WHL HEADLINES

VANCOUVER @ KELOWNA TONIGHT ON SHAW – The Kelowna Rockets (44-12-12-2) have their sights set on their third straight Scotty Munro Trophy as Western Hockey League regular-season champions when they host Gilbert Brule (pictured) and the Vancouver Giants (33-29-4-4) tonight, kicking off the final weekend of regular-season play.
r
rTonight’s contest between the Rockets and the Giants can be seen throughout the British Columbia region on SHAW.
r
rThe Rockets, who currently hold a two-point edge over B.C. division rival Kootenay for first overall, are coming off Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Prince George and are unbeaten in their last 10 games. The Rockets have been unbeatable at home, having not lost at Prospera Place in 26 straight games dating back to the end of October. Kelowna needs three points from their last two games to clinch their third straight regular-season crown.
r
rThe Giants, who are third in the B.C. division, are coming off Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win versus Prince George and have won three of their last four outings. Vancouver has already locked up third place in the division and awaits either Kelowna or Kootenay in the first round of the playoffs. Brule (37g-46a) ranks fifth in the league in scoring with 83 points this season.
r
rIt’s the seventh meeting of the season between the Rockets and Giants. Kelowna is undefeated versus Vancouver this season, with a 4-0-2 record through the first six encounters. The two teams meet up again tomorrow night in Vancouver to wrap up their respective regular-season schedules.
r
rTonight’s SHAW broadcast can be seen in B.C. locally in Castlegar, Chilliwack, Cranbrook, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Penticton, Prince George, Quesnel, Vancouver, Vernon, Victoria, and Williams Lake.
r
rElsewhere tonight, the Prince George Cougars (25-40-3-2) host the b>Kamloops Blazers (25-36-7-2) in the first of two crucial contests between the teams that will decide the fourth and final playoff spot in the B.C. division.
r
rThe Cougars, who currently trail fourth-placed Kamloops by four points, are coming off Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat in Kelowna and have dropped three of their last four games. The Cougars, 17-15-2 on home ice, need to win tonight and tomorrow to clinch a tiebreaker for the last playoff spot in the division.
r
rThe Blazers, currently holding onto fourth in the B.C. division, have been idle since last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat in Kelowna and have dropped four of their last five contests. The Blazers need just one point from this weekend’s double-header in Prince George to clinch a playoff berth.
r
rIt’s the ninth meeting of the season between the Cougars and Blazers. Kamloops leads the series 5-3 through eight meetings.
r
rThe Brandon Wheat Kings (44-20-5-1) aim to clinch first in the Eastern conference tonight as they welcome the Moose Jaw Warriors (13-46-10-1) tonight.
r
rThe Wheat Kings, who are already East division champions, beat the Warriors 4-2 on Wednesday in Winnipeg and have won 18 of their last 19 games. The Wheaties could clinch first in the Eastern conference with a win and a Medicine Hat defeat, tie or overtime loss.
r
rThe Warriors, who have locked up fourth in the East division, have dropped four straight contests and have won only once in their last 10 games. The Warriors are 4-26-5 on the road this season.
r
rIt’s the ninth meeting of the season between the Wheat Kings and Warriors. Brandon is undefeated versus Moose Jaw this season, with a 7-0-1 record through the first eight encounters. The teams will also meet in the first round of the playoffs.
r
rThe Tri-City Americans (25-34-7-3) have their sights set on the playoffs as they visit the Everett Silvertips (33-26-8-2) tonight.
r
rThe Americans, who currently hold a two-point lead over Spokane for fourth in the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat to Kootenay and have dropped three of their last four outings. The Ams could clinch the final playoff berth in the U.S. division with a win tonight and a Spokane loss, tie, or overtime defeat.
r
rThe Silvertips, who currently lead Portland by two points for second in the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 402 win over Seattle and have won four of their last five outings. The Silvertips are 20-11-4 on home ice this season.
r
rIt’s the ninth meeting of the season between the ‘Tips and Ams. Tri-Cities has a 4-3-1 edge in the series through the first eight encounters. The two teams hook up again tomorrow in Kennewick.
r
rThe Spokane Chiefs (24-36-8-2) will battle for their playoff lives as they visit the Kootenay Ice (45-15-7-3) Friday night.
r
rThe Chiefs, who trail the Americans by two points for fourth in the U.S. division, are coming off Wednesday’s 4-0 defeat to Portland and have dropped three straight contests. The Chiefs need to win both their remaining games and hope the Ams lose at least two of their last three games in order to have a chance at a playoff spot.
