WHL this Week: Looking Ahead
Published on January 12, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its second weekend of play in January with 23 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...
In Brandon, MB, the Wheat Kings will honor Mark Stone and Alessio Bertaggia for their World Junior Championship efforts prior to Friday's contest versus the Red Deer Rebels.
In Edmonton, AB, Saturday will be full of Brotherly Love when the Oil Kings host the Kootenay Ice. Not only will Oil Kings rearguard Griffin Reinhart go head-to-head with his brothers, Max and Sam of the Ice, but the infamous Hanson Brothers of Slap Shot fame will also be in attendance at the contest.
In Kamloops, B.C., Friday is Kids' Month Mascot Night when the Blazers take on the Seattle Thunderbirds. It's also Mascot Night in Portland on Friday night when the Winterhawks host the Kelowna Rockets.
In Prince George, B.C., the Cougars welcome special guest Bret "ËThe Hitman' Hart to their weekend contests versus the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. Friday night is also Minor Hockey Night at the CN Centre.
In Spokane, WA, the Chiefs are hosting a special Pajama Day on Monday when the Seattle Thunderbirds come to town for an afternoon tilt.
In Swift Current, SK, Saturday night is Pack the "ËPlex Night when the Broncos host the Red Deer Rebels. Innovation Credit Union will donate $1 for every ticket sold, with one lucky fan taking home a pot of up to $2,879.
In Vancouver, B.C., Friday night is Viva Las Vegas Night when the Giants take on the Western Conference-leading Tri-City Americans. One lucky fan will win a trip for two to Las Vegas. It's also Girls Night Out on Friday at the Pacific Coliseum.
QUINN & RECCHI TO COACH TOP PROSPECTS...
Toronto, ON - The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced that hockey icons Pat Quinn and Mark Recchi will serve as coaches for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be played February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.
Both Quinn and Recchi, a former Kamloops Blazer, will be participating in the event for the first time with Quinn serving behind the bench for Team Orr, and Recchi for Team Cherry.
10 Western Hockey League players will suit up for the contest.
WHL TRADE DEADLINE PASSES...
The WHL trade deadline was on Tuesday, January 10th, with several stars such as Kevin Sundher, Martin Marincin, James Henry and Cam Braes all finding new homes in the 48 hours leading up to the deadline.
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING RELEASES MID-TERM RANKINGS...
Everett Silvertips defenseman Ryan Murray is the highest-ranked WHL player among North American skaters eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings, which were released on Wednesday.
In total 39 WHL skaters and five WHL goaltenders are among those ranked in NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings.
CHIEFS' NACHBAUR EARNS 500th COACHING WIN...
Spokane, WA - Don Nachbaur, head coach of the Spokane Chiefs, joined the WHL's 500-win club after guiding the Chiefs to a 6-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday, January 11th, in Spokane, WA.
Nachbaur joins an exclusive group consisting of legends Ken Hodge (742 wins), Ernie "ËPunch' McLean (548) and Pat Ginnell (518), and active WHL coaches Don Hay of the Vancouver Giants (547) and Lorne Molleken of the Saskatoon Blades (544) as the only WHL coaches with 500 career regular-season victories.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW AND ROOTS SPORTS
Brendan Gallagher and the Vancouver Giants host Brendan Shinnimin and the Tri-City Americans at Pacific Coliseum on Friday night.
Friday's contest between the Giants and Americans can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 and on ROOTS SPORTS throughout the Pacific Northwest (7:30pm PT).
The Giants are coming off a 3-0 shutout win over the visiting Prince George Cougars on Tuesday night for their second straight win, and currently sit in second place in the B.C. Division. The Giants are 16-4-0-1 at home this season. Gallagher has piled up four goals and nine points in just two games since returning from Canada's national junior team.
The Americans suffered a 3-2 loss to the Blazers in Kamloops on Wednesday night, putting a halt to their franchise-record 13-game winning streak, but remain in first place in the overall WHL standings. The Ams had won six straight road games prior to Wednesday's loss in Kamloops. Shinnimin is one of three Americans' players among the top 10 in WHL scoring.
It's the second meeting of the season between the Americans and Giants. The Americans blanked the Giants 5-0 in Kennewick, WA, on October 15th in the first meeting.
