WHL this Week: Looking Ahead
Published on February 23, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its final weekend of play in February with 23 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...
In Calgary, AB, Friday night is Lunar Celebration Night when the Hitmen welcome the Edmonton Oil Kings. Festivities will include dragon dancing, post-game fireworks and fortune cookies containing prizes.
In Edmonton, AB, Sunday is Faith & Family Day when the Oil Kings host the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
In Everett, WA, Sunday is Skate with the "ËTips night when the Silvertips host the Portland Winterhawks. Season ticket holders are welcome to join the team on the ice for a skate following the game. It's also Scout Night on Sunday at Comcast Arena.
In Kamloops, B.C., Saturday night is the annual Dash for Cash night when the Blazers host the Vancouver Giants. 15 lucky fans will have the chance to gather up $3,000 worth of loonies at center ice, with the remaining loonies donated to Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Kamloops.
In Moose Jaw, SK, the Warriors are inviting all Moose Javians to Lace up the Skates with them on Sunday at the Wakamow Oval. Raffles and prizes will be part of the festivities, with proceeds going to benefit Jumpstart, which helps kids in Moose Jaw play sports they want to play.
In Prince Albert, SK, Saturday night is Wall of Honor Night when the Raiders host the Kootenay Ice. Former Raiders Robin Bartel and Dean McCammond join longtime volunteer Gerry Bergen as inductees on the team's Wall of Honor.
In Kent, WA, it's 2012 Hockey Challenge weekend. The Seattle Thunderbirds host Everett and Tri-Cities on Saturday and Sunday as corporate teams battle each other in tournament action to help raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska. The weekend will also feature a celebrity all-star game following Saturday's T-Birds contest.
In Spokane, WA, Saturday night is Breast Cancer Awareness Night when the Chiefs host the Tri-City Americans. The Chiefs will sport special jerseys along with pink stick tape and laces, and will be selling special T-Shirts with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Eastern Washington Affiliate.
WHL AND AARON'S ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP...
Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League in association with Aaron's Inc. is proud to announce the launch of a new strategic partnership that includes in venue programming across several Canadian & American WHL Markets along with brand integration across various WHL broadcast, online and print properties during the 2011-12 season.
WHL SCHOLARSHIP GRAD HUNTER ENJOYING PRO LIFE...
(Courtesy Evan Daum, Edmonton Journal) For Eric Hunter, who ended his days with the Green and Gold last spring, the 2011-12 season has been one to remember.
The Winnipeg native is making the most of a rare opportunity for Canadian university hockey grads with the Lake Erie Monsters, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche...
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW
Brody Sutter and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (24-36-0-1) welcome Brett Bulmer and the Kelowna Rockets (26-27-3-5) in WHL action on Friday night.
Friday's contest between the Hurricanes and Rockets can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm MT).
The Hurricanes edged the Blades 3-2 in Saskatoon on Wednesday night for their second straight victory and their third win in four games, but remain in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes will be eliminated from post-season contention with any combination of points dropped or points gained by Brandon totaling four. The "ËCanes are 15-17-0 at home this season.
The Rockets skated to a 6-4 victory over the Oil Kings in Edmonton on Wednesday night for their second straight victory, and remain in sixth place in the Western Conference. Kelowna's power play is clicking at a 22.5% clip on the road. Bulmer scored twice on Wednesday to put him in a tie for the team lead with 26 goals.
It's the third and final meeting of the season between the Hurricanes and Rockets. The teams split the first two meetings, with both games being contested in Kelowna.
WINTERHAWKS TAKE ON CHIEFS FRIDAY NIGHT ON ROOT SPORTS
Ty Rattie and the Portland Winterhawks (42-15-2-1) host Brenden Kichton and the Spokane Chiefs (32-20-4-3) for a U.S. Division battle on Friday night.
Friday's contest between the Hawks and Chiefs can be seen live throughout the Pacific Northwest on ROOT Sports (7:00pm PT).
The Winterhawks posted their eighth consecutive triumph with an 8-1 pounding of the visiting Prince George Cougars on Tuesday, and currently sit in first place in the U.S. Division. The Winterhawks have lost just four times at home all season. The Winterhawks have outscored their opposition 51-17 over their eight-game win streak.
The Chiefs snapped a four-game losing skid with a 3-0 shutout win over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, WA, last Saturday, and remain in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Chiefs are 1-4 over their last five games on the road. Kichton continues to lead all WHL defencemen in scoring with 58 points this season.
