Friday, October 16, 2009

WHL Friday Match-ups

Press Release

CRAIG CUNNINGHAM AND THE VANCOUVER GIANTS HOST JESSE FORSBERG AND THE PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS – Craig Cunningham and the Vancouver Giants (7-2-0-2) welcome Jesse Forsberg Prince George Cougars (2-7-0-0) for a B.C. Division match-up in Western Hockey League action on Friday, October 16th.

The Giants are coming off a 2-1 shootout victory in Chilliwack on Monday for their second straight win and third in their last four games, and currently sit tied with Kamloops for first place in the B.C. Division. The Giants are 5-2 on home ice this season. Cunningham (5g-10a) leads the Giants in scoring with 15 points this season.

The Cougars are coming off a 7-1 loss in Kelowna last Saturday for their fifth consecutive defeat, and currently sit in fifth place in the B.C. Division. The Cougars have been outscored 32-7 over their last five games. Rookie defenseman Jesse Forsberg (1g-5a) ranks fourth on the team with six points this season.

It’s the second meeting of the season between the teams. The Giants eked out a 2-1 win over the visiting Cougars on September 25th.

Elsewhere on Friday night, Brayden Schenn and the Brandon Wheat Kings (5-4-0-1) welcome Cam Braes and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (3-7-1-0).

The Wheat Kings picked up a 4-1 win in Edmonton over the Oil Kings on Monday, snapping a three-game losing skid, and currently occupy fourth place in the East Division. Schenn has points in each of his last five games.

The Hurricanes are coming off Wednesday’s 1-0 shutout loss to the visiting Chilliwack Bruins for their second straight loss, and currently sit in fifth place in the Central Division. The ‘Canes are 2-6 on the road this season, but won their last two road contests.

Tyler Maxwell and the Everett Silvertips (4-2-0-0) welcome Prab Rai and the Seattle Thunderbirds (2-6-0-1) for a battle between U.S. Division rivals on Friday night.

The Silvertips are coming off a 5-1 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday for their second straight victory, and currently sit in fourth place in the U.S. Division. Maxwell has scored four goals and seven points over his last two contests.

The Thunderbirds are coming off a 6-4 loss to the visiting Raiders on Tuesday night for their third loss in a row, and currently sit in fifth place in the U.S. Division. The T-Birds acquired forward Brendan Rouse from Brandon in exchange for goaltender Jacob DeSerres on Thursday.

Brayden McNabb and the Kootenay Ice (4-7-0-0) welcome Kyle Beach and the Spokane Chiefs (4-2-1-0) on Friday night.

The Ice are coming off a 3-1 loss in Swift Current on Monday for their second straight loss and their fourth defeat in five games, and currently sit tied for fourth place in the Central Division. The Ice are 2-2 on home ice this season.

The Chiefs have been idle since picking up a 4-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, WA, last Saturday for their second straight win. Spokane’s penalty killing unit is operating at just 79.5 per cent efficiency so far this season.

Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers (4-2-2-2) host Kevin Sundher and the Chilliwack Bruins (3-5-0-2) on Friday.

The Tigers have been off since their 12-5 victory in Kamloops over the Blazers on Monday, snapping a three-game losing skid, and currently sit tied with Edmonton for second place in the Central Division. Etem enjoyed a four-goal performance in Monday’s win in Kamloops, giving him a team-leading nine goals this season.

The Bruins are coming off a 1-0 shutout win in Lethbridge on Wednesday, snapping a two-game losing skid, and currently sit in fourth place in the B.C. Division. Sundher has points in each of his last three games.

Willie Coetzee and the Red Deer Rebels (4-6-0-0) host Luke Walker and the Portland Winterhawks (8-3-0-0).

The Rebels are coming off a 5-4 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings last Sunday, snapping a three-game slide, and currently sit tied for fourth place in the Central Division. Coetzee (7g-9a) currently sits tied for third in the WHL scoring race with 16 points.

The Winterhawks skated to a 5-2 win in Edmonton on Thursday, and currently hold a four-point lead for first place in the U.S. Division. The Hawks’ penalty killing unit is operating at just 75.6 per cent efficiency on the road.

Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats (4-6-0-0) host Tyler Shattock and the Kamloops Blazers (7-2-2-0) on Friday.

The Pats have been idle since their 5-0 loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen last Friday, and currently sit in sixth place in the East Division. The Pats are 3-4 on home ice this season.

The Blazers are coming off their 12-5 loss to the visiting Tigers on Monday, snapping a two-game winning streak, and currently sit tied with Vancouver atop the B.C. Division standings. Shattock (6g-9a) leads the Blazers with 15 points this season.

In other WHL action on Friday, Johnny Lazo and the Tri-City Americans (6-2-0-0) host Brandon Herrod and the Prince Albert Raiders (5-7-0-0).

The Americans skated to a 4-2 win in Kelowna over the Rockets on Tuesday night to stretch their win streak to four games, and currently sit four points behind Portland for top spot in the U.S. Division. The Ams are 4-0 at home this season.

The Raiders are coming off a 5-1 loss in Everett for their third loss through four games on their U.S. Division tour, and currently sit in fifth place in the East Division. Prince Albert’s power play has connected for only two goals on 32 opportunities on the road this season.

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

No comments: