WHL HEADLINES

FRIDAY NIGHT’S WHL MATCH-UPS – Ivan Baranka (pictured) and the Everett Silvertips (26-22-7-2) host the Prince George Cougars (22-33-3-1) in one of eight Western Hockey League contests on Friday night.
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rThe Silvertips, who currently sit second in the U.S. division, are coming off last Sunday’s 4-2 win over Spokane and have dropped only one of their last seven games. The Silvertips are 15-10-3 on home ice this season.
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rThe Cougars, who trail Kamloops by four points for fourth in the B.C. division, beat Spokane 2-1 on Wednesday, snapping a six-game losing streak. Prince George’s power play has not been good on the road this season, clicking at only 7.5 per cent efficiency.
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rIt’s the fourth and final meeting of the season between the teams. The Cougars have won all three previous meetings with Everett this season.
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rElsewhere tonight, the Tri-City Americans (20-28-5-3) visit the Kelowna Rockets (34-11-11-2).
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rThe Americans, who trail Spokane by two points for fourth in the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to Kamloops and have dropped four of their last five outings. The Ams are 10-13-3 on the road this season.
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rThe Rockets, who sit second in the B.C. division and second overall, beat Seattle 2-1 on Wednesday and have only lost once in their last 10 contests. The Rockets have not lost at home since being shut out 3-0 by Prince George on October 29 – a span of 20 games.
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rIt’s the fourth meeting of the season between the Rockets and Ams. Kelowna is unbeaten versus Tri-Cities this season, with a 2-0-1 record in the previous three encounters.
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rThe Lethbridge Hurricanes (31-15-12-1) welcome the Kootenay Ice (39-13-5-1) tonight in a clash of conference leaders.
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rThe Hurricanes, who top the Central division and Eastern conference, are coming off Wednesday’s 2-1 triumph over the Tigers and have won four straight contests. The ‘Canes are 15-8-7 on home ice this season. Lethbridge could clinch a playoff spot tonight with a victory
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rThe high-flying Ice, who top the B.C. division, the Western conference and occupy first overall, are coming off Tuesday’s 8-0 pounding of the Cougars and have lost only once in 2005. Nigel Dawes, the current WHL Player of the Week, has nine goals in his last six games.
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rIt’s the fifth of six meetings this season between the two conference powerhouses. Lethbridge has a slight edge over Kootenay in the series, with a 2-1-1 record through the first four encounters.
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rThe red-hot Portland Winter Hawks (26-23-4-4) welcome the Spokane Chiefs (20-27-8-2) tonight in a U.S. division match-up.
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rThe Winter Hawks, who trail Everett by only one point for second in the division, are coming off a 7-2 thrashing of Red Deer on Tuesday and have won eight of their last nine contests. Cody McLeod has three goals and five points in his last two games.
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rThe Chiefs, who currently sit fourth in the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Prince George and have dropped three of their last four games. The Chiefs are 8-18-1 on the road this season.
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rIt’s the sixth of nine regular-season meetings between the teams. The series is deadlocked at 2-2-1 through the first five encounters.
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rThe Prince Albert Raiders (23-27-5-4) host the Swift Current Broncos (19-30-6-2) tonight.
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rThe Raiders, who occupy third in the East division, were blanked 4-0 by Brandon on Wednesday and have won only once in their last six outings. The Raiders are an even 14-14-2 on home ice this season.
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rThe Broncos, who sit fifth in the Central division, are coming off Wednesday’s 1-0 shutout over the Hitmen, which snapped a five-game losing streak. The Broncos are currently 24 points out of a playoff spot in the Central division.
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rIt’s the fifth of six meetings this season between the Raiders and Broncos. The series is tied 2-2 through the first four meetings.
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rThe Regina Pats (11-38-3-6) host the Moose Jaw Warriors (10-37-9-1) tonight in a pivotal East division battle.
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rThe Pats, who currently occupy fourth in the East division, have been idle since Sunday’s 8-2 pounding at the hands of Brandon and are winless in 17 straight contests. The Pats have only won six games on home ice this season.
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rThe Warriors, who trail Regina by one point for fourth in the division, are coming off Tuesday’s 3-3 tie with Calgary and are 4-4-2 in their last 10 contests. Kenndal McArdle, the Warriors’ leading scorer, has three goals and five assists in his last four contests.
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rIt’s the eighth meeting of the season between the division rivals. The series is tied at 3-3-1 through the first seven encounters.
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rThe Seattle Thunderbirds (34-19-1-1) welcome the Red Deer Rebels (31-20-4-4) tonight.
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rThe Thunderbirds, who top the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 2-1 loss in Kelowna and are winless in six straight contests. The T-Birds are 15-10-1 on home ice this season.
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rThe Rebels, who are tied with the Hitmen for third in the Central division, are coming off Wednesday’s 3-0 blanking of Vancouver for their third win in their last four outings. Ty Morris (25g-38a) leads the Rebels in scoring with 63 points.
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rIt’s the first and only meeting of the season between the Rebels and T-Birds. The Rebels beat the Thunderbirds 4-2 in Red Deer in last season’s lone encounter.
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rIn other action on Friday, the Vancouver Giants (27-25-3-3) host B.C. division rivals the Kamloops Blazers (22-29-6-2).
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rThe Giants, who sit third in the B.C. division, were shut out 3-0 by Red Deer on Wednesday and are winless in five straight contests. The Giants are 19-10-0 on home ice this season.
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rThe Blazers, who occupy fourth in the B.C. division, blanked Tri-Cities 3-0 on Wednesday and are 4-4-2 in their last 10 outings. Netminder Devan Dubnyk set a new Blazers’ franchise record with his 14th career shutout in Wednesday’s win over the Ams.
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rIt’s the fifth of eight meetings this season between the Giants and Blazers. Vancouver is undefeated versus the Blazers this season, with a 4-0-1 record in the first five meetings.
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rWHL UPCOMING T.V BROADCASTS
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rSHAW
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rSaturday, February 19
rLethbridge @ Swift Current
r7:30 p.m., Saskatchewan and Manitoba regions
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rSunday, February 20
rMoose Jaw @ Brandon
r6:00 p.m., Saskatchewan and Manitoba regions
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rRogers Sportsnet
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rWednesday, February 23
rTri-City @ Vancouver
r7:00 p.m. PT (West, Pacific)
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rSunday, February 27
rMoose Jaw @ Medicine Hat
r5:00 p.m. MT (national)
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rWHL ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION
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r-Dane Byers of the Prince Albert Raiders has been suspended for two games for receiving a major and a game misconduct for a check-from-behind versus Brandon on February 16.
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