Central Division Recap

Calgary

Last Week – 1-1-1-0. The Hitmen played 3 games in 3 nights starting with a 6-5 overtime loss to Regina. That was their 3rd straight OT loss. After an 8-3 win in Kootenay they returned home and lost 6-1 to Brandon. 6 of their last 11 games have gone to overtime and they have won only 2 of those games. Overall they are 4-3-4 in the last 11. Jake Bean had a 4 point game against Regina (3 goals 1 assist) and a 4 point evening in Kootenay (4 assists). Jakub Stukel, Matteo Gennaro, who leads the team with 31 goals and 58 points, Luke Coleman and Beck Malenstyn each scored 2 goals during the weekend.

This Week – Calgary is off to play some BC Division teams with stops in Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria. After the trip they will be in a part of their schedule where 7 of the next 8 will be at home.

Playoff Position – Even though they are 4 games below .500 the Hitmen are 1 point behind Saskatoon for the final Wild Card spot.

Remaining Schedule

12 home – Regina, Medicine Hat (2), Swift Current, Edmonton, Saskatoon (2), Brandon, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Kootenay

11 away – Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Kootenay, Edmonton, Red Deer (2), Moose Jaw, Brandon, Regina, Lethbridge

 

Edmonton

Last Week – 0-3-0-0. This is not a recording. The Oil Kings have lost 11 in a row. They finished the month of January with 1 win. Last week’s games saw them lose 7-2 in Medicine Hat and dropped 2 home games to Prince George by scores of 11-3 and 3-1. Overall they have 2 wins in the last 16.

The Oil Kings only scored 6 goals in the 3 games, Graham Millar had 3 assists and Tyler Robertson scored twice.

This Week – It’s a 3 game road trip as Edmonton will visit Swift Current, Brandon and Regina.

Playoff Position – The losing streak has dropped the Oil Kings 6 points behind Saskatoon for the final Wild Card spot but also have Calgary ahead of them in the race for the post season.

Remaining Schedule –

8 home – Swift Current (2), Regina, Calgary Kootenay (2), Medicine Hat, Red Deer

14 away – Swift Current, Brandon, Regina, Calgary (2), Medicine Hat (2), Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George (2), Lethbridge, Kootenay, Red Deer

 

Kootenay

Last Week – 1-2-0-0. It was a roller coaster week for the ICE who played 3 home games and started the week with an 8-1 loss to Medicine Hat. The club rebounded with a 3-2 win against Spokane before giving up another 8-spot in losing to the Hitmen 8-3.

Vince Loschiavo, who is the team leader in goals with 18, had 3 goals and 2 assists. Colton Kroeker now leads the club with 38 points after earning 4 points on 1 goal and 3 assists. Defenseman Cale Fleury was named as an injury replacement to Monday’s Top Prospects Game in Quebec City.

This Week – The club has a home-and-home with Medicine Hat and will also host Moose Jaw before they have an 8-day break.

Playoff Position – 14 points out of a Wild Card spot.

Remaining Schedule –

10 home – Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw, Calgary, Prince Albert, Lethbridge (2), Saskatoon, Victoria, Red Deer, Edmonton

11 away – Medicine Hat (2), Edmonton (2), Red Deer (2), Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Lethbridge, Calgary

 

Lethbridge

Last Week – 2-0-0-0. The Hurricanes extended their winning streak to 4 games with road victories in Prince Albert and Saskatoon by scores of 5-4 and 3-1. Goalie Stuart Skinner earned the win in Prince Albert before departing to the Top Prospects Game. Skinner and ICE Dman Cale Fleury are the only 2 players from the Central Division to play in this year’s Top Prospects Game. Overall the Hurricanes are 8-0-1-1 in their last 10 games which is tied with Seattle (9-1-0-0) for most points in the standings in the last 10 games.

Tyler Wong, who leads the team in points with 70, had a 3 point week with 1 goal and 2 assists. Brennan Menell (2 goals 1 assist) and Zak Zborosky (1 goal 2 assists) also earned 3 points in the 2 road games.

This Week – They will start the week by hosting Brandon, then will visit Red Deer and then are back home to host Moose Jaw.

Playoff Position – Sitting solidly in 2nd Place in the Division, 6 points behind the Tigers who they play 3 more times this season and 12 points ahead of the 3rd place Rebels.

Remaining Schedule –

11 home – Brandon (2), Moose Jaw (2), Prince Albert, Victoria, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Kootenay, Medicine Hat

11 away – Red Deer (2), Medicine Hat (2), Kootenay (2), Regina, Brandon, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Calgary

 

Medicine Hat

Last Week – 3-0-0-0. The Tigers have the 2nd most goals scored in the WHL (1st is Regina) and they turned on the red light 21 times in the 3 games combined. After an 8-1 win in Kootenay the Tigers returned home to beat Edmonton 7-2 and Brandon 6-4. The Tigers have won 7 of their last 9 games.

Matt Bradley became the Tigers 4th player to surpass 50 points on the season with 7 points in the 3 games (2 goals 5 assists). With 2 key defenseman on the injured list (David Quenneville and Ty Schultz) Dman Jordan Henderson had a big week with 2 goals and 3 assists.

This Week – Busy week for the Tigers who will host Kootenay and then will travel to Kootenay, Spokane and Tri City.

Playoff Position – 1st Place in the Division, 6 points ahead of Lethbridge.

Remaining Schedule –

11 home – Kootenay (2), Edmonton (2), Brandon, Prince Albert, Lethbridge (2), Victoria, Moose Jaw, Red Deer

11 away – Kootenay, Spokane, Tri City, Calgary (2), Swift Current, Prince Albert, Regina, Moose Jaw, Edmonton, Lethbridge

 

Red Deer

Last Week – 1-1-0-0. The Rebels hosted a couple of Division leaders and beat Prince George 5-2 and then dropped a 4-1 decision to Regina.

Michael Spacek, who leads the team with 59 points, had a 3 point week (1 goal 2 assists). Evan Polei (2 goals 1 assist) and Austin Glover (3 assists) also had 3 point weekends.

This Week – The Rebels will wrap up a 5 game home stand as they will entertain Lethbridge then it’s on the road to Prince Albert and Saskatoon.

Playoff Position – Red Deer sits in 3rd Place in the Division and are 12 points behind Lethbridge. Calgary is 6 points back with 1 game in hand.

Remaining Schedule

11 home –Lethbridge (2), Swift Current, Kootenay (2), Calgary (2), Swift Current, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton

11 away – Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Seattle, Tri City, Portland, Vancouver, Prince George, Calgary, Kootenay, Medicine Hat, Edmonton