WHL this Week: Looking Ahead
Published on March 8, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its second weekend of play in March with 24 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...
In Brandon, MB, Saturday night is Scotiabank Celebration of Hockey when the Wheat Kings host the Saskatoon Blades. Fans can get their picture taken with the Stanley Cup at the contest. Meantime, Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Buck Pierce will be at Friday night's game versus Saskatoon.
In Edmonton, AB, Saturday night is Fan Appreciation Night when the Oil Kings host the Red Deer Rebels. Fans can take home one of a limited number of Ryan Smyth bobblehead dolls, and will have the chance to win a new Dodge Grand Caravan.
In Everett, WA, Saturday night is also Fan Appreciation Night when the "ËTips host the Victoria Royals.
In Kamloops, B.C., the Blazers are asking fans to Take A Shot At Hunger when they host the Vancouver Giants on Saturday. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Kamloops Food Bank.
In Lethbridge, AB, it's a Busy Weekend for the Hurricanes. Friday night is Jersey Off Our Back night when the Calgary Hitmen are in town, and Saturday night is Awards Night for the Hurricanes when the Medicine Hat Tigers pay a visit.
In Prince Albert, SK, the Raiders are excited for Sunday's Community Skate at the Art Hauser Centre. Fans can lace up the skates with their favorite Raiders players.
In Spokane, WA, the Chiefs are encouraging fans to donate Bike Helmets at Friday night's contest versus the Tri-City Americans in support of the Children's Miracle Network.
In Swift Current, SK, fans have until Sunday to place their bid on an Autographed Drew Doughty Jersey. Proceeds from the auction go to the Broncos' Education Fund.
WHL ANNOUNCES PROSPECTS CAMP...
Calgary, AB -- The Western Hockey League is pleased to announce that it will be holding its first WHL Prospects Camp presented by Reebok-CCM in Calgary, Alberta, from March 23-25, at Father David Bauer Arena.
Open to Major Pee Wee (1999-born) AA players across Alberta, the Camp will be the first in a series of Prospect Camps the WHL will be staging, focusing on player development and education. The Camp will include on-ice skill development sessions, off-ice player development seminars, and on-ice and off-ice combine testing.
TIGERS' PLAY-BY-PLAY MAN RIDLEY SET FOR 3,000th BROADCAST...
Bob Ridley has been the voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers since the team joined the Western Hockey League in 1970.
Ridley, who has also long served as the team's bus driver, is preparing to call his 3,000th regular-season game for the Tigers on Saturday night in Lethbridge, AB.
WHL GRADS SWEEP CANADA WEST HOCKEY AWARDS...
Calgary, AB -- The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 100% of all Canada West University Hockey Award winners and Canada West University Hockey All Stars are graduates of the WHL.
All are currently utilizing Western Canada's Premier Hockey Scholarship, a combination of the guaranteed WHL Scholarship and additional financial assistance provided by each individual Canada West Men's Hockey University program.
Saskatoon Blades and Tri-City Americans WHL graduate and third-year University of Manitoba forward Blair Macaulay has been named the 2011-12 Canada West men's hockey Most Valuable Player and CIS Sullivan Trophy nominee.
A LOOK AT WHL BANTAM DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECT THOMAS LENCHYSHYN...
Leading up to the 2012 WHL Draft, the WHL will feature a one-on-one interview with top bantam age prospects.
This week we feature Thomas Lenchyshyn, an underage player for the Manitoba Midget AAA Eastman Selects.
WHL ANNOUNCES OFFICIATING DEVELOPMENT CAMPS...
Calgary, AB -- The Western Hockey League announced it will be conducting two Officiating Development Camps to assist with the development and recruitment of WHL Officials.
The 2012 WHL Officiating Development Camps will be held in Calgary, Alberta, at the Father David Bauer Arena, from June 21st - 24th, and from August 9th - 12th. The camps will feature classroom sessions, fitness sessions, instructional on-ice sessions, and game situations.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW
Brett Bulmer and the Kelowna Rockets (29-29-3-6) host Hayden Rintoul and the Victoria Royals (21-40-2-4) for a B.C. Division match-up on Friday night.
Friday's contest between the Royals and Rockets can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm PT).
The Rockets are coming off a 3-2 shootout win in Spokane over the Chiefs on Wednesday night for their third straight triumph, and are locked into sixth place in the Western Conference. The Rockets are 14-16-0-2 on home ice this season. Bulmer has scored a career-best 32 goals this season.