r
rThe Ice, who trail Kelowna by two points for the B.C. division crown and first overall, are coming off Wednesday’s 3-1 win in Kennewick and have dropped only one of their last six outings. Kootenay is 26-6-3 on home ice this season.
r
rIt’s the fifth meeting of the season between the Chiefs and Ice. Kootenay leads the series 2-1-1 through four previous encounters. The teams meet up again tomorrow night in Spokane to wrap up their respective regular-season campaigns.
r
rThe Lethbridge Hurricanes (38-19-12-1) welcome the Calgary Hitmen (33-23-9-5) tonight.
r
rTonight’s contest betwen the Hitmen and Hurricanes can be seen throughout the Alberta region on SHAW.
r
rThe Hurricanes, who trail Medicine Hat by three points for top spot in the Central division, are coming off Tuesday’s 5-3 defeat to Red Deer and have dropped three of their last five games. The ‘Canes have to win both their remaining games and hope the Tigers lose both of theirs to clinch the Central division title.
r
rThe Hitmen, who are tied with Red Deer for third in the Central division, are coming off Sunday’s 4-2 loss to Kootenay and are winless in their last four games. Calgary needs to win both their remaining games to clinch third in the division.
r
rIt’s the sixth and final meeting of the season between the ‘Canes and Hitmen. The series is tied 2-2-1 through the first five encounters.
r
rTonight’s SHAW broadcast can be seen in Alberta locally in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer Medicine Hat, and Fort McMurray.
r
rThe Portland Winter Hawks (32-27-5-5) welcome the Seattle Thunderbirds (42-23-2-2) tonight in a U.S. division match-up.
r
rThe Winter Hawks, currently two points behind Everett for second in the division, are coming off Wednesday’s 4-0 blanking of the Chiefs and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 outings. Portland is 17-15-2 on home ice this season.
r
rThe T-Birds, already the U.S. division champs, are coming off Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to Everett and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 outings. Seattle is 20-15-0 on the road this season.
r
rIt’s the 11th meeting of the season between the T-Birds and Hawks. Seattle leads the series 5-4-1 through the first 10 encounters, but the Hawks are 4-0-1 in the last five meetings. The teams hook up again tomorrow night in Seattle.
r
rThe Prince Albert Raiders (30-31-5-4) welcome the Saskatoon Blades (36-22-6-6) tonight in the first game of a home-and-home series to wrap up their respective regular-season schedules.
r
rThe Raiders, who have locked up third in the East division, are coming off Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Swift Current and have won three of their last four games. The Raiders own the league’s fifth-best power play on home ice.
r
rThe Blades, who have clinched second place in the East division, are coming off Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Broncos and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 outings. The Blades are 16-15-4 on the road this season.
r
rIt’s the ninth meeting of the season between the Raiders and Blades. Saskatoon leads the series 5-3 though the first eight meetings. The teams hook up again tomorrow night in Saskatoon, and they’ll meet in the first round of the playoffs as well.
r
rIn other action on Friday night, the Swift Current Broncos (22-39-6-3) host the Medicine Hat Tigers (43-21-4-2) tonight in the front half of a home-and-home series between the teams to end the regular season.
r
rThe Broncos, who will finish fifth in the Central division and out of playoff contention, are coming off Wednesday’s 4-0 defeat in Saskatoon and are 3-7 in their last 10 outings. The Broncos are 13-19-3 on home ice this season.
r
rThe Tigers, who lead Lethbridge by three points for first in the Central division, are coming off Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Red Deer and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. The Tigers could clinch the Central division title with a win, tie or overtime loss tonight.
r
rIt’s the seventh meeting of the season between the Tigers and Broncos. Medicine Hat is 5-1 versus the Broncos this season. The teams meet up again tomorrow night in Medicine Hat to finish their regular seasons.
r
r———————————————————————————–
r
rWHL ANNOUNCES FINES AND SUSPENSIONS
r
r
r-The Everett Silvertips have been fined $500.00 for their third multiple-fight situation of the season versus Seattle on March 16.
r
r-Lane Lambert, head coach of Prince George, has been fined $250.00 for receiving a game misconduct at the conclusion of the Cougars game at Vancouver on March 15.
r
r-The Seattle Thunderbirds have been fined $250.00 fine for their second multiple-fight situation of the season at Everett on March 16. James McEwan of the Thunderbirds has been suspended for receiving a match penalty during the same game. The length of the suspension is to be determined.
