Saturday, February 13, 2010

Saturday's WHL Match-ups

Press Release

TYLER JOHNSON AND THE SPOKANE CHIEFS HOST JOHNNY LAZO AND THE TRI-CITY AMERICANS – Tyler Johnson and the Spokane Chiefs (33-20-3-1) welcome Johnny Lazo and the Tri-City Americans (39-15-0-2) for a battle between U.S. Division rivals in Western Hockey League action on Saturday, February 13th.

The Chiefs pulled off a 4-3 win in Everett over the Silvertips on Friday night for their second straight victory and their sixth win in their last eight games, and currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Chiefs are 16-11-0-1 at home this season. Johnson scored his 26th goal of the season in Friday’s win in Everett.

The Americans suffered a 6-3 loss to the visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Friday night for their second straight setback, but remain in first place in the Western Conference standings. The Ams own the WHL’s second-ranked power play. Lazo tallied his fourth hat trick of the season in Friday night’s defeat to the Bruins.

It’s the eighth meeting of the season between the U.S. Division rivals. Spokane leads the season series 4-3 through seven encounters.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Matt Tassone and the Swift Current Broncos (28-27-0-4) host Bretton Cameron and the Medicine Hat Tigers (33-19-3-5).

The Broncos dropped a 3-0 decision in Brandon on Friday night for their third straight setback, and currently sit one point back of Prince Albert for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Broncos have given up 11 goals in their last three games.

The Tigers fell 5-3 to the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Friday night for their fourth defeat in their last five games, and currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Cameron has scored five goals over his last eight games.

In Chilliwack, B.C., Kevin Sundher and the Chilliwack Bruins (25-26-1-5) take on Craig Cunningham and the Vancouver Giants (33-20-1-2) for a battle of B.C. Division rivals.

The Bruins doubled up the Tri-City Americans 6-3 on Friday night in Kennewick, WA, for their second win in their last three games, and currently sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. Sundher (22g-29a) ranks second on the Bruins in scoring with 51 points.

The Giants have been idle since dropping a 5-4 decision in a shootout to the visiting Tri-City Americans last Saturday, and currently sit in first place in the B.C. Division. Cunningham shared the WHL scoring lead with 81 points (33g-48a).

In Edmonton, AB, Michael St. Croix and the Edmonton Oil Kings (12-35-4-8) host Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats (24-28-3-4) on Saturday.

The Oil Kings suffered a 5-2 loss to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Friday night for their 20th defeat in their last 22 games. The Oil Kings are 7-152-3 on home ice this season.

The Pats suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Rebels in Red Deer on Friday for their third straight loss, and currently sit six points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Weal scored his 25th goal of the season on Friday.

In Everett, WA, Byron Froese and the Everett Silvertips (35-19-2-1) welcome Quinton Howden and the Moose Jaw Warriors (27-21-4-4).

The Silvertips dropped a 4-3 decision to the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Friday night, snapping a two-game win streak, and now sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. Froese scored his fourth goal in his last three outings on Friday.

The Warriors broke a four-game losing skid with a 3-1 triumph in Kent, WA, over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday night, and currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Friday’s victory snapped an eight-game road losing skid.

In Kelowna, B.C., Brandon McMillan and the Kelowna Rockets (29-26-2-2) welcome Brendan Ranford and the Kamloops Blazers (26-27-2-4) for the second of back-to-back meetings between the B.C. Division combatants.

The Rockets came away with a 5-3 win in Kamloops on Friday night for their 10th win in their last 11 games, and currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference. McMillan broke a seven-game goalless drought with a pair of tallies in Friday’s win.

The Blazers dropped their second straight decision with Friday’s loss to the visiting Rockets, and now trail the Rockets by four points for sixth place in the Western Conference. Ranford scored his team-leading 24th goal of the season on Friday.

In Lethbridge, AB, Carter Bancks and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (17-35-3-2) host Derek Hulak and the Saskatoon Blades (38-12-3-3) on Saturday.

The Hurricanes snapped a nine-game losing skid with a 4-3 win in Edmonton on Wednesday night, and currently sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. The ‘Canes are 8-15-3-0 on home ice this season.

The Blades skated to a 5-3 win in Medicine Hat over the Tigers on Friday night for their fourth straight victory, and sit tied for first place overall in the WHL standings. The Blades rank second in the WHL with 19 road wins this season.

In Prince George, B.C., Alex Rodgers and the Prince George Cougars (11-42-1-2) host Luke Walker and the Portland Winterhawks (36-20-2-1) for the second straight night.

The Winterhawks defeated the Cougars 5-2 on Friday night for their fourth win in a row, and moved into sole possession of third place in the Western Conference. The Hawks have scored 22 goals over their last four victories.

The Cougars suffered their 21st home-ice loss of the season with Friday night’s setback to the visiting Winterhawks. Rodgers has six goals and eight assists over his last nine games.

In other WHL action on Saturday, Landon Ferraro and the Red Deer Rebels (32-21-0-4) host Dustin Cameron and the Prince Albert Raiders (28-25-3-2).

The Rebels skated to a 3-1 win over the visiting Regina Pats on Friday night for their second win in a row and their third victory in four games, and currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Rebels are 20-7-0-2 at home this season.

The Raiders dropped a 3-1 decision in Calgary to the Hitmen on Friday for their third loss in a row, and currently sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Cameron scored his 27th goal of the season on Friday.

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

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