The Royals dropped a 3-2 decision in Everett to the Silvertips on Wednesday night, bumping them down to eighth place in the Western Conference standings. The Royals own a two-point lead over Seattle and a four-point lead over Prince George for the final playoff spot in the conference. Rintoul ranks ninth among all WHL defencemen in scoring with 49 points.
It's the eighth and final regular-season meeting between the Rockets and Royals. Victoria won four of the first seven meetings, including two of three in Kelowna.
SHAW will broadcast 32 WHL games during the 2011-12 WHL regular season. For the entire WHL broadcast schedule, click HERE
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...
Edmonton Oil Kings vs Red Deer Rebels
Friday, Mar. 9 @ Red Deer & Saturday, Mar. 10 @ Edmonton
Michael St. Croix and the Edmonton Oil Kings take on John Persson and the Red Deer Rebels for a home-and-home series with big implications for both teams on the weekend.
The Rebels currently find themselves 10 points behind Brandon for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, and with just six games left to play on their schedule. Not only does Red Deer need to win both games versus Edmonton, but they also need the teams they are chasing to drop points if they are to have any hope of making the post-season.
The Oil Kings locked up the Central Division title with a 3-2 overtime win over Moose Jaw on Wednesday, but are still in a battle for first place in the Eastern Conference and first place in the overall WHL standings. A pair of wins over Red Deer on the weekend would clinch the Eastern Conference title for the Oil Kings while keeping them in the hunt for the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy.
This weekend's meetings mark the fourth and fifth meetings of the season between the Oil Kings and Rebels. The Rebels have won two of three meetings versus Edmonton this season, with one win coming in overtime and another in a shootout.
Everett Silvertips @ Seattle Thunderbirds
Sunday, March 11th
Luke Lockhart and the Seattle Thunderbirds take on Josh Birkholz and the Everett Silvertips for an important Western Conference battle on Sunday.
The Silvertips are on a three-game winning streak, most recently beating Victoria on Wednesday, and have moved into seventh place in the Western Conference standings. The "ËTips have outscored their opposition 11-3 over their last three outings.
The Thunderbirds split a pair of games versus the Cougars in Prince George on Tuesday and Wednesday, and currently trail Victoria by two points and Everett by three points for the final two playoff spots in the conference. The T-Birds are 10-23-1 on the road this season.
Sunday's encounter marks the ninth meeting of the season between the U.S. Division rivals. The teams split the first eight meetings, with Seattle posting a 2-1-1 record in Everett.
The Silvertips host Portland on Friday and Victoria on Saturday while Seattle hosts Portland on Saturday prior to Sunday's head-to-head meeting.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Mar. 9 - Mar. 11
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Mar. 9
Saskatoon @ Brandon; 7:30
Portland @ Everett; 7:35
Victoria @ Kelowna; 7:05 **Live on SHAW**
Medicine Hat @ Kootenay; 7:00
Calgary @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Swift Current @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Edmonton @ Red Deer; 7:30
Moose Jaw @ Regina; 7:00
Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:05
Kamloops @ Vancouver; 7:30
Saturday, Mar. 10
Saskatoon @ Brandon; 7:30
Red Deer @ Edmonton; 7:00
Victoria @ Everett; 7:05
Vancouver @ Kamloops; 7:00
Prince George @ Kelowna; 7:05
Medicine Hat @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Regina @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Portland @ Seattle; 7:05
Kootenay @ Spokane; 7:05
Prince Albert @ Swift Current; 7:00
Sunday, Mar. 11
Red Deer @ Calgary; 4:00
Everett @ Seattle; 5:05
Prince George @ Tri-City; 5:05
Victoria @ Vancouver; 5:00
Western Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2012
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- Washington Army National Guard and Chiefs Donate to Wounded Warrior Project - Spokane Chiefs
- Few Saturday Tickets Remain - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Clark Wins Award - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Vancouver Giants Weekend Preview - Vancouver Giants
- RBC Community Skate with the Raiders Sunday, March 11th - Prince Albert Raiders
- Spike Enters New Chapter of Life - Kamloops Blazers
- Wheat Kings Beat Pats - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Feser Does It Again, Americans Rally for 2-1 OT Win Over Giants - Tri-City Americans
- Tips Steal Two Points, Seventh Place from Royals - Everett Silvertips
- Tri-City Defeats Vancouver 2-1 in Overtime - Vancouver Giants
- Kelowna Slips by Spokane in a SO - Kelowna Rockets
- Oil Kings Clinch Central Division - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Royals Edged by Silvertips - Victoria Royals
- T-Birds 2 Points from Playoff Spot After Loss to Cougars - Seattle Thunderbirds
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