FRIDAY NIGHT WHL PLAYOFF HOCKEY ON SHAW
TIGERS TAKE ON ICE, LIVE ON SHAW – Linden Vey and the Medicine Hat Tigers host Brayden McNabb and the Kootenay Ice for Game 1 of the Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship series in WHL playoff action on Friday night.
Friday night’s playoff contest between the Tigers and Ice can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:30pm MST).
The Tigers advanced to the 2011 Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship series after defeating the Brandon Wheat Kings in six games in the first round followed by a five-game series win over the Central Division champion Red Deer Rebels. The Tigers have scored 53 goals through their first 11 post-season contests, and currently own a power play operating at a 37.8% clip. Vey, the WHL’s regular-season scoring champion, has racked up 10 goals and 21 points in 11 playoff contests.
The Ice reached the conference final by knocking off the Moose Jaw Warriors in six games in the opening round before sweeping aside the Scotty Munro trophy-winning Saskatoon Blades in four games in the Husky WHL Eastern Conference semi-final. Kootenay’s defense and goaltending has surrendered just 20 goals over their first 10 playoff contests, and boast the WHL’s top penalty killing unit, currently operating at 92.0% efficiency. McNabb leads the Ice in scoring with 15 points in 10 games.
The Tigers and Ice met up six times during the 2010-11 WHL regular season, with the Ice winning four of the six meetings.
KAL TIRE WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE
Ryan Johansen and the Portland Winterhawks welcome Jared Cowen and the Spokane Chiefs for Game 1 of the Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Championship series on Friday night.
The Winterhawks are making their first appearance in the Western Conference final since the 2000-01 season, having knocked off the Everett Silvertips in four straight in the first round before posting a 4-2 best-of-seven series win over the Kelowna Rockets in the second round. The Winterhawks have outscored their opponents 43-26 through 10 post-season games. Johansen is tied for second on the Hawks in scoring with 14 points.
The Chiefs advanced to the Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Championship series for the second time in four years after defeating the Chilliwack Bruins in five games in the opening round before dispatching the Tri-City Americans in a hard-fought six-game series in the second round. The last three games of the Chiefs’ second-round series versus the Ams were decided in overtime. The Chiefs will be without star Tyler Johnson for Game 1 of the series due to a one-game suspension incurred in Game 6 versus the Ams.
The Winterhawks and Chiefs met up nine times during the 2010-11 regular season, with the Chiefs taking five of the nine meetings.