r
r————————————————————————————-
r
rMAGGIE JANZ SCHOLARSHIP WINNER ANNOUNCED
r
r
rBrandon, Manitoba — The Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings have
rannounced that an 17-year old grade 12 student from Boissevain has been chosen the 2005 winner of the Maggie Janz Memorial Scholarship.
r
rLandon Jay White, who will graduate from Boissevain School this June, plans to attend Brandon University this fall. He becomes the eleventh winner of this prestigious Scholarship, which was established several years ago in honour of the former Wheat King volunteer, who served as “director of operations” for the hockey club’s 50/50 program.
r
rAn avid golfer, Brad is also heavily involved in hockey, baseball, volleyball and music, where he’s very good with the trombone. In addition to being an active participate on the diamond, court and ice, Landon volunteers his time as both a coach (junior and varsity volleyball) and official (chosen Most Promising Official in the Westman Region by Hockey Manitoba).
r
r”Landon is a very conscientious young man,” says Boissevain School teacher Bob Birch. “He excels academically, as he pays attention to detail and has the will to succeed. He is a valuable contributor to class discussions, yet has the confidence to ask for assistance when needed.”
r
rBesides school studies and sport, Landon finds time to serve as the Minister of Sport on the Boissevain School Council as well as write a weekly column for the Boissevain Recorder.
r
r”It is a huge commitment and immense responsibility to be able to cope with the demands of being a hockey official,” says Lorraine Houston, Editor and Publisher of the Recorder. “He continues to demonstrate leadership, authority, respect and support to other officials, players and coaches when on the ice.”
r
rThe Wheat Kings’ Foundation is also pleased to present a $500 scholarship to Meagan Berry. One of eighteen western Manitoba students to apply, Meagan is in her third season with the Wheat Kings, working in the hockey club’s souvenir shop on game days.
r
rMaggie was a victim of a fatal bus crash during a European vacation in 1994.
r
r————————————————————————————-
r
rHOCKEY CHALLENGE 2005 PREPARES FOR WEEKEND OF FUN ACTIVITIES WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL CELEBRITY INVOLVEMENT
r
r
rSeattle, March 17, 2005 – The Seventh Annual Hockey Challenge with proceeds benefiting the Seattle Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington (RMHC), is pleased to announce additional details of the March 18-20 schedule.
r
rThe weekend’s calendar of events kicks off with a festive party at the Waterfront Seafood Grill at Pier 70 on Friday, March 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets to attend can be purchased at the door for $150 per person, payable with credit card, check or cash.
r
rThe hockey tournament kicks off on Saturday morning, March 19, and continues through the weekend. Highlights include the Celebrity All Star Game on Saturday at 4:20 p.m., which will feature local and national celebrities and NHL alumni.
r
rScheduled participants include NHL Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, “Best Damn Sports Show Period” host Tom Arnold, CSI’s Paul Guilfoyle, WB’s “Smallville” star Michael Rosenbaum, WB’s “Everwood” star Scott Wolf and current Philadelphia Flyer and former Seattle Thundebird Turner Stevenson.
r
rRepresentatives for Kiefer Sutherland announced production schedules for the filming of 24 changed, preventing Hockey Challenge 2005 Celebrity Chair and Golden Globe winning star Sutherland from participating in the seventh annual charity event.
r
rTeams representing Microsoft, IBM, Washington Mutual, Starbucks, the U.S. Navy, Seattle Fire and Police Departments, and others will be skating to support the children and families served by RMHC.
r
rIndividual game tickets can be purchased for each day’s events, which includes access to the evening Seattle Thunderbirds games. Tickets also admit guests to the celebrity autograph session, which begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
r
rTo purchase tickets, visit the Seattle Thunderbirds website, www.seattlethunderbirds.com or call the T- Birds at (206) 448-PUCK.
r
r—————————————————————————-
r
rWHL FANTASY HOCKEY LEAGUE
r
r
rDon’t forget to register for the WHL Fantasy Hockey Playoff Challenge. It’s your chance to get involved in the excitement of WHL playoff action and support the WHL Education Fund.
r
rLog on and select your 12-player roster from any playoff-bound team and you could win prizes including a 42-inch plasma T.V.
r
rJust click on the WHL FANTASY HOCKEY LEAGUE logo to find out more details or to register.
r
r———————————————————————
r