Breaking Procedures Announced - WHL
- Cougars Awards & Parents/Billets Night Saturday Vs. Spokane - Prince George Cougars
- Blades Slice Oil Kings 8-5 - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets Beat Kamloops - Kelowna Rockets
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