WHL Western Hockey League

WHL this Week: Looking Ahead

Published on October 27, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its final weekend of play in October with 19 games on the schedule for Friday and Saturday, and plenty of spooky Halloween fun to be had around the rinks.

AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...

In Brandon, MB, Wheat Kings fans are encouraged to dress up for a Halloween Costume Party on Saturday night when the team hosts the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. Prizes are up for grabs for the best Halloween costumes.

In Calgary, AB, Saturday night is Hockey Mums Fight Breast Cancer night when the Hitmen host the Everett Silvertips. Hitmen players will be wearing special pink helmets and black and pink jerseys which will be presented to winning bidders following the game. Last year's event raised over $25,000 for breast cancer research.

In Kamloops, B.C., Friday night is Pink Power Play night when the Blazers host the Kelowna Rockets. Special pink jerseys, which the players will wear for the game, will be presented to the winning bidders following the game. Fans can also bid on Halloween pumpkins which were carved by the Blazers players. All proceeds will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

In Cranbrook, B.C., the Ice are hosting a Halloween Dress-Up night when the team welcomes the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday for a rematch of the 2011 WHL championship series. Prizes will be given out for the best Halloween costumes.

In Prince Albert, SK, the Raiders are also encouraging fans to get into the Halloween spirit by Dressing Your Halloween Best on Saturday night when the team hosts the Saskatoon Blades. In addition to the Halloween festivities, one lucky fan will have a chance to shoot for a brand new vehicle.

In Regina, SK, the Rink is Pink for Friday night's contest between the Pats and the Edmonton Oil Kings. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness night, the ice surface at Evraz Place will be tinted pink.

In Swift Current, SK, it's Las Vegas Night on Friday when the Broncos host the Medicine Hat Tigers. One lucky fan will win a trip for two to Las Vegas.

In Victoria, B.C., fans are invited to Celebrate Halloween on Saturday night by dressing up in their Halloween costumes when the Royals host the Seattle Thunderbirds.

2011 WESTERN CANADA U-16 CHALLENGE CUP KICKS OFF THURSDAY...

Moose Jaw, SK - Hockey fans in Moose Jaw can get a glimpse of the WHL's future stars as the 2011 Western Canada Under-16 Challenge Cup begins on Thursday in Moose Jaw, SK.

The tournament featured the top 1996-born prospects from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba suit up for provincial bragging rights.

Round robin action begins on Thursday and wraps up with the Bronze and Gold Medal games on Sunday, October 30th. A total of 80 1996-born players will suit up for their respective provincial Clubs at the tournament, 69 of whom were selected by WHL Clubs in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.

TEAM WHL UNVEILED FOR 2011 SUBWAY® SUPER SERIES...

CALGARY, AB - WHL stars Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants and Mark Stone of the Brandon Wheat Kings are among 29 players named to the roster for Team WHL for the upcoming SUBWAY® Super Series, which begins Monday November 7th in Victoriaville, QC.

Team WHL will face Team Russia in games five and six of the series played Wednesday, November 16th, in Regina, SK, and on Thursday, November 17th, in Moose Jaw, SK. The first two games of the series are hosted by the QMJHL with the OHL hosting games three and four.

FRIDAY NIGHT CHL HOCKEY COMING TO SPORTSNET...

TORONTO, ON - Building on the network's leading cross-platform efforts and fan engagement, Sportsnet today announced the creation of Friday Night Hockey, a regular weeknight destination for Canadian Hockey League games, plus integration across the multiple Sportsnet platforms - television, radio, digital and print.

Sportsnet will televise a CHL game in high definition every Friday night during the 2011-2012 regular season, plus the CHL's Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The first WHL broadcast is set for November 25th when the Medicine Hat Tigers visit the Edmonton Oil Kings.

WHL GRAD SCOTT BOWLES NAMED CANADA WEST MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK...

Former Calgary Hitmen and Prince George Cougars goaltender Scott Bowles was named the Canada West Male Athlete of the Week after leading the Lethbridge Pronghorns to three of a possible four points in Canada West Hockey action last weekend.

KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...

Kelowna Rockets vs Kamloops Blazers

Friday, Oct. 28th at Kamloops; Saturday, Oct. 29th at Kelowna

Shane McColgan and the Kelowna Rockets take on Brendan Ranford and the Kamloops Blazers for an important home-and-home series between the B.C. Division rivals this weekend.

The Rockets posted a 2-1 victory over the visiting Prince George Cougars on Wednesday night for just their second win in their last 10 games, and currently find themselves in fourth place in the B.C. Division. The Rockets have won four of their five games this season on home ice. McColgan has scored in three of his last four games, and has at least one point in each of his last 10 outings.

The Blazers enjoyed a successful three-game Alberta road trip last weekend, winning two of those three outings, and currently sit in first place in the B.C. Division with a 9-3 record. The Blazers have scored 20 more goals than they have allowed this season for the best goal differential in the WHL. Ranford has piled up seven goals and 12 points through his first nine games of the season.

This weekend's home-and-home series marks the second and third meetings of the season between the Rockets and Blazers. The Blazers edged the Rockets 3-2 in Kamloops on October 16th in the first encounter.

Portland Winterhawks @ Kootenay Ice

Saturday, October 29th

Max Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice host Ty Rattie and the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night for a rematch of the 2011 WHL Championship series.

The Winterhawks will be closing out their Central Division road trip with Saturday's visit to Cranbrook, and have posted a 1-2-1 record through the first four games of the six-game excursion. Portland currently resides in third place in the U.S. Division with a 7-6-1-1 record through 15 games. Rattie leads the Hawks in scoring with 10 goals and 21 points.

The Ice are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak, and sit atop the WHL standings with a solid 10-3-0-2 record for 22 points. The Ice are 7-1 on home ice this season. Reinhart leads Kootenay in scoring with six goals and 16 points through his first 13 contests.

It's the only meeting of the regular season between the Winterhawks and Ice. Kootenay defeated Portland in five games to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup in May 2011.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Oct. 28 - Oct. 29

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND

Friday, Oct. 28

Moose Jaw @ Brandon; 7:30

Kelowna @ Kamloops; 7:00

Portland @ Lethbridge; 7:00

Vancouver @ Prince George; 7:00

Everett @ Red Deer; 7:30

Edmonton @ Regina; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Swift Current; 7:00

Seattle @ Victoria; 7:05

Saturday, Oct. 29

Edmonton @ Brandon; 7:30

Everett @ Calgary; 7:00

Kamloops @ Kelowna; 7:05

Portland @ Kootenay; 7:00

Red Deer @ Lethbridge; 7:00

Swift Current @ Medicine Hat; 7:30

Regina @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Saskatoon @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Vancouver @ Prince George; 7:00

Spokane @ Tri-City; 7:05

Seattle @ Victoria; 7:05

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2011


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