It's the eighth and final regular-season meeting between the Hawks and Chiefs. The Winterhawks won five of seven previous meetings versus the Chiefs, with three of those five wins coming in overtime or a shootout.
ROOT Sports will broadcast 10 WHL contests this season. The next ROOT Sports broadcast is Friday, March 2nd, when the Everett Silvertips host the Seattle Thunderbirds.
BLADES VERSUS ICE FEATURED ON FRIDAY NIGHT CHL HOCKEY ON SPORTSNET
Dalton Thrower and the Saskatoon Blades (35-25-0-1) welcome Max Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice (33-20-4-4) for an Eastern Conference showdown on Friday night.
Friday's match-up between the Ice and Blades can be seen live on Sportsnet in the West region, and on Sportsnet One (7:00pm CT).
The Blades suffered a 3-2 setback at the hands of the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday night for their fifth defeat over their last six games, and currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Blades sit just six points out of third place in the conference but also just three points ahead of eighth place.
The Ice suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Pats in Regina on Wednesday for their second loss to the Pats over the past week, and currently sit just three points ahead of the Blades for fifth place in the conference. The Ice are 15-10-3-2 on the road this season.
It's the fourth and final regular-season clash between the Ice and Blades. The Ice won two of three previous meetings, including a 6-1 win in their only previous visit to Saskatoon on November 30th.
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...
Victoria Royals @ Prince George Cougars
Friday, Feb. 24 & Saturday, Feb. 25
Troy Bourke and the Prince George Cougars host Jamie Crooks and the Victoria Royals for a pair of critical Western Conference contests this weekend.
The Royals, who have dropped two straight and seven of their last eight games, currently hold down a share of seventh place in the Western Conference, tied with Seattle at 42 points apiece. The Royals have managed just two wins over their last 15 road games. Crooks scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season on Wednesday night versus Kamloops.
The Cougars are coming off back-to-back losses in Portland, in which they were outscored 15-3 by the Winterhawks, and currently sit just two points behind the Royals and T-Birds for a share of seventh place in the conference. The Cougars hold a game in hand on the Royals. Bourke leads the Cougars with 42 points this season.
This weekend's meetings mark the seventh and eighth meetings of the season between the Cougars and Royals. Victoria won four of six previous meetings versus the Cougars, including both previous trips to Prince George.
Regina Pats @ Brandon Wheat Kings
Saturday, February 25th
Mark Stone and the Brandon Wheat Kings take on Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats for a key East Division match-up on Saturday.
The Wheat Kings dropped a 5-4 decision in a shootout to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Tuesday night, snapping a four-game winning streak, and currently trail the Pats by two points for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Stone leads the WHL in scoring with 104 points this season.
The Pats edged the visiting Kootenay Ice 2-1 on Wednesday for their second win in a row and their fifth win in six games, and currently sit just one point back of Saskatoon for sixth place in the conference. Weal scored his sixth shorthanded marker of the season on Wednesday night versus the Ice.
Saturday night will mark the fourth meeting of the season between the Pats and Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings won two of three previous meetings versus the Pats. The teams will meet up a total of five times over the final few weeks of the season.
Brandon hosts Swift Current and Regina welcomes Moose Jaw on Friday night prior to Saturday's head-to-head encounter.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Feb. 24 - Feb. 26
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Feb. 24
Swift Current @ Brandon; 7:30
Edmonton @ Calgary; 7:00
Kelowna @ Lethbridge; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**
Spokane @ Portland; 7:00 **Live on ROOT SPORTS**
Red Deer @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Victoria @ Prince George; 7:00
Moose Jaw @ Regina; 7:00
Kootenay @ Saskatoon; 7:05 **Live on SPORTSNET**
Everett @ Tri-City; 7:05
Kamloops @ Vancouver; 7:30
Saturday, Feb. 25
Regina @ Brandon; 7:30
Vancouver @ Kamloops; 7:00
Kelowna @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Swift Current @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Kootenay @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Victoria @ Prince George; 7:00
Red Deer @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Everett @ Seattle; 6:05
Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:05
Sunday, Feb. 26
Kelowna @ Calgary; 4:00
Lethbridge @ Edmonton; 2:00
Portland @ Everett; 5:05
Tri-City @ Seattle; 5:05
Western Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2012
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- Blades Welcome Ice and Rebels - Saskatoon Blades
- Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirts and Bracelets on Sale - Spokane Chiefs
- Vancouver Giants Weekend Preview - Vancouver Giants
- WHL and Aaron's Announce Strategic Partnership - WHL
- Royals Doubled up by Blazers - Victoria Royals
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.
