WHL Western Hockey League

WHL this Week: Looking Ahead

Published on February 28, 2013 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - The 2012-13 WHL regular season enters its first weekend of play in March with 23 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND...

In Calgary, AB, the Hitmen will host their 7th annual Lunar Celebration on Friday night when the Swift Current Broncos come to town. There will be lots of great entertainment, including a Dragon/Lion dance and post-game fireworks in recognition of Calgary's various multi-cultural communities.

In Everett, WA, the Silvertips are encouraging fans to Stay Classy for Saturday night's "˜Gentlemen's Duel' versus the Portland Winterhawks. Fans are encouraged to dress up in their formal wear for the contest. Well-dressed fans have the chance to win a special edition Silvertips' tuxedo T-shirt.

In Red Deer, AB, fans are invited to Catch A Flick before Saturday's Rebels' contest versus the Swift Current Broncos.

In Regina, SK, Friday night is Zamboni Night when the Pats host the Moose Jaw Warriors. Fans can get a Zambonie piggy bank with a donation to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.

In Vancouver, BC, the Giants will be joined by several NHL legends such as Bobby and Dennis Hull, Marcel Dionne and Johnny Bower as they celebrate Gordie Howe's 85th Birthday on Friday night when the Hurricanes come to town. Affectionately known as "˜Mr. Hockey', Howe is a co-owner of the Giants.

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS' HOCKEY CHALLENGE RAISES OVER $170,000...

The Seattle Thunderbirds and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska (RMHC) are pleased to announce that the 15th Annual Hockey Challenge, held Saturday, February 23, at ShoWare Center in Kent, raised more than $170,000 for RMHC.

The annual Hockey Challenge has now raised over $4.3 million for the RMHC in 15 years.

AMS' FESER SET TO BREAK WHL IRONMAN RECORD...

Justin Feser played his 311th consecutive regular-season game on Tuesday night versus the Portland Winterhawks, tying the WHL record for the most consecutive games played.

The 20-year-old from Red Deer, AB, is set to break that record on Friday night versus the Seattle Thunderbirds. A ninth-round pick by the Ams in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, Feser has played every regular-season contest for the Americans since January 7, 2009. Feser had missed a handful of games prior to that date while playing for Team Pacific in the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

With 311 consecutive games played, Feser sits tied with Dwayne Newman, who played for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Victoria Cougars from 1988-92.

WHL GRADS SWEEP CANADA-WEST UNIVERSITY HOCKEY AWARDS...

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 for the 2012-13 season 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 fourth-year University of Manitoba forward Blair Macaulay heads up the list, being named the 2012-13 Canada West men's hockey Most Valuable Playerand CIS Sullivan Trophy nominee.

BMO ULTIMATE CHL FAN WINNERS ANNNOUNCED...

BMO Financial Group announced on Tuesday the names of the three grand prize winners of the BMO Ultimate Fan Contest. Each of them has won a trip for two to the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (May 24-26, 2013).

Congratulations to Debbie Clark, BMO Ultimate Kamloops Blazers Fan; Chris Martin, BMO Ultimate Mississauga Steelheads Fan; and Troy Porter, BMO Ultimate Moncton Wildcats Fan!

FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW...

Victor Rask and the Calgary Hitmen host Adam Lowry and the Swift Current Broncos on Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB.

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

The Hitmen are coming off Wednesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the visiting Saskatoon Blades, snapping an eight-game home-ice winning streak and leaving them just two points ahead of the Blades for second place in the Eastern Conference, points-wise. Calgary's power play is clicking at 20.3% efficiency at home. Rask has two assists in two games versus the Broncos this season.

The Broncos edged the Wheat Kings 3-2 in overtime in Brandon on Wednesday night for their second straight victory, and currently hold a one-point lead over Kootenay for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Broncos own the WHL's sixth-ranked penalty killing unit on the road. Lowry has two goals and six points through three games versus Calgary this season.

Friday's clash marks the fourth and final regular-season encounter between the Broncos and Hitmen. The Hitmen won the first meeting with a 4-2 win on home ice on November 18th, but the Broncos won the last two meetings by score lines of 4-3 and 5-4 in Swift Current.

KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS...

Kootenay Ice vs. Red Deer Rebels

Friday, March 1

Mackenzie Skapski and the Kootenay Ice take on Patrik Bartosak and the Red Deer Rebels for a key Central Division match-up on Friday night.

