Central Division Recap

Calgary Hitmencal

Last Week – 1-1-2-0, started the week with a convincing win against Red Deer, then lost 7-2 to Victoria and followed that up with losses in overtime to Lethbridge and Prince Albert. After winning 3 of 4 the Hitmen have now lost 3 straight.

The Hitmen scored 10 goals last week and 7 of them came off the red hot stick of Matteo Gennaro. Beck Malenstyn had 1 goal 4 assists. Victoria’s Matthew Phillips also had 7 goals last week so it sets up an interesting battle between them for WHL Player of the Week.

This Week – Calgary will play 3 games in 3 nights over the weekend, home to Regina on Friday, on the road to Kootenay Saturday and back home to host Brandon in a Sunday Afternoon tilt.

Playoff Position – 4 points behind Saskatoon for the 2nd Wild Card spot and have 2 games in hand on the Blades. They also play Saskatoon 2 more times at home before the end of the season.

Remaining Schedule

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

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

 

Edmonton Oil Kingsedm

Last Week – 0-3-0-0, dropped their 3 home games to Victoria, Prince Albert and Moose Jaw. The losing streak is now a season high 8 in a row. The Oil Kings have just 2 wins over their last 13 games.

The Oil Kings only had 5 goals over the 3 games and they all came from different players Davis Koch, Ty Gerla, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Will Warm and Artyom Baltruk.

This Week – Edmonton will play 3 games in 3 nights over the weekend. They start off Friday against the Central Division leaders with a visit to Medicine Hat, they then head back home for a pair against the BC Division leading Prince George Cougars.

Playoff Position – 6 points behind Saskatoon for the 2nd Wild Card spot but would also need to pass Calgary who are 2 points ahead of them for that spot. Edmonton has 3 games remaining against Calgary and none against Saskatoon.

Remaining Schedule –

10 home – Prince George (2), Swift Current (2), Regina, Calgary Kootenay (2), Medicine Hat, Red Deer

15 away – Medicine Hat (3), Swift Current, Brandon, Regina, Calgary (2), Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George (2), Lethbridge, Kootenay, Red Deer

 

Kootenay ICEktn

Last Week – 1-2-0-0, came from behind to beat the Raiders 6-3, lost 7-4 in Tri City and 5-2 in Spokane.

Austin Wellsby was your points leader for the week with 2 goals 2 assists, Colton Kroeker 1 goal 3 assists and 15 year old Peyton Krebs had 1 goal 3 assists. He also played his 6th game of the season for the ICE as an emergency call-up.

Did You Know – There has been 9 points registered by 2001 born players in the WHL, Krebs has 6 of them with 1 goal and 5 assists in 6 games. Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge), Kirby Dach (Saskatoon) and Jackson van de Leest (Calgary) each has 1 point.

This Week – Will play 3 home games as they will host the Medicine Hat Tigers, Spokane Chiefs and the Calgary Hitmen.

Playoff Position – 16 points out of a Wild Card spot and 3 points ahead of Prince Albert for getting the most ping pong balls in the Bantam Draft Lottery expected to be held May 4th.

Remaining Schedule –

13 home – Medicine Hat (2), Spokane, Calgary (2), Moose Jaw, 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 Hurricaneslet

Last Week – 2-0-0-0, home wins of 5-1 over the Broncos and 3-2 in overtime against the Hitmen. The Hurricanes are 6-0-1-1 in the last 8 games.

Giorgio Estephan with 1 goal 3 assists, Zak Zborosky 2 goals 1 assist including an overtime marker and Brennan Menell 3 assists led the offence. Goalie Stuart Skinner had a 1.47 goals-against-average and .960% save percentage in the 2 wins.

This Week – Will travel to Northern Saskatchewan for games in Prince Albert and Saskatoon.

Playoff Position – Have closed the gap on the 1st Place Tigers as they are now 4 points back but have played 1 more game than Medicine Hat. They have 3 head-to-head meetings remaining with the Tigers. The game between the two is on February 11th.

Remaining Schedule –

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

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

 

Medicine Hat Tigersmh

Last Week – 1-2-0-0, 3 game road trip with an 8-5 win in Regina sandwiched between losses of 5-3 in Saskatoon and 5-2 in Brandon. High scoring games saw them outscored by a combined 15-13.

Chad Butcher lead the way with 1 goal 4 assists, Steven Owre 2 goals 2 assists and Johns Dahlstrom 2 goals 1 assist.

This Week – Will visit Kootenay and then have home games against Edmonton and Brandon.

Playoff Position – 1st place in the Central Division, 4 points ahead of Lethbridge with a game in hand and 3 games between the teams remain.

Remaining Schedule –

13 home – Edmonton (3), Brandon (2), Kootenay (2), Prince Albert, Lethbridge (2), Victoria, Moose Jaw, Red Deer

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

 

Red Deer Rebelsrd

Last Week – 1-2-0-0, lost 4-1 in Calgary, dropped a 3-2 decision to Prince Albert and ended a 4-game losing slide with a 6-2 win over Victoria.

Michael Spacek had a huge week with 1 goal 7 assists, as did Brandon Hagel 2 goals 5 assists and Lane Zablocki 4 goals 1 assist.

This Week – 5-game home stand continues on the weekend as they host the B.C. Division leaders, Prince George Cougars and the Central Division leading Regina Pats.

Playoff Position – 3rd place in the Central Division.  They are 10 points behind Lethbridge for 2nd in the division and lead Calgary by 7 points.

Remaining Schedule

13 home – Prince George, Regina (2), Lethbridge (2), Swift Current, Kootenay (2), Calgary (2), Swift Current, Saskatoon, Edmonton

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