WHL this Week: Looking Ahead
Published on January 19, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its third weekend of play in January with 23 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...
In Calgary, AB, Friday night is Faith Night when the Hitmen host the Prince George Cougars.
In Everett, WA, Saturday night promises to be a Loud One at Comcast Arena as it's Cowbell Night when the Silvertips host the Seattle Thunderbirds.
In Prince Albert, SK, three Raiders players helped Save The Life of a puppy earlier in the week.
In Red Deer, AB, fans will be treated to a Post-Game Fireworks Show following the Rebels' clash versus the Prince George Cougars on Saturday night.
In Regina, SK, the Pats will show some motherly love on Friday night with a Salute To Hockey Moms when the team hosts the Medicine Hat Tigers.
In Saskatoon, SK, the Blades will Honor The Inaugural Inductees to the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday night when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings.
In Spokane, WA, Saturday night is Darren Kramer Bobble Gloves Night when the Chiefs host the Portland Winterhawks. The Chiefs are also encouraging fans to dress their tropical best for Hawaiian night at Sunday's meeting versus the Hawks.
In Vancouver, B.C., the Giants will honor their head coach and 2012 Canadian national junior team coach with Don Hay Bobblehead Night on Friday when they host the Everett Silvertips.
THREE WHL PLAYERS ADDED TO TOP PROSPECTS ROSTER...
Three more WHL players have been added to the 2012 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game roster, with Mike Winther of the Prince Albert Raiders, Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers and Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds all getting the call as injury replacements.
Winther and Bozon will suit up for Team Cherry while Troock will play for Team Orr.
The three additions bring the total number of Western Hockey League players suiting up for the contest to 13.
AMERICANS EXTEND COACH HILLER...
KENNEWICK, WA - Tri-City Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced on Friday that the team has extended the contract of head coach Jim Hiller. Per team policy, the terms and length of the extension were not disclosed.
Hiller, who joined the Americans before the start of the 2009-10 season, has compiled a 123-54-3-4 record (0.688 win%) in his 2+ seasons with Tri-City.
WHL PROSPECTS EARN MONTHLY HONORS...
A pair of WHL prospects earned Player of the Month awards for December in their respective Midget AAA Leagues.
Brandon Wheat Kings prospect Kord Pankewicz was named the Dodge Division Player of the Month in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. Pankewicz, who plays for the Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings, was the Wheat Kings' first-round pick, 11th overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.
Meanwhile, Kamloops Blazers' prospect Braden Krogfoss was named the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League's Player of the Month for December. Krogfoss, a goaltender with the Vancouver NW Giants, was chosen by the Blazers in the seventh round, 140th overall, in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.
ED CHYNOWETH AMONG INDUCTEES TO SASKATCHEWAN HHOF...
REGINA, SK - The Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame Executive is pleased to announce the first set of inductees into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame. The inaugural group of inductees will include 17 individuals and five teams under five different categories.
Among the inaugural inductees is former WHL president, the late Ed Chynoweth, who will be inducted in the "ËBuilders' category. Born in Dodsland, SK, Chynoweth was the driving force behind the growth and development of Major Junior Hockey throughout Canada over the past four decades. Chynoweth's career in both the WHL and the Canadian Hockey League spanned 37 years.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW
Quinton Howden and the Moose Jaw Warriors take on Sam Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice for a battle between top Eastern Conference clubs in WHL action on Friday night.
Friday's contest between the Warriors and Ice can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm CT).
The Warriors shut down the visiting Victoria Royals 2-0 on Wednesday night for their second straight triumph, and remain in first place in the East Division and second place in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors boast a 19-3-2-1 record on home ice. Howden is tied for third on the team in scoring with 14 goals and 34 points this season.
The Ice are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over the Pats in Regina on Wednesday night for their third win in their last four games, and currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. The last three games for Kootenay have all been decided in overtime or a shootout. Reinhart scored twice, including the overtime winner, and added an assist on Wednesday in Regina.
It's the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Warriors and Ice. The Warriors won two of three previous meetings versus the Ice, with all three games being decided by a single goal.
