THE WHL THIS WEEK
Calgary, AB – The 2009-10 Western Hockey League regular season schedule enters its final week of play in February with 23 games slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday as the stretch run towards the 2010 WHL playoffs heats up.
In Calgary, AB, The Hitmen will be celebrating the Chinese New Year with a Lunar Celebration at Saturday’s contest versus the visiting Kelowna Rockets. Fans will be treated to a special Chinese New Year dance, among other fun events.
In Everett, WA, Saturday night is Scout Night when the Silvertips host the Prince George Cougars. The ‘Tips are inviting all Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to attend. In addition, the first 5,000 fans through the doors will get the official 2009-10 team photo.
In Cranbrook, B.C., Saturday is East Kootenay Community Credit Union Night when the Kootenay Ice host the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. The EKCCU will be putting on an orange puck toss in efforts to raise money for the Kootenay Child Health and Development Centre. Fans can also take in a tailgate party hosted by the Cranbrook Hockeyville Committee in its bid to become Kraft Hockeyville for 2010.
In Portland, OR, the Winterhawks will welcome former Hawk and Hockey Hall-of-Famer Cam Neely to take part in a ceremonial puck drop at Sunday’s contest versus the visiting Prince George Cougars. Neely was a member of the Winterhawks’ 1983 Memorial Cup Championship team and went on to enjoy three 50-goal seasons with the NHL’s Boston Bruins.
In Kent, WA, Saturday is Hockey Challenge day at the ShoWare Centre. In addition to the Seattle Thunderbirds hosting the Portland Winterhawks, fans can take in a full day of hockey of teams made up from community sponsors who are raising money to benefit Ronald McDonald House charities of Western Washington. A Celebrity All-Star game will take place immediately after the T-Birds / Hawks contest, featuring T-Birds’ alumni and a host of celebrities including former Seattle Mariner Dan Wilson.
In Spokane, WA, Pink Ice returns to the Spokane Arena when the Chiefs entertain archrivals the Tri-City Americans on Saturday night as part of Breast Cancer Awareness night. The Chiefs will also be sporting pink laces and using pink tape on their sticks. Funds will be raised through a silent auction and T-shirt sales to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Eastern Washington Affiliate.
In Swift Current, SK, fans can help celebrate the Broncos’ mascot Charlie Horse’ 18th Birthday when the Broncos host the visiting Regina Pats on Friday night.
2010 MASTERCARD MEMORIAL CUP H.O.C UNVEILS MEDIA PARTNERS…
Brandon, Manitoba — The Brandon Sun and 880 CKLQ/94.7 STAR-FM have been confirmed as Media Partners for the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup. As media partners, the Brandon Sun and CKLQ/STAR-FM have made significant sponsorship contributions to the MasterCard Memorial Cup including providing extensive advertising and promotional avenues to the host committee.
For more on this story, click HERE…
2010 MASTERCARD MEMORIAL CUP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED…
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup Host Committee today announced the schedule and start times for the National Championship which will be held May 14-23 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, MB.
The puck drops on Friday May 14 at 7:00 pm central time when the host Wheat Kings take on the champions from the OHL, with the tournament wrapping up with the Championship Final scheduled for Sunday May 23 at 2:00 pm central time. All games will be broadcast to a national audience live on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.
For more on this story, click HERE…
WHL ALUMNI CONTINUE BATTLE FOR OLYMPIC GOLD…
Vancouver, B.C. – 28 WHL graduates are currently competing for their countries at the 2010 Winter Olympic Hockey tournament in Vancouver, B.C.
The knock-out portion of the tournament is currently underway, with the Gold medal game scheduled for Sunday, February 28.
Click HERE to follow the 2010 Winter Olympic Hockey tournament…
KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS…
Everett Silvertips vs Tri-City Americans
Friday, February 26th
Shane Harper and the Everett Silvertips (40-19-3-1) welcome Justin Feser and the Tri-City Americans (42-17-1-2) for an important U.S. Division match-up on Friday night.
The Silvertips have won four straight and five of their last six games, including a 2-1 win in Spokane over the Chiefs in their last outing on Tuesday, and currently sit only three points behind the Ams for first place in the U.S. Division and Western Conference standings. The Silvertips are 21-9-1-1 on home ice this season, and have won 12 of their last 13 home games. Harper needs just one more goal to equal John Lammers’ franchise record for goals in a single season with 38.
The Americans are coming off Tuesday’s 6-0 shutout win over the visiting Portland Winterhawks after having lost their previous two contests, and currently sit four points back of Saskatoon for top spot in the WHL standings. The Ams own the WHL’s third-best power play, currently clicking at a 26.5 per cent success rate. Feser has scored three goals over his last two games, hitting the 30-goal plateau in the process.
It’s the eighth meeting of the season between the Silvertips and Americans. The Americans have won four of seven previous meetings versus the ‘Tips, including two wins in Everett.
Red Deer Rebels vs Calgary Hitmen
Friday, February 26th
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Red Deer Rebels (37-22-0-4) host Joel Broda and the Calgary Hitmen (43-17-1-2) for the back half of a home-and-home series between the Central Division rivals on Friday.
The Rebels edged the Hitmen 5-4 in a shootout in Calgary on Wednesday night to pick up their third win in a row and their 13th victory over their last 16 games, and currently sit two points up on Medicine Hat for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Nugent-Hopkins has tallied two goals and seven points with a +5 rating over his last three games.
The Hitmen saw a three-game winning streak come to an end with Wednesday’s 5-4 shootout defeat to the visiting Rebels, but remain six points ahead of Kootenay for the Central Division lead. The Hitmen have surrendered the fewest number of goals of any Eastern Conference team, having given up just 169 goals through 63 games.
It’s the fifth of six meetings between the Alberta rivals. Calgary won the first three meetings versus Red Deer this season and had won nine straight versus the Rebels, dating back to the start of the 2008-09 season until Wednesday’s Rebels’ triumph in Calgary.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE – February 26 – 28
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL WEB TV
Friday, Feb. 26
Chilliwack @ Brandon; 7:30
Kelowna @ Edmonton; 7:00
Tri-City @ Everett; 7:35
Kamloops @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Kootenay @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Vancouver @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Calgary @ Red Deer; 7:30
Prince Albert @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Prince George @ Spokane; 7:00
Regina @ Swift Current; 7:30
Saturday, Feb. 27
Prince Albert @ Brandon; 7:30
Kelowna @ Calgary; 7:00
Red Deer @ Edmonton; 7:00
Prince George @ Everett; 7:05
Lethbridge @ Kootenay; 7:00
Kamloops @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Chilliwack @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Regina @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Portland @ Seattle; 6:05
Tri-City @ Spokane; 7:00
Vancouver @ Swift Current; 7:30
Sunday, Feb. 28
Prince George @ Portland; 7:00
Tri-City @ Seattle; 5:05
