Saturday’s WHL Match-ups
THOMAS HICKEY AND THE SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS HOST TAYLOR PROCYSHEN AND THE TRI-CITY AMERICANS – Thomas Hickey and the Seattle Thunderbirds (31-31-1-4) host Taylor Procyshen and the Tri-City Americans (48-17-0-3) for the second straight night in Western Hockey League action on Saturday, March 7th.
The Thunderbirds fell 4-2 to the visiting Americans on Friday night for their third straight setback, and currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference. The T-Birds have lost a season-high three straight home games. Hickey (15g-32a) sits fourth on the T-Birds in scoring with 47 points this season.
The Americans clinched their second straight U.S. Division title thanks to Friday’s victory over the T-Birds and Spokane’s loss ion Prince George, and have won 10 of their last 11 games. The Ams are 19-13-0-2 on the road this season. Procyshen (36g-44a) leads the Americans in scoring with 80 points this season.
It’s the ninth meeting of the season between the Ams and T-Birds. Tri-Cities has won seven of eight meetings with Seattle this season.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Kevin Sundher and the Chilliwack Bruins (15-46-2-5) host Chris Francis and the Portland Winter Hawks (17-45-2-2).
The Bruins dropped their seventh straight decision with Friday’s 3-1 loss to the visiting Kelowna Rockets, and currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference. Sundher is tied for second on the Bruins with 16 goals this season.
The Winter Hawks fell 5-4 in Kamloops on Friday night for their fourth loss in five games, and currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Hawks have won just six games on the road all season.
Adam Chorneyko and the Saskatoon Blades (48-16-3-1) host Zach Boychuk and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (33-29-3-2) on Saturday.
The Blades are coming off a 5-4 win in Prince Albert on Friday, tying the WHL record with their 28th road win of the season, and currently hold a five-point lead over Brandon for first place in the East Division. The Blades have posted their first 100-point season since 1982-83.
The Hurricanes are coming off Wednesday’s 7-1 win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels for their second win in a row, and currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth on Friday thanks to Prince Albert’s loss.
Stepan Novotny and the Kelowna Rockets (42-21-1-3) host Casey Pierro-Zabotel and the Vancouver Giants (55-8-1-3) for a B.C. Division match-up on Saturday.
The Rockets are coming off a 3-1 win in Chilliwack on Friday for their third straight victory, and currently sit in third place in the Western Conference. The Rockets are 25-7-0-1 on home ice this season.
The Giants were blanked 4-0 by the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Friday night for only their third regulation loss at home all season, and currently sit four points behind the Hitmen for first place overall in the WHL standings. The Giants can tie the WHL record for road wins in a single season with a victory on Saturday in Kelowna.
Sean Ringrose and the Medicine Hat Tigers (35-26-4-3) host Kevin King and the Kootenay Ice (32-27-2-6) for a Central Division match-up on Saturday.
The Tigers were defeated 4-3 in Regina on Friday, coughing up a 3-1 lead in the process, and currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Ringrose scored his 27th and 28th goals of the season in Friday’s loss.
The Ice defeated the Rebels 3-2 in Red Deer on Friday night for their third win in four games, and currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. King scored his 20th goal of the season in Friday’s win.
Marek Viedensky and the Prince George Cougars (25-40-0-2) host Mitch Wahl and the Spokane Chiefs (42-22-0-3) for the second straight night on Saturday.
The Cougars clinched the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 2-0 shutout win over the Chiefs on Friday night, snapping a three-game losing skid in the process. The Cougars are 18-16-0-1 at home this season.
The Chiefs suffered their second straight loss with Friday’s 2-0 defeat to the Cougars, and fall to fourth place in the Western Conference in the process. The Chiefs have scored just one goal in their last two outings.
Landon Ferraro and the Red Deer Rebels (22-36-1-9) host Cody Eakin and the Swift Current Broncos (39-27-1-1) on Saturday.
The Rebels dropped a 3-2 decision to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Friday for their second straight setback, and have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. Ferraro has goals in each of his last five games.
The Broncos posted their fifth straight victory with Friday’s 3-1 triumph in Edmonton, and currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Broncos have outscored their opposition 21-8 over their last five games.
In other WHL action on Saturday, Matt Strueby and the Regina Pats (26-35-1-5) host Brayden Schenn and the Brandon Wheat Kings (45-18-3-2) for an East Division battle.
The Pats are coming off a 4-3 win over the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday, erasing a 3-1 deficit in the process, and currently sit five points behind Edmonton and Prince Albert for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pats are 13-15-1-5 at home this season.
The Wheat Kings are coming off a 7-4 win over Moose Jaw on Friday for their second win in three games, but remain five points behind Saskatoon for top spot in the East Division. Schenn scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season in Friday’s win.
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Photo courstesy of WHL Photographer Brad Lindsey