WHL this Week: Looking Ahead
Published on February 9, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its second weekend of play in February with 21 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...
In Brandon, MB, the Wheat Kings will Honor Two Of Their Own on Friday night when they host the Swift Current Broncos. Mark Stone will be recognized for earning the 2011 H.J. Krug Crawford Memorial Medal, while Brodie Melnychuk will be honored for reaching the 300-game mark for the Wheat Kings.
In Cranbrook, B.C., Saturday night is Jersey Off The Back Night when the Kootenay Ice host the Saskatoon Blades. Fans can bid on the jersey of their favorite Ice player, with proceeds from the event benefiting the Kootenay Ice Scholarship Fund.
In Spokane, WA, the Chiefs are holding their own Jersey Off The Back Auction on Friday night when the Seattle Thunderbirds come to town.
In Swift Current, SK, the Broncos will honor the four Broncos who lost their lives in a horrific bus crash 25 years ago by wearing special Commemorative Jerseys on Saturday night when they host the Regina Pats. The jerseys, designed by team captain Taylor Vause, will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Broncos Scholarship Fund.
In Kennewick, WA, fans can get their hands on a pack of 2011-12 Tri-City Americans Trading Cards when the Ams host the Portland Winterhawks on Friday night.
WEAL AND DRIEDGER EARN MONTHLY HONORS...
Jordan Weal of the Regina Pats was named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for January, while Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen earned Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month honors.
Weal, a 19-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., tallied nine goals and 26 points in 12 games during January, picking up at least one point in every game he played during the month. He currently sits among the WHL's top scorers, and has the most career points of any active player in the League.
Driedger posted a 6-0 record with a pair of shutouts during the month of January, allowing just eight goals on 173 shots in that span for a .954 save percentage and a 1.29 GAA.
SPORTSNET ANNOUNCES FRIDAY NIGHT HOCKEY BROADCAST SCHEDULE...
Calgary, AB - The Canadian Hockey League and Sportsnet on Thursday announced the remaining regular season broadcast schedule for CHL games on Friday Night Hockey, featuring five hard-hitting match-ups as teams gear up for the 2012 CHL Playoffs and 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
The Saskatoon Blades will go head-to-head with the Kootenay Ice on February 24th in the lone WHL broadcast.
"ËASK THE COMMISH': EPISODE 1...
The WHL's inaugural episode of "ËAsk the Commish' is available on whl.ca. See what WHL Commissioner Ron Robison has to say on a number of questions submitted by WHL fans.
WHL fans can submit questions for the 'Commish' via Twitter and Facebook.
From the questions submitted, the best of the bunch will be selected and WHL 'Commish' Ron Robison will answer your enquiries via video on the WHL website, Twitter and Facebook.
FORMER REBEL DUSTIN MOORE EARNS CANADA WEST MONTHLY HONOR...
EDMONTON - The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and Western Hockey League proudly announce University of Lethbridge winger and former Red Deer Rebel Dustin Moore as the January 2012 Canada West men's hockey Husky-WHL Graduate of the Month.
In January, the fifth-year Horns forward tallied four goals and four assists for eight points in seven conference games. Lethbridge went 3-4-0 to extend its lead in the race for the final Canada West playoff spot.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW AND ROOT SPORTS
Brendan Gallagher and the Vancouver Giants (31-20-1-2) host Ryan Harrison and the Everett Silvertips (14-31-1-8) in Western Hockey League action on Friday night
Friday's contest between the "ËTips and Giants can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:30pm PT) and throughout the Pacific Northwest on ROOT SPORTS (7:30pm PT).
The Giants are coming off a 5-4 loss to the Winterhawks in Portland on Monday, putting a stop to a three-game winning streak, and currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Giants are 19-7-0-1 on home ice this season. Gallagher is one goal shy of tying Adam Courchaine for the Giants' franchise record for career goals.
The Silvertips are coming off a pair of wins over the Royals in Victoria this week, giving them four wins from their last five games, and putting them within three points of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. All four of their recent wins have come on the road. Harrison scored the game-winning goal in each of the "ËTips' mid-week wins in Victoria.
It's the fourth meeting of the season between the Silvertips and Giants. The Giants won all three previous encounters versus Everett this season, and are 8-1 versus Everett since the start of last season.
SHAW will broadcast 32 WHL games during the 2011-12 WHL regular season, while ROOT SPORTS will broadcast 10 games this season.
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UP...
Portland Winterhawks @ Tri-City Americans
Friday, Feb. 10
Adam Hughesman and the Tri-City Americans (37-13-1-1) host Sven Bartschi and the Portland Winterhawks (35-15-2-1) for a clash between the top two teams in the U.S. Division on Friday night.
The Americans dropped a 5-1 decision to the Western Conference-leading Blazers in Kamloops on Wednesday, leaving them four points back of the Blazers in the race for the conference lead. The Americans have lost just four times at home all season. Hughesman set a new career high for points on Wednesday, picking up his 82nd point of the season with a goal in the loss to the Blazers.
The Winterhawks skated to a 5-4 win over the visiting Vancouver Giants on Monday after having lost to the Giants in Portland on Saturday night, and currently sit three points back of Tri-Cities for the U.S. Division lead. The Winterhawks' power play is clicking at a League-best 24.8% success rate. Bartschi has three goals and an assist in Monday's win over Vancouver.
It's the seventh meeting of the season between the Ams and Hawks. The Americans won the first five meetings, but the Winterhawks won the most recent clash.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Feb. 10 - Feb. 12
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Feb. 10
Swift Current @ Brandon; 7:30
Moose Jaw @ Calgary; 7:00
Kelowna @ Kamloops; 7:00
Red Deer @ Kootenay; 7:00
Saskatoon @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Edmonton @ Prince George; 7:00
Seattle @ Spokane; 7:05
Portland @ Tri-City; 7:05
Everett @ Vancouver; 7:30 **Live on SHAW and ROOT Sports**
Saturday, Feb. 11
Vancouver @ Everett; 7:05
Kamloops @ Kelowna; 7:05
Saskatoon @ Kootenay; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Edmonton @ Prince George; 7:00
Moose Jaw @ Red Deer; 7:30
Portland @ Seattle; 7:05
Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:05
Regina @ Swift Current; 7:00
Sunday, Feb. 12
Kootenay @ Calgary; 4:00
Brandon @ Medicine Hat; 6:00
Western Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2012
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- "Like" Us on Facebook to Share in the Wealth - Everett Silvertips
- Vancouver Giants Weekend Preview - Vancouver Giants
- Ferland Leads Wheats to Critical Win - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Ranford's Two Buries Tri-City in 3rd, Blazers Take 5-1 Win - Tri-City Americans
- 'Tips Win Second Straight in Victoria - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Toppled by Silvertips - Victoria Royals
- T-Birds Shut out Rockets - Seattle Thunderbirds
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