WHL THIS WEEK: January 26, 2012
Calgary, AB – The 2011-12 WHL regular season enters its third weekend of play in January with 23 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS THIS WEEKEND…
In Lethbridge, AB, Friday night is Heritage Night when the ‘Canes host the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. The Hurricanes will be sporting special jersey honoring the Lethbridge Sugar Kings, a founding member team of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
In Moose Jaw, SK, the Warriors will be holding their annual Skills Competition on Sunday. Fans can cheer their favorite Warriors players as they compete in events such as Fastest Skater and Hardest Shot.
In Prince George, B.C., Saturday night is Heroes Night when the Cougars host the Everett Silvertips. Members of Military families and local organizations such as the Royal Canadian Legion, the RCMP and the Prince George Fire Rescue will be recognized at the game.
In Regina, SK, the Pats will pay tribute on Friday to late former captain Rick Rypien with Rick Rypien Bobblehead Night. The collectible will be available with a donation, with proceeds going to KidSport.
In Kent, WA, Saturday night is Teddy Bear Toss night when the Seattle Thunderbirds host the Portland Winterhawks.
In Spokane, WA, Saturday night is Washington Army National Guard Buck Night when the Chiefs host the Kootenay Ice. The Chiefs will be wearing special military-themed jerseys, which will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Chiefs Care and Washington Army National Charities.
In Victoria, B.C., Saturday night is Pink the Rink night when the Royals host the Kamloops Blazers.
MURRAY, SISSONS NAMED PROSPECTS CAPTAINS; HITMEN’S DRIEDGER ADDED ROSTER…
Colton Sissons of the Kelowna Rockets and Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips have been named the team captains for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game.
Sissons, a product of North Vancouver, B.C., will captain Team Orr while Murray, from White City, SK, will captain Team Cherry.
Also announced was the addition of Calgary Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger to Team Orr. The 17-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, replaces Malcolm Subban of the OHL’s Belleville Bulls, who cannot participate due to injury.
For more, click HERE
QUINN, RECCHI LOOKING FORWARD TO LEADING TOP PROSPECTS…
By Jesse Michael – For one coach it marks his return to junior hockey, and for another it’s his first shot at being behind the bench after an illustrious NHL career.
2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Team Orr coach Pat Quinn and Team Cherry coach Mark Recchi have taken very different paths to reach this point in their hockey careers.
For more, click HERE
2012 WHL U.S. PROSPECTS CAMP DRAWING CLOSER…
Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League will be hosting the seventh annual WHL U.S. Prospects Camp in Anaheim, California at the Anaheim Ice facility from April 13-15, 2012.
The WHL U.S. Prospects Camp provides a unique opportunity for U.S. born hockey players to participate with other top ranked 1997 and 1998 born players in the only evaluation camp conducted by the Western Hockey League in the U.S. this season. The WHL is the largest Major Junior Hockey League in North America and is a leading supplier of player talent to the National Hockey League. Virtually all of the WHL’s 22 Member Clubs will have scouts in attendance to evaluate player’s ability to play in one of the world’s finest development League for junior aged players.
For more information, click HERE
T-BIRDS’ PICKARD SETS WHL MARK FOR CAREER SAVES…
Vancouver, B.C. – Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds became the WHL’s All-Time leader in career saves on Sunday night in Vancouver, B.C.
The 19-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, stopped 42 of 45 shots he faced in a 3-2 setback to the Giants, giving him 6,959 career saves, eclipsing the previous long-held record of 6,958 saves set by former Thunderbirds netminder Danny Lorenz (1986-1990).
For more, click HERE
FRIDAY NIGHT WHL HOCKEY ON SHAW AND ROOT SPORTS
Mathew Dumba and the Red Deer Rebels (21-21-1-4) host Justin Feser and the Tri-City Americans (35-11-0-1) in Western Hockey League action on Friday night.
Friday’s contest between the Rebels and Americans can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 and on ROOTS SPORTS throughout the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh regions (7:30pm MT; 6:30pm PT).
