WHL HEADLINES

KELOWNA @ VANCOUVER TONIGHT ON SHAW – Gilbert Brule (pictured) and the Vancouver Giants (30-28-3-4) host the league-leading Kelowna Rockets (40-12-11-2) tonight in one of seven Western Hockey League contests on Saturday night.
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rTonight’s contest between the Rockets and Giants can be seen throughout the B.C region on SHAW.
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rThe Giants, who sit third in the B.C. division, are coming off last night’s 4-2 loss to Portland and have dropped four straight contests. The Giants are 21-12-0 at home this season, but only 5-5 in their last 10 in Vancouver. Brule leads the Giants in scoring with 35 goals and 77 points this season.
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rThe Rockets, who hold a one-point lead over Kootenay for top spot in the B.C. division and first overall, are coming off Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Spokane and have won five straight games. The Rockets are 14-8-9-2 on the road this season.
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rIt’s the sixth meeting of the season between the Rockets and Giants. Kelowna is undefeated versus the Giants this season, with a 4-0-1 record through the first five encounters.
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rTonight’s SHAW B.C. region broadcast can be seen locally in Castlegar, Chilliwack, Cranbrook, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Penticton, Prince George, Quesnel, Vancouver, Vernon, Victoria, and Williams Lake.
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rElsewhere tonight, the Portland Winter Hawks (29-25-5-4) host the Tri-City Americans (23-31-7-3) in a U.S. division match-up.
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rThe Winter Hawks, who trail second-placed Everett by only one point, beat Vancouver 4-2 last night and have lost only once in their last eight games. The Hawks are 16-11-2-1 at home this season.
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rThe Americans, who are currently tied with Spokane for fourth in the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 1-1 tie versus Kamloops and are 3-5-2 in their last 10 outings. The Ams are 10-15-4-1 on the road this season.
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rIt’s the ninth meeting of the season between the Ams and Hawks. Tri-Cities leads the series 5-3 through the first eight encounters.
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rThe Regina Pats (11-44-4-6) host the Swift Current Broncos (19-36-6-3) tonight.
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rThe Pats, who sit fifth in the East division, are coming off last night’s 1-1 tie with Saskatoon but are winless in 24 straight contests. The Pats have managed just six wins at home all season.
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rThe Broncos, who sit fifth in the Central division, were beaten 5-2 in Brandon last night and have dropped seven straight contests. The Broncos are the league’s only team to have already been eliminated from post-season contention.
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rIt’s the sixth meeting of the season between the teams. Swift Current has won four of five previous meetings with the Pats this season.
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rThe Everett Silvertips (29-24-8-2) visit the Seattle Thunderbirds (39-20-2-2) tonight in a key U.S. division match-up.
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rThe Silvertips, who currently sit second in the U.S. division, have been idle since Sunday’s 3-3 tie with Tri-Cities and are 4-2-2 in their last eight outings. Torrie Wheat leads the Silvertips with 22 goals this season.
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rThe Thunderbirds, who top the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Vancouver and are 5-3-2 in their last 10 outings. The defensively stingy Thunderbirds have allowed a league-low 124 goals this season.
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rIt’s the seventh meeting of the season between the Silvertips and T-Birds. Everett has a 3-2-1 edge in the first six meetings this season.
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rThe Medicine Hat Tigers (38-20-4-2) welcome the Lethbridge Hurricanes (36-16-12-1) tonight in a pivotal Central division battle.
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rThe Tigers, who trail the Hurricanes by three points for the Central division lead, managed a 4-2 win in Red Deer last night and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 outings. The Tigers are a solid 21-8-2-1 on home ice this season.
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rThe Hurricanes, who top the Central division, had their nine-game winning streak ended when they were blanked 1-0 in Moose Jaw last night. The ‘Canes are 18-9-5-0 on the road this season.
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rIt’s the ninth meeting of the season between the teams. Medicine Hat leads the season series 6-2 through the first eight meetings.
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rThe Prince George Cougars (23-38-3-1) host the Spokane Chiefs (23-31-8-2) for the second time in as many nights tonight.
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rThe Cougars, who trail Kamloops by seven points for fourth in the B.C. division, were beaten 4-3 by the Chiefs last night and have only won twice in their last 10 games. The Cougars are 15-14-2-0 on home ice this season.
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rThe Chiefs, who are tied with the Americans for fourth in the U.S. division, are 4-6 in their last 10 games, including last night’s victory over the Cougars. Chiefs forward Jeff Lynch has scored four goals in his last four games.
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rIt’s the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Chiefs and Cougars. The series is tied 1-1-1 through the first three meetings.
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rIn other action on Saturday, the Red Deer Rebels (32-24-4-4) welcome the Prince Albert Raiders (27-29-5-4).
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rThe Rebels, who occupy fourth in the Central division, were beaten 4-2 last night by the Tigers and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Dion Phaneuf has scored three goals and seven points in his last three outings.
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rThe Raiders, who sit third in the East division, are coming off Wednesday’s 3-2 win in Moose Jaw and have won three straight contests. The Raiders are guaranteed to finish third in the East division this season.
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rIt’s the fifth meeting of the season between the Rebels and Raiders. Red Deer leads the series 3-1 through the first four encounters.
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