Western Hockey League news 10/06 news 10/08

Everett Blanks Seattle 3-0

Tonight the Everett Silvertips move to 5-0-0-1 after a 3 to 0 win over I-5 rivals, the Seattle Thunderbirds. This is the first of ten meetings between these two teams and Everett jumps out ahead 1-0. Everett hangs on to 1st place in the US Division with 11 points. Seattle, on the bottom of the division, has 1-2-0-2 record and 4 points.

Jonathan Harty earned his first marker of the year at 14:25 of the second period on an Everett power play. Derek Yeomans had stopped the initial shot but Harty waited right outside the crease to poke it in behind him. Kyle Beach answered with a power play goal of his own late in the period to push the Silvertips up 2-0. Everett's final goal came from Beach again early in the third after he snagged a dead puck at the Silvertips' blue line. Beach raced down the right wing side and one-timed it from the top of the right face-off circle to finalize the score at 3-0.

Jonathan Harty, along with a goal, tallied two assists while Beach posted a helper of his own. Also contributed in the assists during tonight's game were Peter Mueller and Graham Potuer with one a piece.

Leland Irving was a brick wall in tonight's game in which he turned away all 41 shots he faced. He improves his record to 5-0-0-1. Derek Yeomans, making 23 saves on 26 shots, drops his goaltending history to 1-2-0-1. On the power play Everett scored two times of eight on the extra man advantage while Seattle could not convert on five chances.

The Everett Silvertips will travel across the state to face off against the Spokane Chiefs on Friday, October 13th. The puck drops at 7pm.

Chiefs defeated by Tri-City

The Spokane Chiefs lost their home opener for the first time in six years with a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Tri-City Americans on Saturday night in the Spokane Arena. Spokane's record falls to 2-2-1-0 through five games with a home contest versus Portland on Tuesday night.

The Americans scored four times in the first period (5:23, 6:39, 8:08 and 19:15), the last one coming against Dustin Tokarksi who came into relieve Kevin Armstrong in net.

Spokane's lone goal came at 6:34 of the third period when Adam Hobson chipped a puck up ice to Michael Grabner. The Austrian drove the net and snapped home his second of the season.

Spokane and Portland will play in their first of eight meetings on the year on Project Share Night. Proceeds from walk-up ticket sales will go to benefit Project Share.

Spokane will also skat on Friday versus the Everett Sivlertips when the Chiefs celebrate Boomer's birthday.

Tickets for all home games are available by calling the Chiefs office at (509) 535-PUCK.

Brandon Wheat Kings Game Notes: 10/8/2006 vs. Kootenay Ice

GAME NOTES: The WHEAT KINGS kick off a mini 2-game road trip Sunday night in Cranbrook against the KOOTENAY ICE...BRANDON enters Sunday's game with a record of 3-3-0 (3-1-0 at home and 0-2-0 on the road)...The WHEAT KINGS are 2-1-0 vs. Central Division clubs and 1-2-0 vs. Eastern Division rivals...BRANDON snapped a 2-game losing streak Friday night with a 4-3 victory over the Eastern Conference leading MEDICINE HAT TIGERS...WHEATS will close out this home stand Monday afternoon against the HURRICANES in LETHBRIDGE...Next home game is Friday night vs. REGINA...After giving up just five goals through their f irst three games, the WHEAT KINGS have surrendered 15 in their last three...BRANDON enters the year having qualified for post-season play in thirteen of the last fourteen years... WHEAT KINGS still have 26 players on their roster - three goalkeepers, eight defencemen and 15 forwards including nine WHL rookies.

LAST GAME: MARK DERLAGO scored twice and TYLER PLANTE was outstanding, turning aside 46 of 49 shots as BRANDON edged the TIGERS...Singles came off the sticks of TYLER DITTMER and JEFF TOPILKO, who added an assist...Slovakian born right-winger JURAJ SIMEK had two assists for the WHEAT KINGS, who went 2-9 with the man advantage while killing off 10-12 TIGER powerplays.

WHO IS HOT? Despite missing the first two games of the season while attending the NEW YORK ISLANDERS' National Hockey League training camp, 19-year old DUSTIN KOHN is third in scoring among WHL defencemen (2-8-10). He's also one point ahead of both CODEY BURKI and JURAJ SIMEK...At 4-5-9, SIMEK is third among WHL rookie scorers (behind KIRILL STARKOV and MARTIN HANZAL of the REBELS)...Both SIMEK and KOHN enter Sunday's game riding 4-game point scoring streaks...Center CODEY BURKI has points in five of BRANDON'S first six games...Excluding last Saturday's 6-3 loss to CALGARY, netminder TYLER PLANTE has compiled a 2.05 goals against average.