The Ice blanked the Tigers 2-0 in Medicine Hat on Wednesday night for their second straight shutout win and their fifth win in a row, and currently hold down eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Ice have made a remarkable comeback in the standings over the past couple of months, posting a 22-5-1 record since December 29th while climbing from 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Skapski has put up four shutouts in February.

The Rebels suffered a 4-0 shutout loss to the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday for their second straight defeat, and now sit two points behind Prince Albert for fourth place in the Eastern Conference and home-ice advantage through the first round of the playoffs. The Rebels are 15-14-2-1 on the road this season. Bartosak leads all WHL goaltenders with a .933 save percentage this season.

Friday's clash marks the seventh meeting of the season between the Rebels and Ice. The teams split the first six meetings, with each team winning twice at home and once on the road.

Tri-City Americans vs. Seattle Thunderbirds

Friday, Mar. 1 @ Tri-Cities; Saturday, Mar. 2 @ Seattle

Justin Feser and the Tri-City Americans meet up with Alex Delnov and the Seattle Thunderbirds for a key home-and-home series between the teams this weekend.

The Americans doubled up the Portland Winterhawks 4-2 on Tuesday night to stretch their winning streak to six games, and currently hold a slim one-point lead over Spokane for fourth place in the Western Conference. The Ams can finish no lower than sixth in the conference. Feser, who will set a new WHL Ironman record on Friday, has piled up eight goals and 19 points over his last six games.

The Thunderbirds have lost three straight games, but remain one point up on Everett for seventh place in the Western Conference and six points clear of ninth-placed Prince George. Picking up points versus their U.S. Division rival this weekend will go a long way in helping them end a three-year playoff drought. Delnov ranks second on the T-Birds with 20 goals this season.

This weekend's meetings mark the seventh and eighth of the season between the Ams and T-Birds. Seattle won the first two meetings between the teams, but Tri-Cities won the last four.

The T-Birds are in Kelowna to face the B.C. Division-leading Rockets on Thursday night prior to this weekend's home-and-home set versus the Ams.

Kamloops Blazers vs. Kelowna Rockets

Sunday, March 3

Damon Severson and the Kelowna Rockets visit Brendan Ranford and the Kamloops Blazers for a battle between the top two B.C. Division Clubs on Sunday.

The Rockets currently lead the B.C. Division with a five-point cushion over second-placed Kamloops, and hold a game in hand on the Blazers. The Rockets are one of only two teams who can mathematically catch Portland for first place in the overall WHL standings. Severson is tied for fifth among all WHL defencemen in scoring with 48 points.

The Blazers were stunned 5-3 by the visiting Vancouver Giants on Wednesday night for their second loss in a row, and remain in third place in the Western Conference. The Blazers own a 23-6-1-1 record at home this season, but have dropped their last two home games. Ranford ranks second on the Blazers with 56 assists and fourth with 74 points this season.

Sunday's match-up marks the eighth meeting of the season between the Blazers and Rockets. Kamloops won five of the first seven meetings, including the last three.

The Rockets host Seattle on Thursday and Lethbridge on Saturday while the Blazers visit Prince George on Friday and host Vancouver on Saturday before Sunday's head-to-head clash.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE - Mar. 1 - Mar. 3

All times local

WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND

Friday, Mar. 1

Swift Current @ Calgary; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**

Edmonton @ Everett; 7:35

Red Deer @ Kootenay; 7:00

Kamloops @ Prince George; 7:00

Moose Jaw @ Regina; 7:00

Brandon @ Saskatoon; 7:05

Seattle @ Tri-City; 7:05

Lethbridge @ Vancouver; 7:30

Spokane @ Victoria; 7:05

Saturday, Mar. 2

Portland @ Everett; 7:05

Vancouver @ Kamloops; 7:00

Lethbridge @ Kelowna; 7:05

Medicine Hat @ Kootenay; 7:00

Regina @ Moose Jaw; 7:00

Brandon @ Prince Albert; 7:00

Swift Current @ Red Deer; 7:30

Tri-City @ Seattle; 7:05

Spokane @ Victoria; 7:05

Sunday, Mar. 3

Kelowna @ Kamloops; 6:00

Calgary @ Medicine Hat; 6:00

Saskatoon @ Moose Jaw; 6:00

Brandon @ Regina; 6:00

Everett @ Vancouver; 4:00

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2013


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