WHL THIS WEEK: January 5, 2012
Calgary, AB – The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters first full weekend of play in 2012 with 23 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND…
In Edmonton, AB, Saturday night is Jordan Eberle World Junior Bobblehead Night when the Oil Kings host the Swift Current Broncos. The Oil Kings will also welcome a New Face in their lineup.
In Portland, OR, Winterhawks’ veteran Taylor Peters offers a Riveting Tale about rescuing a kayaker from the Willamette River on New Year’s Day.
In Prince Albert, SK, Raiders’ broadcaster Drew Wilson Offers His Thoughts on former Raider Brandon Herrod, now with the Kamloops Blazers.
In Red Deer, AB, Saturday night is Prairie Bus Lines Giveaway Night when the Rebels host the Swift Current Broncos. In other Rebels’ news, veteran forward Josh Cowen Assumes a New Role behind the bench for the club.
In Spokane, WA, the Chiefs host the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors, and one randomly selected fan will have the chance to Shoot for $20,000 towards a new boat.
In Victoria, B.C., the Royals will have to fill a spot on the blue line after defenseman Jesse Pauls announced his Retirement this week.
THE ED CHYNOWETH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHES…
CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Tuesday a new internship program aimed at alumni of the Canadian Hockey League, National Women’s Team Programs, and National Men’s Team Programs who are pursuing careers in sports administration, communications, marketing or development.
The Ed Chynoweth Internship Program is named in honour of the late Canadian Hockey League and Program of Excellence founding member. Internships will be awarded annually to up to five outstanding college or university students who have completed or are working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree in a sports-related field.
For more, click HERE
WHL PROSPECTS EARN BANTAM TOURNAMENT AWARDS…
Many future WHL Stars were at the 49th Annual Burnaby Bantam Tournament over the holidays that saw Cloverdale defeat the North Shore Winter Club to claim Gold at the event.
For the list of award winners, click HERE
ST. CROIX AND RIMMER TAKE HOME MONTHY WHL HONORS…
Michael St. Croix of the Edmonton Oil Kings was named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for December while Ty Rimmer of the Tri-City Americans was named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month for December, the WHL announced on Monday.
St. Croix, an 18-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, put up 10 goals and 26 points with a +11 rating in 12 games during December as the Oil Kings climbed into first place in the Eastern Conference. Now in his third WHL season with the Oil Kings, St Croix currently sits tied for second in the WHL scoring race with 65 points this season.
Rimmer, a 19-year-old from Edmonton, AB, posted a 6-0 record with a shutout while boasting a 1.50 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage in December to help the Ams maintain their spot atop the WHL standings. Rimmer leads all WHL netminders in GAA, save percentage and shutouts this season.
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW
Cam Braes and the Lethbridge Hurricanes host Hunter Shinkaruk and the Medicine Hat Tigers for a Central Division battle on Friday night.
Friday’s contest between the Hurricanes and Tigers can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm CT).
The Hurricanes are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Oil Kings in Edmonton on Wednesday night for their fourth setback over their last five games, and currently sit 13 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes are 11-12-0 on home ice this season, and have won seven of their last eight games at home. Braes recorded his 200th career point on Wednesday versus Edmonton.
The Tigers dropped a 4-2 decision in Swift Current on New Year’s Day, snapping a five-game winning streak, and currently sit tied for third place in the Eastern Conference. The Tigers boast a 12-6-1-1 record away from home this season, and have won five of their last six road games. Shinkaruk has a goal and six points in four games versus Lethbridge this season.
It’s the fifth meeting of the season between the Tigers and ‘Canes. The teams split the first four meetings, with the road team winning on three of four occasions.
SHAW will broadcast 32 WHL games during the 2011-12 WHL regular season. For the entire WHL on SHAW broadcast schedule, click HERE
AMERICANS HOST T-BIRDS FRIDAY NIGHT ON ROOTS SPORTS
Patrick Holland and the Tri-City Americans welcome Branden Troock and the Seattle Thunderbirds for a battle between U.S. Division rivals on Friday night
Friday’s contest marks can be seen live throughout the Pacific Northwest on ROOTS SPORTS (7:00pm PT).
The Americans are coming off Wednesday’s 5-0 shutout win over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors for their franchise-record 11th consecutive victory, and currently sit in first place in the WHL standings. The Ams have won 10 straight on home ice, and have lost just twice all season at the Toyota Centre in Kennewick, WA. Holland has scored five goals and 15 points in his last five games.
The Thunderbirds fell 5-2 to the Silvertips in Everett on Wednesday night for their second loss in a row, and currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference. The T-Birds are 6-11-0 on the road this season. Seattle’s penalty killing unit is operating at 69.2% efficiency on the road this season.
It’s the fifth meeting of the season between the Americans and Thunderbirds. The Ams won three of four meetings versus Seattle this season.
For the ROOTS SPORTS schedule, click HERE
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS…
Saskatoon Blades vs Regina Pats
Friday, Jan. 6 @ Regina, SK & Saturday, Jan. 7 @ Saskatoon
Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats take on Dalton Thrower and the Saskatoon Blades for a home-and-home series between the East Division rivals on the weekend.
The Pats skated to an 8-3 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday night for their third straight victory and their fourth in five games, and currently sit three points ahead of the Blades for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pats have outscored their opposition 17-6 over their last three games. Weal leads all active WHL players with 334 points in 252 career games.
The Blades blasted the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings 8-2 on New Year’s Day after cruising to a 9-4 win over visiting Prince Albert on December 30th. The Blades trail the Pats by three points in the standings, but hold two games in hand. Thrower has three goals and 10 points over his last two games.
This weekend’s meetings mark the fourth and fifth encounters of the season between the Pats and Blades. Saskatoon owns a 2-1 record in the series, with both of their wins coming on home ice.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE – Jan. 6 – Jan. 8
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Jan. 6
Medicine Hat @ Lethbridge; 7:00 **Live on SHAW**
Everett @ Portland; 7:00
Brandon @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Kamloops @ Prince George; 7:00
Swift Current @ Red Deer; 7:30
Saskatoon @ Regina; 7:00
Moose Jaw @ Spokane; 7:05
Seattle @ Tri-City; 7:00 **Live on ROOTS SPORTS**
Kelowna @ Victoria; 7:05
Saturday, Jan. 7
Swift Current @ Edmonton; 7:00
Tri-City @ Everett; 7:05
Moose Jaw @ Kootenay; 7:00
Brandon @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Kamloops @ Prince George; 7:00
Medicine Hat @ Red Deer; 7:30
Regina @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Spokane @ Seattle; 7:05
Portland @ Vancouver; 7:00
Kelowna @ Victoria; 7:05
Sunday, Jan. 8
Lethbridge @ Calgary; 2:00
Red Deer @ Edmonton; 6:00
Spokane @ Everett; 5:05
Medicine Hat @ Kootenay; 6:00