The Rebels are coming off a 4-2 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants on Wednesday night for their second win over their last three games, and currently sit just four points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rebels are 12-10-1-2 on home ice this season. Dumba is the seventh-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings of 2012 NHL draft-eligible skaters.
The Americans edged the Oil Kings 5-4 in Edmonton on Wednesday night in a battle between two of the WHL’s elite teams, and currently sit just one point out of first place in the overall WHL standings. The Ams improve to 16-8-0 on the road with Wednesday’s win in Edmonton. Feser, the Americans’ fourth-leading scorer, is a Red Deer native. His younger brother, Scott, is a Rebels prospect.
It’s the only meeting of the season between the Rebels and Americans. The Rebels managed a 5-3 win over the Americans in Kennewick, WA, on November 6, 2010, in last season’s only encounter.
SHAW will broadcast 32 WHL games during the 2011-12 WHL regular season, while ROOTS SPORTS will broadcast 10 WHL games. For the entire WHL broadcast schedule, click HERE
KEY WEEKEND MATCH-UPS…
Portland Winterhawks @ Spokane Chiefs
Friday, January 27th
Brenden Kichton and the Spokane Chiefs (26-14-3-3) welcome Ty Rattie and the Portland Winterhawks (31-14-2-1) on Friday for the third meeting inside the last week between the U.S. Division rivals.
The Chiefs doubled up the Silvertips 4-2 in Everett on Wednesday night to stretch their winning streak to four games, and now sit just one point out of fourth place in the Western Conference. The Chiefs are 5-1 over their last six home games. Kichton leads the Chiefs and tops all WHL defensemen in scoring with 48 points this season.
The Winterhawks are coming off a 7-4 win over the Silvertips in Portland on Tuesday night, and currently sit in second place in the U.S. Division standings – just seven points up on Spokane. The Hawks have lost six of their last eight road games. Rattie continues to lead all WHL players in scoring with 83 points this season.
It’s the seventh meeting of the season between the Chiefs and Winterhawks. The Winterhawks won the first four meetings until the Chiefs’ pair of wins last weekend. Spokane outscored Portland 11-3 through their double-header last weekend.
Saskatoon Blades @ Moose Jaw Warriors
Friday, January 27th
Cam Braes and the Moose Jaw Warriors (29-14-5-1) take on Lukas Sutter and the Saskatoon Blades (29-18-0-1) for a key East Division match-up on Friday.
The Warriors blanked the Broncos 3-0 in Swift Current on Tuesday night for their fourth victory over their last five games, and currently hold a five-point lead over Saskatoon for first place in the East Division. The Warriors boast a solid 20-3-2-1 record at home this season. Braes has four goals and nine points in seven games with the Warriors.
The Blades have been off since skating to a 9-6 win over the visiting Victoria Royals last Saturday, and have won nine of their last 11 games. The Blades have won their last three games away from home. Sutter is one of four Blades players with 20 or more goals this season.
It’s the fourth meeting of the season between Moose Jaw and Saskatoon. The Warriors won two of the first three meetings between the clubs.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE – Jan. 27 – Jan. 29
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Jan. 27
Vancouver @ Calgary; 7:00
Brandon @ Edmonton; 7:00
Seattle @ Kelowna; 7:05
Prince Albert @ Kootenay; 7:00
Medicine Hat @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Saskatoon @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Everett @ Prince George; 7:00
Tri-City @ Red Deer; 7:30 **Live on SHAW and ROOT SPORTS**
Swift Current @ Regina; 7:00
Portland @ Spokane; 7:05
Kamloops @ Victoria; 7:05
Saturday, Jan. 28
Vancouver @ Edmonton; 7:00
Prince Albert @ Lethbridge; 7:00
Calgary @ Medicine Hat; 7:30
Swift Current @ Moose Jaw; 7:00
Everett @ Prince George; 7:00
Brandon @ Red Deer; 7:30
Regina @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Portland @ Seattle; 7:05
Kootenay @ Spokane; 7:05
Kamloops @ Victoria; 7:05
Sunday, Jan. 29
Tri-City @ Calgary; 4:00
Kelowna @ Seattle; 5:05
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