WHL HEADLINES

PRINCE GEORGE @ LETHBRIDGE TONIGHT ON SHAW – Brent Seabrook (pictured) and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (26-13-11-1) welcome the Prince George Cougars (21-28-3-1) in one of five Western Hockey League contests Wednesday night.
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rTonight’s contest between the Cougars and Hurricanes can be seen throughout the Alberta Region and locally in Prince George on SHAW.
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rThe Hurricanes, currently first in the Central division, are coming off Sunday’s 3-3 tie with Kootenay and have managed only one win in their last seven contests. The ‘Canes are 14-7-6 on home ice this season. Jonathan Filewich is tied for second in the league with 14 power play goals this season.
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rThe Cougars, who currently sit fourth in the B.C. division, were edged 2-1 in Swift Current last night and have dropped five of their last six contests. Prince George is 7-19-1 on the road this season. Dustin Byfuglien ranks third in the league in scoring among defencemen with 42 points.
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rIt’s the third and final meeting of the season between the Cougars and Hurricanes. The ‘Canes have won both previous encounters with the Cougars this season.
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rElsewhere tonight, the Calgary Hitmen (26-17-6-3) and the Brandon Wheat Kings (25-18-5-1) meet up in Winnipeg in the second of three straight encounters between the teams this week.
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rThe Hitmen, who sit third in the Central division, fell 3-2 in overtime to the Wheat Kings on Sunday in Calgary and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Hitmen are 12-13-1 on the road this season.
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rThe Wheat Kings, who sit second in the East division, won their seventh overtime game of the season with Sunday’s victory over Calgary. The Wheat Kings foursome of Ryan Stone, Eric Fehr, Lance Monych and Tim Konsorada have accounted for 96 of the team’s 149 goals this season.
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rIt’s the third meeting of the season between the teams. Brandon is 1-0-1 versus the Hitmen this season. The teams meet up again on Friday in Brandon.
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rThe Kelowna Rockets (30-10-9-2) host the Tri-City Americans (17-23-5-3) tonight.
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rThe Rockets, who are tied with Kootenay for first in the B.C. division and first overall, beat Vancouver 2-1 on Saturday and have won five straight contests. The Rockets are 16-0-1 in their last 17 home games and haven’t lost in Kelowna since October 29th.
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rThe Americans, who sit fifth in the U.S. division – only one point behind Spokane, are coming off Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Everett and won just twice in their last 10 outings. The Ams have scored only two goals in their last three games.
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rIt’s the third meeting of the season between the Ams and Rockets. Kelowna is 1-0-1 versus Tri-Cities this season.
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rThe Vancouver Giants (26-21-2-2) kick off a Central division road swing tonight as they visit the Red Deer Rebels (26-17-4-4).
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rThe Giants, who sit third in the B.C. division, are coming off a 2-1 loss to Kelowna on Saturday and have only won once in their last six games. The Giants are 7-14-2 on the road this season.
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rThe Rebels, who currently sit fourth in a very close Central division, are coming off Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Cougars for their fourth win in their last five games. Ty Morris, the Husky WHL Player of the Month for January, has nine goals and 21 points on a current 11-game point streak.
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rIt’s the second meeting of the season between the teams. Vancouver won the first meeting 5-2 in Red Deer in November.
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rIn other action Wednesday night, the Seattle Thunderbirds (34-14-0-1) welcome the Spokane Chiefs (17-23-8-1) in a U.S. division match-up.
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rThe T-Birds, who hold a 17-point lead atop the U.S. division, beat Everett 3-2 on Saturday and have won three of their last four games. Aaron Gagnon (26g-25a) leads the Thunderbirds in scoring with 51 points.
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rThe Chiefs, who currently sit fourth in the U.S. division, dropped a 4-3 decision to Kamloops last night and are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. The Chiefs are 6-16-1 on the road this season.
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rIt’s the sixth meeting of the season between the teams. Seattle has a 4-1 lead in the season series.
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rWHL UPCOMING T.V BROADCASTS
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rSHAW
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rFriday, February 4
rKamloops @ Kelowna
r7:00 p.m., B.C. region
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rWednesday, February 9
rVancouver @ Calgary
r7:00 p.m., Alberta and B.C. regions.
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rRogers Sportsnet
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rWednesday, February 16
rRed Deer @ Vancouver
r7:00 p.m. PT (West, Pacific)
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rWednesday, February 23
rTri-City @ Vancouver
r7:00 p.m. PT (West, Pacific)
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