WHL THIS WEEK: October 1, 2015
Calgary, AB — The 2015-16 WHL regular season enters its first weekend of play in October with 21 games on the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
AROUND THE RINKS…
In Brandon, MB, Friday night is Fridge Magnet Schedule Giveaway Night at Westman Place as the Wheat Kings open up the second weekend of the 2015-16 regular season against the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
In Portland, OR, the Winterhawks will kick off the 40th Anniversary of Winterhawks hockey with the Pacific Office Automation Home Opener against the Everett Silvertips in the Moda Center.
In Seattle, WA, the Thunderbirds will open the 2015-16 season with the KZOK Hocktoberfest Party on the Plaza at ShoWare Center starting at 4pm. The party will include food and music. The T-Birds will also be giving out 2015-16 magnetic schedules courtesy of Les Schwab to all fans on Opening Night.
In Kennewick, WA, the Tri-City Americans celebrate Rotary Opening Night which includes a magnet schedule giveaway to the first 4,500 fans, food and drink special. Following the game, Beau McCue will be signing at the Gesa Credit Union Autograph Table, located behind Section J on the Toyota Center concourse
2015-16 WHL MEDIA GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD…
The 50th Season edition of the WHL Official Guide and Record Book is now available for download.
This year’s edition of the WHL Official Guide features the 1966-67 League champion Moose Jaw Canucks on the front cover. The 351-page document includes WHL history, coaching records and regular season and playoff statistics. Information on all 22 WHL Clubs is also featured including staff directories, team history, statistics and team schedules. The annual publication has WHL standings, individual leaders, and playoff results for each of the 49 WHL seasons, as well as award winners, all-time leaders and player records.
For more, CLICK HERE
40 WHL PLAYERS HIGHLIGHT NHL CSS PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
NHL Central Scouting issued its preliminary ‘Players to Watch’ list for the 2016 NHL Draft earlier today with 40 WHL players making the grade.
NHL Central Scouting identifies players with a rating system that includes four categories. The ‘A’ rating indicates a first round candidate, a ‘B’ rating indicates a second or third round candidate, and a ‘C’ rating indicates a fourth, fifth, or sixth round candidate. An ‘LV’ rating indicates Limited Viewing of injured players who have not had sufficient viewings to be categorized.
Four WHL players were assigned an ‘A’ rating including Kale Clague of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Sam Steel of the Regina Pats, Maxime Lajoie of the Swift Current Broncos and Tyler Benson of the Vancouver Giants.
For more info and to view the list, CLICK HERE
FORSBERG CLAIMS WEEKLY HONOURS
The Western Hockey League announced today that Victoria Royals forward Alex Forsberg has been named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending September 27th, 2015.
Forsberg collected seven points (2g-5a) in two games to help the Victoria Royals begin the WHL’s 50th Season with a 2-0-0-0 record.
On Friday, September 25th against the Portland Winterhawks, Forsberg tallied three assists in the Royals’ 4-1 victory while earning first star honours. The following night, Forsberg recorded another strong multi-point effort with four points (2g-2a) in the Royals’ 6-5 win over the Winterhawks. Forsberg was named the game’s first star for the second consecutive night on Saturday.
The 20-year-old Waldheim, SK native is currently tied for first amongst all WHL players with seven points (2g-5a) and holds a plus-3 rating through two games. The 5-11, 192 lb forward is in his fifth WHL campaign and second season with Victoria. Forsberg has amassed 152 points (58g-94a) in 199 career WHL regular season contests.
In addition, Forsberg was also named the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Week.
For more, CLICK HERE
FOUR WHL CLUBS IN BMO CHL TOP 10…
The Brandon Wheat Kings, Calgary Hitmen, Red Deer Rebels and Vancouver Giants are listed in the BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Kelowna Rockets earned an honourable mention.
For more, CLICK HERE
WHL KEY WEEKEND MATCHUP…
Calgary Hitmen @ Brandon Wheat Kings
Friday, October 2
Radel Fazleev and the Calgary Hitmen will meet Reid Duke and the Brandon Wheat Kings in a key Eastern Conference matchup Friday evening at 7:30pm CT.
In a rematch of the 2015 Eastern Conference Championship Series, the Calgary Hitmen opened their regular season with a pair of victories against the Kootenay ICE. Fazleev is one of three Hitmen skaters to record two points through the Club’s first two games with a goal and an assist. The Hitmen have enjoyed a solid start with the play of their penalty kill having not allowed a goal in ten opportunities form opponents.
The Brandon Wheat Kings come into the weekend with a 1-0-0-1 record to begin the 2015-16 campaign. Brandon dropped its home opener to the Swift Current Broncos on September 25th by a 2-1 margin before rebounding with a 4-1 road victory over the Broncos the following night. Duke leads the Wheat Kings in scoring with three points (2g-1a) to go along with a plus-4 rating in two games.
It is the first meeting of the season between the Calgary Hitmen and the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings won the 2014-15 regular season series over the Hitmen posting a 3-1-0-0 record.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE – Oct. 2 – Oct. 4
All times local
WATCH WHL HOCKEY LIVE ON WHL LIVE ON DEMAND
Friday, Oct. 2
Calgary @ Brandon; 7:30
Kelowna @ Edmonton; 7:00 (SHAW)
Spokane @ Kootenay; 7:00
Vancouver @ Prince Albert; 7:00
Swift Current @ Red Deer; 7:00
Medicine Hat @ Saskatoon; 7:05
Kamloops @ Victoria; 7:05
Saturday, Oct. 3
Lethbridge @ Kootenay 7:00
Calgary @ Moose Jaw 7:00
Everett @ Portland 7:00
Medicine Hat @ Prince Albert 7:00
Kelowna @ Red Deer 7:00
Brandon @ Regina 7:00
Prince George @ Seattle 7:05
Spokane @ Tri-City 7:05
Kamloops @ Victoria 7:05
Sunday, Oct. 4
Swift Current @ Edmonton 4:00
Kelowna @ Lethbridge 6:00
Calgary @ Regina 4:00
Vancouver @ Saskatoon 2:00
Seattle @ Tri-City 5:05
