WHL Western Hockey League

WHL this Week: Looking Ahead

Published on November 4, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its first weekend of play in November with 21 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...

In Cranbrook, B.C., the Kootenay Ice are helping to Build a Playground with a fundraising effort at Saturday's contest versus the visiting Red Deer Rebels. The Ice will be using special green and white sticks in the first period of the game, which will be auctioned off to raise money for the Moir Park playground project.

In Prince Albert, SK, Raiders and the Kinsmen Club will hold their Kinsmen Sportsman Dinner on Saturday night to honor the Sportsman and Female Athlete of the Year. The dinner's featured guest will be Bret 'The Hitman" Hart.

In Spokane, WA, and Victoria, B.C., the Chiefs and Royals will be turning back the clock this weekend as both teams host 80's nights this weekend. The Royals host their 80's theme night on Friday when the Vancouver Giants come to town, while the Chiefs' 80's night is slated for Sunday when they host the Everett Silvertips.

WHL ANNOUNCES 300 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO GRADUATE PLAYERS...

CALGARY, AB - Western Hockey League Commissioner Ron Robison announced on Wednesday that a total of 300 WHL graduate players have been awarded WHL Scholarships for the 2011-12 academic year.

The WHL Scholarship recipients are enrolled as full-time students in 71 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.

TEAM WHL ROSTER, ADDITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 2011 SUBWAY® SUPER SERIES...

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League last week announced the roster for Team WHL that will compete in the 2011 SUBWAY® Super Series versus Team Russia later in November in Regina and Moose Jaw, SK.

On Thursday, the WHL announced addition to the initial roster, with Griffin Reinhart and Michael St. Croix of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Brett Bulmer and Zach Franko of the Kelowna Rockets, Cody Beach of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Colin Smith of the Kamloops Blazers being named to the line-up as well.

BLADES' GOALTENDER MAKAROV NAMED TO TEAM RUSSIA...

Toronto, ON - The Canadian Hockey League today announced the roster for Team Russia that will compete in the 2011 SUBWAY® Super Series which begins Monday November 7 in Victoriaville, QC.

A team of 22 Russian players will make the trip to Canada for the entire series with a roster that has two players selected in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft including fourth round Chicago Blackhawks pick forward Maxim Shalunov, and fifth round Tampa Bay Lightning pick defenceman Nikita Nesterov.

Also suiting up for Team Russia is Saskatoon Blades' netminder Andrey Makarov, who will dress for the game versus Team WHL in Regina, SK, on November 16th.

ETEM AND LIEUWEN TAKE MONTHLY WHL HONORS...

The Western Hockey League announced on Tuesday that Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers has been named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for September/October, while Nathan Lieuwen of the Kootenay Ice has been named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month for September/October.

Etem, a product of Long Beach, CA, racked up 21 goals and 31 points over 15 games through September and October to help the Tigers to an 11-5-0 record in that span.

Lieuwen posted a 9-2-0 record with one shutout in September and October, while boasting a miniscule 1.45 goals-against average and a.948 save percentage to help the Ice to the best record in the WHL in that span.

WHL CLUBS TO HOST WORLD JUNIOR PRE-COMPETITION...

CALGARY, Alta. - Hockey Canada, in partnership with the host committee of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship and presenting sponsor Canadian Pacific, announced Wednesday information on the pre-tournament games ahead of this year's World Juniors.

Nine cities throughout the province - Brooks, Calgary, Camrose, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Okotoks, Olds, Red Deer and Three Hills - will play host to games from Dec. 19-23 before the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship begins Dec. 26 in Calgary and Edmonton.

KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...

Red Deer Rebels @ Kootenay Ice

Saturday, November 5th

Nathan Lieuwen and the Kootenay Ice take on Patrik Bartosak and the Red Deer Rebels for a match-up between Central Division rivals boasting two of the WHL's top netminders on Saturday night.

The Ice are coming off a 4-1 win over the visiting Portland Winterhawks last Saturday for their fourth consecutive victory, and currently sit tied with Medicine Hat for first place in the overall WHL standings. The Ice have won eight of nine home games they have played this season. Nathan Lieuwen leads all WHL goaltenders with a 1.45 goals-against average and a stellar .948 save percentage through 13 games this season, and was named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month for September/October.

The Rebels are coming off a 5-0 shutout win over the Hurricanes in Lethbridge last Saturday, stopping a two-game losing skid, and currently sit in fourth place in the Central Division, five points behind Kootenay and Medicine Hat. The Rebels are 2-3-0-0 on the road this season. Czech rookie netminder Patrik Bartosak currently ranks third among WHL goaltenders with a 1.81 GAA and a .941 save percentage through his first 12 WHL games.

Saturday's meeting marks the fourth encounter of the season between the Rebels and Ice. The Ice won two of the first three meetings versus the Rebels, with all three games being decided by one goal.

The Ice host the Everett Silvertips and the Rebels welcome the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday before Saturday's head-to-head meeting.

Tri-City Americans @ Spokane Chiefs

Saturday, November 5th

Darren Kramer and the Spokane Chiefs host Adam Hughesman and the Tri-City Americans for a clash between U.S. Division archrivals on Saturday night.

The Chiefs dropped a 3-1 decision to the Americans in Kennewick, WA, last Saturday, snapping a seven-game winning streak, and currently sit in third place in the U.S. Division. The Chiefs have won all eight games they have played on home ice this season. Kramer ranks second on the Chiefs in scoring with seven goals and 13 points.

The Americans picked up their fourth victory in five games with last Saturday's win over the Chiefs, and currently sit in first place in the U.S. Division, five points up on Spokane. The Ams have won three of their last four games on the road. Hughesman, the Ams' leading scorer, has two goals and six points in three games versus Spokane this season.

It's the fourth meeting of the season between the Chiefs and Americans. The Americans won two of the first three meetings with Spokane this season. The home team has won each of the first three clashes between the teams.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Nov. 4 - Nov. 6

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND

Friday, Nov. 4

Calgary @ Brandon; 7:30

Portland @ Kelowna; 7:05

Everett @ Kootenay; 7:00

Saskatoon @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Lethbridge @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Kamloops @ Prince George; 7:00

Seattle @ Red Deer; 7:30

Vancouver @ Victoria; 7:05

Saturday, Nov. 5

Medicine Hat @ Brandon; 7:30

Seattle @ Edmonton; 7:00

Portland @ Kelowna; 7:05

Red Deer @ Kootenay; 7:00

Kamloops @ Prince George; 7:00

Calgary @ Regina; 7:00

Lethbridge @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:05

Prince Albert @ Swift Current; 7:00

Vancouver @ Victoria; 7:05

Sunday, Nov. 6

Calgary @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Regina; 6:00

Everett @ Spokane; 6:05

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2011


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