WHL Friday Match-ups

Press Release

LANCE BOUMA AND THE VANCOUVER GIANTS HOST BRANDON KOZUN AND THE CALGARY HITMEN – Lance Bouma and the Vancouver Giants (10-3-1-2) host Brandon Kozun and the Calgary Hitmen (12-4-0-0) for a battle between division leaders in Western Hockey League action on Friday, October 30th.

The Giants are coming off a three-games-in-three-nights weekend last week, earning a 2-0-1 record in that stretch, and currently hold a five-point lead atop the B.C. Division. The Giants are 2-0 versus Central Division teams this season, having beaten both Lethbridge and Medicine Hat already. Bouma, a Calgary Flames prospect, has 13 points this season (3g, 10a).

The Hitmen fell 4-1 in Kelowna to the Rockets on Wednesday night, snapping their five-game winning streak, but remain four points clear for first place in the Central Division. Wednesday’s loss was only Calgary’s second road defeat this season, dropping their road record to 8-2. Kozun (8g, 20a) leads the WHL in scoring with 28 points.

It’s the first of two meetings between the Giants and Hitmen this season. Calgary won both meetings versus Vancouver last season, including a 4-0 triumph in Vancouver on March 6th.

Elsewhere on Friday, Travis Hamonic and the Moose Jaw Warriors (10-5-0-0) host Cody Eakin and the Swift Current Broncos (9-6-0-1).

The Warriors have been idle since dropping a 5-4 decision in Lethbridge last Sunday, snapping a five-game winning streak, and currently sit tied with Brandon for second place in the East Division. The Warriors are an impressive 7-1 on home ice this season.

The Broncos are coming off Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Regina to the Pats that snapped a three-game winning streak, and currently sit one point back of the Warriors for a share of second place in the division. Eakin leads all WHL players with 15 goals this season.

In Lethbridge, AB, Carter Ashton and the Hurricanes (5-9-2-0) host Charles Wells and the Seattle Thunderbirds (3-10-0-2) on Friday.

The Hurricanes ended a three-game losing skid with last Sunday’s 5-4 win over the visiting Warriors, and currently sit in fifth place in the Central Division. The ‘Canes may have veteran defenseman Luca Sbisa back in the lineup on Friday after he was returned from the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.

The Thunderbirds dropped a 7-1 decision in Edmonton on Wednesday for their fourth straight setback, and remain in fifth place in the U.S. Division. The T-Birds are 0-6-0-1 on the road this season.

In Prince George, B.C., Alex Rodgers and the Cougars (3-10-0-0) welcome Brendan Shinnimin and the Tri-City Americans (11-3-0-0) on Friday for the first of two weekend meetings between the teams.

The Cougars snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 5-4 shootout victory over the visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Saturday, but remain in fifth place in the B.C. Division. The Cougars have been outscored 67-29 this season.

The Americans had their nine-game winning streak halted with a 5-2 defeat in Chilliwack on Wednesday, and currently sit two points back of Portland for first place in the U.S. Division. The Americans are 5-3 on the road this season.

Willie Coetzee and the Red Deer Rebels (7-8-0-0) host Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers (8-5-2-2) for a Central Division match-up on Friday.

The Rebels earned a 4-3 shootout win over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday, snapping a two-game losing streak, and currently sit in fourth place in the Central Division. Coetzee has racked up seven goals and 22 points on his current 10-game point streak.

The Tigers are coming off a 6-0 loss in Prince Albert on Wednesday after dropping a 7-2 decision in Saskatoon the previous night, but remain in second place in the Central Division. Etem ranks second on the Tigers with 12 goals this season.

Derek Hulak and the Saskatoon Blades (10-3-0-2) host Brett Breitkreuz and the Edmonton Oil Kings (7-8-0-2) on Friday.

The Blades defeated the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 7-2 on Tuesday night for their second win in a row and their eighth victory in nine games, and currently sit in first place in the East Division. The Blades own the WHL’s second-ranked penalty killing unit, currently operating at 88.7 per cent efficiency.

The Oil Kings snapped a four-game losing skid with a 7-1 win over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday, and currently sit in third place in the Central Division. Breitkreuz scored twice in Wednesday’s win, giving him three goals in his last three outings.

C.J. Stretch and the Kamloops Blazers (8-7-2-0) host Kevin Sundher and the Chilliwack Bruins (5-6-1-3) for a B.C. Division match-up on Friday.

The Blazers have been idle since suffering a 4-1 defeat in Saskatoon on Saturday for their fifth straight loss, and currently sit in second place in the B.C. Division. The Blazers parted ways with head coach Barry Smith on Monday.

The Bruins are coming off Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the visiting Tri-City Americans for their second victory in three games, and currently sit in fourth spot in the division. Sundher has at least one point in eight straight games.

Stepan Novotny and the Kelowna Rockets (8-6-1-0) welcome Kyle Beach and the Spokane Chiefs (5-5-1-0) on Friday.

The Rockets defeated the visiting Calgary Hitmen 4-1 on Wednesday for their second win in three outings, and currently sit in third place in the B.C. Division. The Rockets are 6-2-1 at home this season.

The Chiefs fell 5-4 to the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday for their third setback in their last four games, and currently sit in fourth place in the U.S. Division. Beach scored three goals in Wednesday’s loss.

Steele Boomer and the Kootenay Ice (5-11-0-0) host Brayden Schenn and the Brandon Wheat Kings (9-6-0-2) on Friday night.

The Ice dropped a 4-1 decision to the visiting Everett Silvertips on Wednesday for their fourth straight defeat, and currently sit in sixth place in the Central Division. Boomer (5g-11a) leads the Ice in scoring with 16 points.

The Wheat Kings edged the Spokane Chiefs 5-4 on Wednesday night for their third win in four games, and currently share second place in the East Division with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Schenn scored twice, including the game-winner, in Wednesday’s victory in Spokane.

In Prince Albert, SK, Dustin Cameron and the Raiders (8-8-0-0) host Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats (6-8-2-0) for an East Division match-up.

The Raiders picked up their third straight victory with a 6-0 shutout win over the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, but remain in fifth place in the East Division. The Raiders are 7-2 at home this season.

The Pats are coming off a 5-2 win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos last Sunday, snapping a three-game losing skid, and currently sit in sixth place in the division. The Pats have just one road win 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)