WHL Western Hockey League

WHL this Week: Looking Ahead

Published on December 8, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


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

AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...

The WHL's regular-season schedule continues its march through December, meaning Teddy Bear and Toque Toss season is now in full swing, with several more WHL Clubs holding their fan-friendly events this weekend.

Teams encourage their fans to come equipped with stuffed animals, toques and mittens which traditionally get tossed onto the ice when the home team scores their first goal. The Items are collected and donated to local causes.

The Calgary Hitmen set the bar high for this year's Teddy Bear/Toque Toss events, collecting over 25,000 bears from their event last Sunday.

Clubs holding Teddy Bear/Toque Toss events on the weekend include the Kootenay Ice and Medicine Hat Tigers, who will play a Teddy Bear Toss home-and-home series on the weekend, the Moose Jaw Warriors, Spokane Chiefs, Vancouver Giants, and Victoria Royals.

In Saskatoon, SK, the Blades are asking fans to help Lend a Hand to those who need it most during the Holidays. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to Saturday's contest versus Regina for donation to the 2011 Tree of Plenty campaign.

In Kent, WA, the Seattle Thunderbirds will also be Collecting Food Donations at their weekend contests, in support of the Northwest Harvest Food Drive.

In Swift Current, SK, the Broncos are promising their Vegas Night Friday will be bigger than ever!

In Vancouver, B.C., the Giants are hoping to Fill the Rink on Renfrew on Saturday night when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or baby items to the contest for donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

WHL PLAYERS TO SUIT UP AT WORLD JUNIORS...

As the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship tournament approaches, more and more WHL players are learning they'll be playing for their respective countries at the tournament this year.

16 WHL players will head to Hockey Canada's national junior team selection camp this weekend in Calgary to battle for a spot on Team Canada.

Meanwhile, Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers has been named to Team USA's Preliminary Roster for the tournament. Etem played on last year's team, and should be a lock for the squad this year.

Calgary Hitmen rookie Victor Rask will compete for Sweden, while Marek Hrbas of the Kamloops Blazers, Dominik Uher of the Spokane Chiefs and David Musil of the Vancouver Giants have been named to the Czech Republic Preliminary Roster.

Edmonton Oil Kings forward Kristians Pelss has been named to Latvia's Preliminary Roster, while Brandon Wheat Kings' rookie Alessio Bertaggia will Try Out for Team Switzerland.

Prince Albert Raiders forward Jonas Knutsen will suit up for Norway in the Division 1 Under-20 World Championship in Germany, while Seattle Thunderbirds forward Marcel Noebels will play for Germany.

MACAULEY NAMED HUSKY WHL GRAD OF THE MONTH...

EDMONTON - The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and Western Hockey League proudly announce University of Manitoba right-winger and former Tri-City American Blair Macaulay as Canada West men's hockey Husky-WHL Graduate of the Month for November / December 2011.

Macaulay, in his third season at Manitoba, picked up a conference-best nine goals, adding three assists for 12 points in 10 games while leading the Bisons to a 6-3-1 record. U of M was 6-1-0 when Macaulay registered a point. He scored two game-winning goals, was named First Star twice and, on November 19 at UBC, recorded the second three-goal game of his Canada West career. The Business major also scored thrice during a March 2010 playoff game. The Bisons are now 10-4-2 on the season for 22 points, in third place and just two points out of first.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW

Cody Beach and the Moose Jaw Warriors host Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats for a match-up between East Division rivals on Friday night.

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

The Warriors are coming off a 6-5 victory over the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Tuesday night for their third victory over their last four games, and currently sit in first place in the East Division. The Warriors boast a dominating 14-3-1-1 record at home this season. Beach, the Warriors' third-leading scorer, has four assists in two games versus Regina this season.

The Pats suffered a 6-3 loss to the Raiders in Prince Albert on Tuesday night after having won their previous two outings, and currently sit in fourth place in the East Division. The Pats are 8-8-1-1 on the road this season. Weal has a goal and three assists in three games versus the Warriors this season.

It's the fourth meeting of the season between the Warriors and Pats. The Warriors won all three previous meetings versus the Pats, including two meetings in Moose Jaw.

