WHL releases 2019 pre-season schedule

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today its pre-season schedule in advance of the 2019-20 season. The schedule includes 60 games, beginning Tuesday, August 27, and concluding Sunday, September 15.

The WHL pre-season schedule features four tournaments, including events hosted by the Everett Silvertips, Regina Pats, Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants.

Everett’s pre-season tournament is scheduled to begin Friday, August 30. The seven-time US Division Champion Silvertips will host the Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs, Americans, and Giants at Angel of the Winds Arena.

Regina’s pre-season tournament begins the same day as well, with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades, and Swift Current Broncos converging on the Brandt Centre in Saskatchewan’s provincial capital.

Tri-City’s tournament will begin Thursday, September 5 at the Toyota Centre in Kennewick, Wash. The Winterhawks, Thunderbirds, and Chiefs will also participate in the tournament.

After claiming the 2019 Western Conference Championship, the Giants will host the fourth and final pre-season tournament beginning Friday, September 6 at the Langley Events Centre. The tournament will feature all five teams from the BC Division as the Prince George Cougars, Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, and Victoria Royals meet up in the province’s Lower Mainland with the Giants. The Silvertips will also participate in the tournament.

As part of WHL pre-season action, the Edmonton Oil Kings and Calgary Hitmen will meet on Saturday, September 7 (7:00 p.m. MT) at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut’ina Nation.

The 2019 WHL pre-season schedule features six games in five communities outside WHL Club markets, providing an opportunity for hockey fans in other areas of Western Canada to watch exciting WHL action.

Irvine, Alta. will host the first matchup as new Central Division rivals, the Medicine Hat Tigers and Swift Current Broncos, meet at the Irvine Sports Complex on Wednesday, September 4 (7:00 p.m. MT). The Tigers and Hitmen will renew acquaintances at the Taber Arena in Taber, Alta. on Saturday, September 14 (7:00 p.m. MT) as the other WHL pre-season matchup in Alberta outside a WHL Club market.

The city of Warman, Sask. will again play host to WHL pre-season action as the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades return to the northern Saskatchewan city for a game on Friday, September 6 (7:00 p.m. CT). The second pre-season meeting between the Brandon Wheat Kings and Winnipeg ICE will take place at Stride Arena in Portage, Man. on Saturday, September 7 (7:00 p.m. CT).

The Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, B.C., will play host to a pair of WHL pre-season games between the Oil Kings and Cougars. The Oil Kings will serve as the home team on Thursday, September 12 (7:00 p.m. PT) while the Cougars will have home-ice advantage on Saturday, September 14 (1:00 p.m. PT).

The 2019-20 WHL Regular Season schedule will be unveiled in late June.

CLICK HERE to download a copy of the 2019 WHL pre-season schedule.

About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.