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Press Release

RYAN HOWSE AND THE CHILLIWACK BRUINS HOST TYLER MYERS AND THE KELOWNA ROCKETS LIVE ON ROGERS SPORTSNET – The Chilliwack Bruins (15-41-2-4) welcome B.C. Division rivals the Kelowna Rockets (37-20-1-3) for one of five Western Hockey League contests on Sunday, February 22nd.

Sunday’s contest between the Rockets and Bruins can be seen live on Rogers Sportsnet in the Pacific, West and Ontario regions (4:00pm PST).

The Bruins are coming off Friday’s 4-3 loss to the visiting Kamloops Blazers for their 11th setback in their last 12 games, and currently sit 14 points behind Prince George for eighth place in the Western Conference. The Bruins are 9-19-2-1 at home this season. Howse leads the Bruins with 27 goals this season.

The Rockets are coming off a 3-2 win in Everett over the Silvertips on Saturday for their second straight victory, and currently sit three points behind Spokane for third place in the Western Conference. The Rockets are 13-13-1-2 on the road this season. Tyler Myers scored twice in Saturday’s victory in Everett, including the game-winning goal.

It’s the seventh meeting of the season between the division rivals. The Rockets won the first four meetings versus the Bruins, but Chilliwack took the last two meetings with a pair of shootout wins over Kelowna.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Jason Bast and the Moose Jaw Warriors (17-41-1-2) host Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats (24-31-1-5) for the second meeting between the East Division rivals this weekend.

The Warriors edged the Raiders 3-2 in Prince Albert on Saturday night, snapping a three-game losing skid, and currently sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors have won only seven games at home this season.

The Pats snapped an eight-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Warriors on Friday night, and currently sit five points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Jordan Weal leads the Pats with 42 assists this season.

Chris Francis and the Portland Winter Hawks (15-40-2-2) host Adam Hughesman and the Tri-City Americans (42-16-0-3) for a U.S. Division match-up on Sunday.

The Winter Hawks dropped a 4-3 decision to the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday for their second straight setback, and currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference. The Hawks are 9-18-2-1 at home this season.

The Americans edged the visiting Spokane Chiefs 2-1 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory, and padded their U.S. Division lead to six points over the Chiefs. Hughesman (13-28a) ranks fifth on the Ams with 41 points this season.

Dustin Cameron and the Prince Albert Raiders (27-32-3-1) host Kevin King and the Kootenay Ice (28-25-2-6) on Sunday.

The Raiders dropped a 3-2 decision to the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday for their third defeat in four games, and currently sit one point behind Edmonton for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Raiders have dropped three straight at home.

The Ice fell 5-3 in Saskatoon on Saturday for their second straight defeat and third in four games, but remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Ice are 10-16-1-3 on the road this season.

In other WHL action on Sunday, Greg Scott and the Seattle Thunderbirds (29-29-1-3) host Evander Kane and the Vancouver Giants (49-6-1-3).

The Thunderbirds edged the Winter Hawks 4-3 in Portland on Saturday for their second win in a row, and clinched a playoff spot in the process. Greg Scott leads the T-Birds with 29 goals this season.

The Giants topped the Blazers 5-4 in overtime in Kamloops on Saturday, tying a franchise record with their 49th win of the season, and currently sit 15 points clear for top spot in the Western Conference. Kane notched a hat trick, including the overtime winner, in Saturday’s victory in Kamloops.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)