WHL Sunday Match-ups

Press Release

TYLER SHATTOCK AND THE KAMLOOPS BLAZERS HOST TRYO RUTKOWSKI AND THE PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS – Tyler Shattock and the Kamloops Blazers (5-1-1-0) host Troy Rutkowski and the Portland Winterhawks (4-1-0-0) in one of four Western Hockey League contests on Sunday, October 4th.

The Blazers are coming off splitting a home-and-home series versus the Vancouver Giants, winning 2-1 in a shootout in Kamloops on Friday then losing 5-4 in overtime in Vancouver on Saturday. The Blazers are 4-0 at home this season. Shattock (6g-5a) leads the team in scoring with 11 points.

The Winterhawks are coming off a 5-3 win in Spokane over the Chiefs on Friday night for their third straight victory, and currently lead the U.S. Division. The Winterhawks have outscored their opponents 24-9 this season. Rutkowski (3g-4a) shares the team scoring lead with seven points.

The Hawks and Blazers met four times last season, with the Blazers winning three times.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Ian Schultz and the Calgary Hitmen (5-0-0-0) host Brendan Rowinski and the Moose Jaw Warriors (3-3-0-0).

The Hitmen edged the Kootenay Ice 2-1 in Cranbrook, B.C., on Friday night to remain the WHL’s only undefeated team this season. Calgary’s power play has converted seven of 20 opportunities this season.

The Warriors are coming off Friday’s 3-2 loss in Edmonton on Friday night for their second setback in three games. Rowinski, a former member of the Hitmen, shares the team scoring lead with five goals and seven points.

Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers (2-1-1-1) host Brent Raedeke and the Edmonton Oil Kings (4-1-0-1) on Sunday.

The Tigers are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Saturday night for their second straight setback. Etem enjoyed his second two-goal game of the season in Saturday’s defeat to the Ice.

The Oil Kings are coming off a 3-2 win over visiting Moose Jaw on Friday night to stretch their winning streak to four games. The Oil Kings have killed off 29 of 31 opposition power plays this season.

In other WHL action on Sunday, Justin Dowling and the Swift Current Broncos (3-3-0-0) host Andrej Kudrna and the Red Deer Rebels (3-4-0-0).

The Broncos are coming off a 6-4 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday for their second win in three games. The Broncos are 3-0 on home ice this season.

The Rebels are coming off a 7-3 loss in Regina to the Pats on Saturday night for their third defeat in four games. Kudrna scored his first three goals of the season in Saturday’s loss.

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