THE NUMBERS GAME: In BRANDON'S three losses this season, the WHEAT KINGS have surrendered nine powerplay goals...BRANDON'S powerplay currently leads the WHL at 29.5% (13-44)...Penalty killing, the WHEAT KINGS are 16th in the league at 80%....TYLER PLANTE played 55 of 60 minutes in sharing the team's lone shutout with KURT JORY on Sept. 29th vs. RED DEER.

MILESTONES: CODEY BURKI surpassed the 100-point plateau in his WHL career during Saturday's loss to the HITMEN...BURKI will be playing his 200th career game Sunday...Defenceman DUSTIN KOHN has moved to within 9 points of the century mark in his WHL career and 4 games away from 200...TEEGAN MOORE, who is the club's active leader in games played (269), is 10 points away from the 100-point plateau...Goalkeeper TYLER PLANTE is 50 minutes away from moving past RICK KNICKLE and into eighth place on the club's all time list in minutes played. PLANTE'S 2.98 career goals against average is second only to ROBERT McVICAR in franchise history...17-year old defenceman MATT SMITH made his WHL debut on Wednesday night vs. RAIDERS.

INJURIES: TEEGAN MOORE (shoulder) and CHAD ERB (shoulder).

DID YOU KNOW? Including the last two weeks of regular season play last season, CODEY BURKI has scored points in ten of his last 12 games...WHEAT KINGS were winless (0-2-0) against KOOTENAY in 2005-06, with TYLER DITTMER (1-1-2) the lone BRANDON player to register two points against the ICE...WHEAT KINGS have three former AAA midget league scoring champions on their roster - DITTMER, DERLAGO and rookie NATHAN GREEN...The deadline for fans to enter the BRANDON SUN WHL FANTASY DRAFT (www.wheatkings.com) is this coming Friday, October 13

WHL roundup

Giants come from behind in 3-1 win over Broncos, remain unbeaten

The Vancouver Giants continued their winning ways Saturday night as they beat the Swift Current Broncos 3-1 to remain undefeated.

The Broncos led 1-0 after the first period, but the Giants scored three unanswered goals in the second period - including two on the power play - to take a commanding 3-1 lead before a scoreless third period.

Elsewhere in Western Hockey League action Saturday, it was: Kamloops 2, Chilliwack 0; Kootenay 5, Kelowna 1; Medicine Hat 4, Moose Jaw 0; Tri-City 5, Spokane 1; Everett 3, Seattle 0; Regina 3, Saskatoon 2; and Prince Albert 4, Red Deer 3 (SO).

At Vancouver, Michael Repik, Mario Bliznak and Jonathan Blum scored for the Giants, who improved to 8-0.

Jeremy Schenderling scored for Swift Current as the Broncos dropped to 4-3. Swift Current goaltender Kyle Moir's excellent work kept the score respectable as the Giants outshot the Broncos (4-3-0-0) by a whopping 40-14 count

Both teams were looking for their second win in two nights. The Giants were a weary club after making an overnight bus trip back from Prince George while the Broncos appeared well rested following a game Friday in nearby Chilliwack.

Vancouver limited Swift Current to one shot in the first 10 minutes. But the Broncos took a 1-0 lead with 51 seconds left in the opening period as Schenderling beat Vancouver goaltender Tyson Sexsmith from a sharp angle during a five-on-three power play.

Repik evened the score at 1-1 at 7:03 of the second period as he stole the puck near the Swift Current blue-line and raced in on a breakaway and beat Moir with a shot between the legs. Bliznak and Blum, both on the power play rounded out the scoring later in the middle frame.

Blazers 2, Bruins 0

At Kamloops, B.C., goaltender Dustin Butler, in his first start with Kamloops, posted the shutout as the Blazers beat Chilliwack.

Ice 5, Rockets 1

At Kootenay, B.C., the Ice scored four power-play goals as they beat Kelowna.

Tigers 4, Warriors 0

At Moose Jaw, Sask., Matt Keetley made 19 saves in his first shutout of the season in Medicine Hat's victory over the Warriors.