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

FRIDAY NIGHT CHL HOCKEY ON SPORTSNET

Marek Tvrdon and the Vancouver Giants take on Sven Bartschi and the Portland Winterhawks for a battle between two of the Western Conference's top clubs on Friday.

Friday's contest marks the second WHL broadcast on Friday Night Hockey on Sportsnet. The contest can be seen live in HD on Sportsnet One and on Sportsnet West and Pacific (7:00pm PT).

The Giants are back home after completing a six-game East Division road trip in which they managed a 4-1-1 record, and currently sit three points behind Kamloops for top spot in the B.C. Division. The Giants own an 11-2-0-1 record at home this season. Tvrdon leads all WHL rookies in scoring with 36 points this season.

The Winterhawks split a two-game set versus the Cougars in Prince George this week, winning 5-3 on Tuesday before falling 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday, and currently sit three points back of Tri-Cities for first place in the U.S. Division. The Hawks are 8-7-1-1 on the road this season. Bartschi leads all WHL players with 41 assists this season, despite having played just 23 games.

It's the first meeting of the season between the Winterhawks and Giants. The Winterhawks swept the season series last year, winning all four meetings versus Vancouver.

KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...

Kootenay Ice vs Medicine Hat Tigers

Friday, Dec. 9 @ Cranbrook, B.C. & Saturday, Dec. 10 @ Medicine Hat

Sam Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice take on Hunter Shinkaruk and the Medicine Hat Tigers for a home-and-home series between the Central Division foes this weekend.

The Ice are coming off a 2-1 setback in Swift Current on Sunday for their third straight loss, and currently sit tied with the Edmonton Oil Kings for first place in the Central Division. The Ice have given up the fewest number of goals in the WHL this season, surrendering just 66 goals through 30 games. Reinhart has piled up five goals and 21 points on his current nine-game point streak.

The Tigers are coming off a 2-1 triumph over the Hitmen in Calgary on Sunday, snapping a three-game losing skid, and currently trail Kootenay and Edmonton by three points for a share of first place in the Central Division. The Tigers' power play is clicking at 22.3% effectiveness this season. Shinkaruk sits third among all WHL players with 26 goals.

This weekend's meetings mark the second and third encounters of the season between the Tigers and Ice. The Tigers edged the Ice 2-1 in Medicine Hat on October 18th in the first meeting.

Portland Winterhawks @ Tri-City Americans

Sunday, December 11th

Adam Hughesman and the Tri-City Americans host Derrick Pouliot and the Portland Winterhawks for a battle between U.S. Division powers on Sunday.

The Ams are coming off a pair of victories versus the Royals in Victoria this week, stretching their winning streak to four games, overall, and currently sit in first place in the U.S. Division and overall WHL standings. The Americans have lost just twice through their first 14 home games.

The Winterhawks saw a five-game win streak snapped with Wednesday night's 4-3 overtime setback in Prince George, and currently trail the Ams by three points in the U.S. Division. The Winterhawks boast the WHL's top offense, having scored 137 goals through 32 games.

Sunday's encounter marks the fifth meeting of the season between the Ams and Hawks. The Americans won all four previous meetings versus Portland this season.

The Winterhawks are in Vancouver on Friday and the Americans are in Everett on Saturday before Sunday's head-to-head meeting.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Dec. 9 - Dec. 11

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND

Friday, Dec. 9

Prince Albert @ Calgary; 7:00

Spokane @ Everett; 7:35

Medicine Hat @ Kootenay; 7:00

Regina @ Moose Jaw; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**

Brandon @ Red Deer; 7:30

Prince George @ Seattle; 7:35

Kelowna @ Swift Current; 7:00

Portland @ Vancouver; 7:00 **Live on Sportsnet**

Lethbridge @ Victoria; 7:05

Saturday, Dec. 10

Prince Albert @ Edmonton; 7:00

Tri-City @ Everett; 7:05

Kootenay @ Medicine Hat; 7:30

Kelowna @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Regina @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Victoria @ Seattle; 7:05

Prince George @ Spokane; 7:05

Kamloops @ Swift Current; 7:00

Lethbridge @ Vancouver; 7:00

Sunday, Dec. 11

Brandon @ Calgary; 2:00

Prince Albert @ Red Deer; 6:00

Kamloops @ Regina; 6:00

Portland @ Tri-City; 5:05

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2011


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