TUESDAY’S WHL MATCH-UPS

CHIEFS WELCOME ROCKETS – Mitch Holmberg and the Spokane Chiefs (5-1-0-0) host Zach Franko and the Kelowna Rockets (5-0-0-1) for a battle between two top Western Conference Clubs in Western Hockey League action on Tuesday night.

The Chiefs are coming off a 1-0 overtime victory over the Silvertips in Everett, WA, on Saturday night for their fifth victory through their first six games of the season, and currently sit in second place in the U.S. Division.  The Chiefs won the only home game they’ve played this season.  Holmberg leads all WHL players in scoring with 18 points.

The Rockets are coming off back-to-back weekend victories over the visiting Portland Winterhawks, and are the lone WHL Club without a regulation loss.  The Rockets have piled up 31 goals through their first six games this season.  Franko shares the team lead in scoring with nine points.

It’s the first meeting of the season between the Chiefs and Rockets.  Last season, the teams split four meetings.

In other WHL action on Tuesday, Tim Bozon and the Kamloops Blazers (2-4-0-0) take on Beau McCue and the Tri-City Americans (2-5-0-1).

The Blazers are coming off a 3-0 shutout loss to the visiting Prince George Cougars on Saturday night, and currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference.  The Blazers are 0-for-12 on the power play on home ice this season.

The Americans dropped a 2-1 decision to the Royals in Victoria on Sunday for their second loss in a row.  The Ams have scored just one goal over their last two outings.

In Medicine Hat, AB, Hunter Shinkaruk and the Medicine Hat Tigers (4-1-1-0) host Greg Chase and the Calgary Hitmen (3-2-0-0) for a Central Division match-up on Tuesday.

The Tigers dropped a 5-4 decision in overtime to the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday night after having won their previous two contests.  Shinkaruk made his season debut on Friday, netting two goals in the Tigers’ setback.

The Hitmen split a weekend home-and-home set versus the Kootenay Ice, winning 4-3 in overtime in Calgary on Friday before losing 4-2 in Cranbrook on Saturday.  Chase has six goals through the Hitmen’s first five games.

In Prince Albert, SK, Josh Morrissey and the Prince Albert Raiders (5-2-0-0) battle Dalton Thrower and the Vancouver Giants (1-5-0-0) on Tuesday night.

The Raiders are coming off a 5-2 loss in Swift Current on Saturday night for their second loss in a row after winning their first five games of the season.  The Raiders gave up 14 goals over their two weekend losses after having surrendered 15 goals over their first five games.

The Giants fell 2-1 to the Warriors in Moose Jaw on Saturday night for their fourth consecutive setback.  Vancouver’s offense has produced just five goals over its last four outings.

In Red Deer, AB, Conner Bleackley and the Red Deer Rebels (5-3-0-0) welcome Josh Winquist and the Everett Silvertips (3-1-1-0) on Tuesday.

The Rebels are coming off a 4-2 win in Brandon over the Wheat Kings on Saturday to close out a five-game road trip.  Bleackley leads the Rebels in scoring with five goals and 11 points in eight games this season.

The Silvertips dropped a 1-0 decision to the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Saturday night for their second loss in their last three games.  Everett’s power play is operating at 33.3% efficiency this season.

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