SHAW will broadcast 32 WHL games during the 2011-12 WHL regular season, while ROOTS SPORTS will broadcast 10 WHL games. For the entire WHL broadcast schedule, click HERE
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...
Edmonton Oil Kings vs Kootenay Ice
Saturday, Jan. 14
Griffin Reinhart and the Edmonton Oil Kings welcome Sam and Max Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice for a meeting of two top Eastern Conference clubs on Saturday night.
The Oil Kings currently hold down first place in the Central Division and Eastern Conference standings, thanks to a 27-10-1-4 record, but are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Sunday. The Oil Kings have only lost four of 22 games they have played at home this season. Michael St. Croix leads the Oil Kings and ranks fourth in WHL scoring with 67 points.
The Ice are coming off a 2-1 shootout win in Red Deer on Wednesday night for their second win in a row and third victory in four games, and currently trail Edmonton by five points for first place in the Eastern Conference. Kootenay is 11-7-0-2 away from home this season. Max Reinhart has a goal and two points in two games versus Edmonton this season.
It's the third meeting of the season between the Ice and Oil Kings. The Oil Kings won both previous encounters with Kootenay, outscoring the Ice 8-2 in the process. It's also the second meeting of the season featuring all three Reinhart brothers.
The Oil Kings are in Medicine Hat on Thursday night prior to Saturday's match-up versus Kootenay.
Spokane Chiefs vs Tri-City Americans
Saturday, Jan. 13
Fresh off his 500th career victory, Spokane Chiefs' head coach Don Nachbaur takes on his former team, the Tri-City Americans, in a battle between fierce U.S. Division rivals on Saturday.
The Chiefs skated to a 6-1 win over the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday, earning Nachbaur's 500th career coaching win, and have rattled off four straight victories. The Chiefs are comfortably entrenched in fifth place in the Western Conference, leading sixth-placed Kelowna by eight points while trailing fourth-placed Vancouver by seven points.
The Americans saw their 13-game winning streak come to an end with Wednesday's loss in Kamloops, but remain in first place in the WHL standings. Nachbaur coached the Americans for six seasons, earning 235 victories and leading the Ams to a pair of U.S. Division titles before leaving to take the head coaching job for the AHL's Binghamton Senators in 2009-10.
Saturday's clash marks the sixth of the season between the Americans and Chiefs. Tri-Cities won four of five previous meetings versus Spokane this season.
The Ams are in Vancouver on Friday night while the Chiefs are in Everett on Friday prior to Saturday's head-to-head match-up.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Jan. 13 - Jan. 15
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Jan. 13
Red Deer @ Brandon; 7:30
Moose Jaw @ Calgary; 7:00
Spokane @ Everett; 7:35
Seattle @ Kamloops; 7:00
Kelowna @ Portland; 7:00
Lethbridge @ Prince George; 7:00
Victoria @ Regina; 7:00
Saskatoon @ Swift Current; 7:00
Tri-City @ Vancouver; 7:30 **Live on SHAW and ROOTS**
Saturday, Jan. 14
Victoria @ Brandon; 7:30
Kootenay @ Edmonton; 7:00
Everett @ Kamloops; 7:00
Moose Jaw @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Lethbridge @ Prince George; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Portland @ Seattle; 7:05
Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:05
Red Deer @ Swift Current; 7:00
Kelowna @ Vancouver; 7:00
Sunday, Jan. 15
Edmonton @ Calgary; 2:00
Kelowna @ Everett; 5:05
Brandon @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Saskatoon @ Regina; 6:00
Western Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2012
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- This Week in Silvertips Hockey - Everett Silvertips
- Eston Rambler Atoms Hockey Team to Spend a Day with the Swift Current Broncos - Swift Current Broncos
- Canes Name Sutter Captain - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Hay and Huska to Join Coaching Staff for 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game - WHL
- Youth Winter Olympics to Begin - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Vancouver Giants Weekend Preview - Vancouver Giants
- Stone, Bertaggia to be Recognized - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Blank Wheats - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Unlucky 13; Streak Snapped as Blazers Earn 3-2 Win Over Tri-City - Tri-City Americans
- Rockets Drop First of Two in Portland - Kelowna Rockets
- Nachbaur Wins #500 - Spokane Chiefs
- Spokane Stays Unkind for Silvertips - Everett Silvertips
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