SHAW will broadcast 32 WHL games during the 2011-12 WHL regular season. For the entire WHL broadcast schedule, click HERE
AMERICANS HOST CHIEFS, FRIDAY NIGHT ON ROOT SPORTS
Justin Feser and the Tri-City Americans welcome Darren Kramer and the Spokane Chiefs for a match-up between U.S. Division rivals on Friday night.
Friday's contest between Spokane and Tri-City can be seen live throughout the Pacific Northwest on ROOT Sports (7:05pm PT).
The Americans are coming off Tuesday night's 4-0 shutout win over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds, snapping a two-game losing skid, and remain in first place in the U.S. Division and Western Conference. The Americans have won 13 straight games at home, and have lost just twice all season at the Toyota Centre. Feser is one of four Ams with 50 or more points this season.
The Chiefs dropped a 3-2 decision to the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Monday for their second defeat over their last three outings, and remain in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Chiefs are 7-9-3-2 on the road this season. Kramer ranks second on the Chiefs with 15 goals.
It's the seventh meeting of the season between the Americans and Chiefs. The Americans lead the season series 4-2, but lost the last meeting with a 5-3 setback in Spokane last Saturday.
ROOT Sports will broadcast 10 WHL contests this season. The next ROOT Sports broadcast is Friday, January 27th, when the Americans visit the Red Deer Rebels.
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...
Kamloops Blazers @ Tri-City Americans
Saturday, Jan. 21
The Tri-City Americans take on the Kamloops Blazers for a showdown between the WHL's No. 1 and No. 2 ranked clubs on Saturday night.
The Americans currently lead the WHL with a 33-10-0-0 record for 68 points through 44 games. The Ams also boast the WHL's best goal differential, having scored 75 more goals than they have allowed this season. Adam Hughesman, Brendan Shinnimin and Patrick Holland all rank among the WHL's top 10 scorers this season.
The Blazers are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak that has helped them build a comfortable 13-point lead atop the B.C. Division standings, and currently sit just one point behind the Americans for first place in the overall WHL standings. The Blazers boast the WHL's best road record at 14-4-1-2 for a .738 winning percentage away from home. The Blazers boast five players with 20 or more goals.
Saturday's meeting will mark the third of the season between the Western Conference heavyweights. The Blazers took the most recent encounter with a 3-2 win in Kamloops on January 11th. The Ams won the first meeting with a 3-2 overtime victory in Kennewick, WA, on November 19th.
The Americans host the Spokane Chiefs and the Blazers visit the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday prior to Saturday's head-to-head meeting.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Jan. 20 - Jan. 22
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Jan. 20
Prince George @ Calgary; 7:00
Lethbridge @ Kelowna; 7:05
Kootenay @ Moose Jaw; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**
Victoria @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Medicine Hat @ Regina; 7:00
Kamloops @ Seattle; 7:35
Edmonton @ Swift Current; 7:00
Spokane @ Tri-City; 7:05 **Live on ROOT Sports**
Everett @ Vancouver; 7:30
Saturday, Jan. 20
Kootenay @ Brandon; 7:30
Seattle @ Everett; 7:05
Vancouver @ Kelowna; 7:05
Swift Current @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Edmonton @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Prince George @ Red Deer; 7:30
Moose Jaw @ Regina; 7:00
Victoria @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Portland @ Spokane; 7:05
Kamloops @ Tri-City; 7:05
Sunday, Jan. 22
Red Deer @ Calgary; 4:00
Portland @ Spokane; 6:05
Seattle @ Vancouver; 5:00
Western Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2012
- Skills on Display - Regina Pats
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- Family Skate with the Rockets on Sunday - Kelowna Rockets
- Blades Welcome Wheat Kings and Royals - Saskatoon Blades
- Brent Peterson to be Inducted into Winterhawks Hall of Fame - Portland Winterhawks
- Vancouver Giants Weekend Preview - Vancouver Giants
- Wheat Kings Score Comeback Win - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Silvertips Solve Rockets in Kelowna - 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.
