Wednesday’s WHL Match-ups
JONATHON BLUM AND THE VANCOUVER GIANTS HOST KEVIN SUNDHER AND THE CHILLIWACK BRUINS – The Vancouver Giants (46-5-0-3) welcome lower mainland rivals the Chilliwack Bruins (14-36-2-4) for one of six Western Hockey League contests on Wednesday, February 11th.
The Giants are coming off a 4-3 defeat in Kent, WA, to the Seattle Thunderbirds, snapping a 10-game winning streak, but remain firmly in first place in the Western Conference. The Giants have lost just three times at home all season, and only once in regulation. Jonathon Blum needs one more point to reach the 200-point plateau for his WHL career.
The Bruins suffered their sixth consecutive defeat with a 3-1 loss versus the visiting Everett Silvertips on Sunday, and currently sit 12 points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Bruins have won only five times on the road this season, and have dropped their last five road games. 16-year-old rookie Kevin Sundher ranks third on the Bruins in scoring with 28 points this season.
It’s the seventh meeting of the season between the Bruins and Giants. The Giants won five of six previous meetings versus the Bruins this season.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Kellan Tochkin and the Everett Silvertips (23-24-7-2) host Mitch Wahl and the Spokane Chiefs (34-16-0-3) for a U.S. Division match-up.
The Silvertips snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-1 win in Chilliwack on Sunday, and currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. Tochkin leads all WHL rookies in scoring with 60 points this season.
The Chiefs are coming off a 2-1 setback to the visiting Kelowna Rockets on Sunday for only their eighth home-ice defeat of the season, and currently sit eight points behind Tri-Cities for first place in the U.S. Division. The Chiefs own the WHL’s best penalty killing unit.
Drew Czerwonka and the Kootenay Ice (26-22-2-6) host Brent Raedeke and the Edmonton Oil Kings (24-29-2-4) on Wednesday.
The Ice are coming off Sunday’s 4-2 loss in Calgary to the Hitmen for their second straight setback, and currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Ice are 16-9-1-3 on home ice this season.
The Oil Kings are coming off Saturday’s 6-1 loss in Brandon to the Wheat Kings for their third defeat in four outings, but remain tied with Prince Albert for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Raedeke is tied for third on the Oil Kings in scoring with 17 goals and 45 points this season.
Ryan McDonald and the Prince Albert Raiders (25-29-3-1) host Matt McCue and the Medicine Hat Tigers (29-22-3-3) on Wednesday.
The Raiders defeated the Pats 3-1 in Regina on Saturday for their third win in six games, and currently share eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Raiders’ power play is operating at 29.1 per cent effectiveness on home ice this season.
The Tigers dropped a 3-0 decision in Saskatoon to the Blades on Tuesday for their fifth setback in six games, and currently sit tied with Swift Current for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Tigers have dropped four straight on the road.
Landon Ferraro and the Red Deer Rebels (18-29-1-7) host Jimmy Bubnick and the Kamloops Blazers (26-27-1-4) on Wednesday.
The Rebels fell 5-3 in Swift Current to the Broncos on Saturday for their second straight defeat and fifth setback in six games, and currently sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Ferraro leads the Rebels with 29 goals this season.
The Blazers suffered an 8-1 defeat in Calgary to the Hitmen on Tuesday for their second straight defeat and third in four games, but remain in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Blazers are 10-15-0-3 on the road this season.
In other WHL action on Wednesday, Jordan Weal and the Regina Pats (23-28-1-5) host Matt Tassone and the Swift Current Broncos (31-24-1-1) for an East Division clash.
The Pats are coming off Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders for their fourth straight defeat, and currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pats have stumbled to a 7-17-0-2 record since the start of December.
The Broncos skated to a 2-1 win in Saskatoon over the East Division-leading Blades on Sunday for their second straight win and third in four games, and currently share fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Matt Tassone leads the Broncos with 32 goals this season.
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