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WHL this Week: Looking Ahead

November 16, 2012 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2012-13 WHL regular season enters its third weekend of play in November with 22 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...

Movember continues to roll along and many WHL players are working on their "˜staches in efforts to raise money and awareness for Male below-the-belt cancers. To follow the duster progress of WHL teams and players and to donate, visit the CHL Movember Network page

In Kamloops, B.C., a few members of the Blazers organization found themselves Behind Bars for a good cause on Thursday.

In Cranbrook, B.C., the Kootenay Ice will be sporting special Ice Cube Sticks next Wednesday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings. The sticks, which will be used in warm-up and during the first period, will be auctioned off to help raise funds for the East Kootenay Foundation for Health.

In Red Deer, AB, the Rebels are hosting a Pajama Night on Saturday when they take on the Swift Current Broncos. The team will also have a Different Look behind the bench.

In Kennewick,WA, the Tri-City Americans are hosting a Food and Book Drive at Friday night's game versus the Kelowna Rockets. The first of five such campaigns this season, proceeds will benefit The Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and 2nd Harvest Tri-Cities.

2013 TEAM PACIFIC ROSTER ANNOUNCED...

Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey announced the 22-man roster that will comprise Team Pacific for the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in December and January in Victoriaville/Drummondville, QC.

The roster featured 11 players from Alberta and 11 players from BC. 18 of the 22 players on the Team Pacific roster are currently playing in the Western Hockey League, including Jake Virtanen of the Calgary Hitmen, who was the No.1 overall pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, and Moose Jaw Warriors star rookie Brayden Point.

FORMER BRONCO JOE SAKIC INDUCTED INTO HOCKEY HALL OF FAME...

The Western Hockey League would like to congratulate former Swift Current Bronco Joe Sakic on his induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Sakic, a product of Burnaby, B.C., was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday in a special induction ceremony in Toronto, ON, along with fellow NHL greats Adam Oates, Mats Sundin and Pavel Bure. The 15th overall pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, Sakic played 139 career games over two seasons for the Broncos, piling up a whopping 138 goals and 293 points.

RAIDERS' MCNEILL EARNS WEEKLY WHL HONORS; HAWKS' CARRUTH TAKES CHL HONORS...

Mark McNeill of the Prince Albert Raiders was named the Denny's WHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 11th.

The 19-year-old from Edmonton, AB, picked up two goals and seven points with a +3 rating over three games last week, helping the Raiders to a 2-1-0 record in that span.

Meanwhile, Portland Winterhawks netminder Mac Carruth continued his terrific start to the season, earning Vaugh CHL Goaltender of the Week for a second time this season.

The 20-year-old from Shorewood, MN, posted a perfect 4-0 record and stopped 89 of 92 shots he faced for a sparkling 0.97 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage in that span as the Hawks extended their win streak to 12 games.

WHL JOB OPPORTUNITY: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT...

The Western Hockey League (WHL), one of the World's finest development leagues with 22 Member Clubs throughout Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, is inviting applications for the position of Administrative Assistant at their Calgary based office.

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW...

Sam Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice welcome Ryan Pulock and the Brandon Wheat Kings in Western Hockey League action on Friday night

Friday's match-up between the Ice and Wheat Kings can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm MST).

The Ice are coming off a 4-0 shutout win in Calgary over the Hitmen on Monday, putting a stop to an eight-game losing skid, but remain in sixth place in the Central Division. The Ice currently sit at 3-9-1 on home ice this season. Reinhart played for Team WHL in the SUBWAY Super Series on Wednesday night in Vancouver, scoring in the shootout to seal a win for the WHL.

The Wheat Kings are coming off a 3-2 loss to the visiting Swift Current Broncos last Sunday for their second straight setback, and currently sit in fourth place in the East Division. The Wheat Kings are 4-4-1-1 through their first 10 road games. Pulock also played for Team WHL on Wednesday night in Vancouver.

It's the first meeting of the season between the Ice and Wheat Kings. The teams split four meetings last season. They will face off again in Cranbrook on Saturday night.

KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UP...

Portland Winterhawks @ Kamloops Blazers

Friday, November 16

The Kamloops Blazers host the Portland Winterhawks for the second straight meeting between Western Conference division leaders.

The Winterhawks rolled to their 12th consecutive victory, defeating the visiting Blazers 3-1 on Sunday in Portland, and currently sit just two points behind the Blazers for first place in the Western Conference and top spot in the overall WHL standings. The Hawks' offense has exploded for 70 goals over the course of their 12-game win streak.

The Blazers suffered their fourth straight loss with Sunday's setback in Portland, and have lost five of their last six games after having enjoyed a 14-game win streak. Kamloops boasts and 8-1 record on home ice this season.

It's the second of four meetings this season between the Blazers and Winterhawks. The teams will meet up again in Portland on January 30th and in Kamloops on February 20th.

Prince Albert Raiders @ Lethbridge Hurricanes

Friday, November 16

The Lethbridge Hurricanes take on the Prince Albert Raiders for a match-up between two of the Eastern Conference's most improved teams on Friday night.

The Raiders dropped a 4-1 decision in Swift Current to the Broncos on Saturday, but remain in first place in the East Division standings. Last season, the Raiders finished in last place in the Eastern Conference. Mark McNeill, the Raiders' captain, leads the team in scoring with 24 points this season.

The Hurricanes are coming off a 4-1 win in Moose Jaw on Monday night, improving to 11-3-1-1 over their last 16 games, and currently sit just one point out of first place in the Central Division. Last season, the Hurricanes finished in sixth place in the Central Division and 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

It's the second meeting of the season between the Raiders and Hurricanes. The Raiders posted a 4-1 win in Lethbridge on October 9th in the first meeting.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Nov. 16 - Nov. 18

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND

Friday, Nov. 16

Portland @ Kamloops; 7:00

Brandon @ Kootenay; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**

Prince Albert @ Lethbridge; 7:00

Saskatoon @ Prince George; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Seattle; 7:35

Kelowna @ Tri-City; 7:05

Regina @ Vancouver; 7:30

Everett @ Victoria; 7:05

Saturday, Nov. 17

Prince Albert @ Edmonton; 7:00

Vancouver @ Everett; 7:05

Prince George @ Kamloops; 7:00

Brandon @ Kootenay; 7:00

Medicine Hat @ Portland; 7:00

Swift Current @ Red Deer; 7:30

Spokane @ Seattle; 7:05

Kelowna @ Tri-City; 7:05

Regina @ Victoria; 7:05

Sunday, Nov. 11

Swift Current @ Calgary; 2:00

Medicine Hat @ Everett; 5:05

Brandon @ Lethbridge; 6:00

Prince Albert @ Red Deer; 6:00

Saskatoon @ Vancouver; 4:00

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2012


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