Americans 5, Chiefs 1

At Spokane, Wash., Taylor Procyshen had a three-point night with two goals and one assist to lead Tri-City over the Chiefs.

Silvertips 3, Thunderbirds 0

At Everett, Wash., Kyle Beach scored two goals and Leland Irving made 41 saves, leading the Silvertips to victory over Seattle.

Pats 3, Blades 2

At Saskatoon, defenceman Logan Pyett scored twice as Regina edged the Blades.

Raiders 4, Rebels 3 (SO)

At Red Deer, Alta., Lukas Zeliska scored the shootout winner as Prince Albert squeaked by the Rebels.

Silvertips blank Thunderbirds

The seasons change, but this series does not.

The Everett Silvertips continued the pattern of home-ice dominance over the Seattle Thunderbirds with a 3-0 victory that evened the all-time series between the Western Hockey League archrivals at 14-14-0-1.

Leland Irving made 41 saves to earn his second shutout of the season, and Kyle Beach scored two goals in front of 7,402 fans at the Everett Events Center to give the Silvertips a 12-3-0-1 all-time home advantage over the T-birds.

The T-birds, who outshot the Silvertips 41-26, are 11-2-0-0 at KeyArena against Everett, making home ice a decided advantage in the heated series.

This game was close early until Everett took control with two power-play goals in the second period.

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’Canes getting comfortable with winning ways

Being a good team is one thing — believing you’re a good team is another.
Lethbridge Hurricanes have been a good hockey team through the first three weeks of the Western Hockey League season but Friday night’s 4-0 win over the Kelowna Rockets was testament to the fact this group also believes in itself.
The Rockets, winners of just one game, entered the night as one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league and were in the midst of a tough road swing. Lethbridge was waiting at home, eyeing an upcoming week that has them playing three divisional games — the perfect scenario for a letdown.
Through one period, despite the ’Canes’ 1-0 lead, the Rockets were playing with Lethbridge until the Hurricanes looked around the room and responded, doing what good teams do: enforcing their will and winning a game they should. ’Canes captain Kris Hogg said part of it is fitness and part of it was just using the speed advantage they trust.

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Everett Blanks Seattle 3-0

Everett, WA: The Everett Silvertips move to 5-0-0-1 after a 3 to 0 win over I-5 rivals, the Seattle Thunderbirds. This is the first of ten meetings between these two teams and Everett jumps out ahead 1-0. Everett hangs on to 1st place in the US Division with 11 points. Seattle, on the bottom of the division, has 1-2-0-2 record and 4 points.

Jonathan Harty earned his first marker of the year at 14:25 of the second period on an Everett power play. Derek Yeomans had stopped the initial shot but Harty waited right outside the crease to poke it in behind him. Kyle Beach answered with a power play goal of his own late in the period to push the Silvertips up 2-0. Everett's final goal came from Beach again early in the third after he snagged a dead puck at the Silvertips' blue line. Beach raced down the right wing side and one-timed it from the top of the right face-off circle to finalize the score at 3-0.

Jonathan Harty, along with a goal, tallied two assists while Beach posted a helper of his own. Also contributed in the assists during tonight's game were Peter Mueller and Graham Potuer with one a piece.

Leland Irving was a brick wall in tonight's game in which he turned away all 41 shots he faced. He improves his record to 5-0-0-1. Derek Yeomans, making 23 saves on 26 shots, drops his goaltending history to 1-2-0-1. On the power play Everett scored two times of eight on the extra man advantage while Seattle could not convert on five chances

The Everett Silvertips will travel across the state to face off against the Spokane Chiefs on Friday, October 13th. The puck drops at 7pm. The Silvertips next home game will be Saturday, October 14 against the Portland Winter Hawks. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m

Ams strike fast in win over Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs owner Bobby Brett displayed $100,000 in cash to the fans before Saturday's game against the Tri-City Americans.

Brett promised the money would be distributed to season ticket holders if the Chiefs did not make the playoffs. He then sent the money back to the bank.

After the Americans ruined the Chiefs' home opener with a 5-1 win at Spokane Arena, Brett may want to keep a few dollars handy just in case someone wants to cash in early.

"There was no passion," said Spokane coach Bill Peters, whose team fell to 2-2-1-0. "Our showing was very disappointing. But this is a good rivalry, we will be better the next time we play."

The Americans (5-1-0-0) used their speed, getting a pair of goals and an assist from Taylor Procyshen and two goals from Erik Felde, and their penalty kill was a perfect 7-for-7.

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