The first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs, which begin Friday, offers several intriguing matchups and storylines.
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated first-round matchup occurs in the U.S. Division, where second-seeded Tri-City faces third-seeded Seattle. Both teams come into the playoffs red hot, Tri-City having won eight of its past nine and Seattle having won 14 of its past 17.
Both Tri-City and Seattle finished so strongly that they passed B.C. Division No. 2 Kamloops in the Western Conference standings, a circumstance which affects U.S. Division champion Everett, should the Silvertips overcome fourth-seeded Spokane in the first round.
This season the conferences will re-seed their teams each round based on regular-season records, with the team with the best record among the remaining teams facing the team with the worst record, and so on. Therefore, if Everett advances to the second round, it won’t have to face the winner of the Tri-City-Seattle series.
Two other first-round matchups offer exciting possibilities.
In the Central Division, No. 2 Kootenay, which finished the season with 104 points, will have its hands full with No. 3 Calgary, a talented team that may be better than its record.
Then in the B.C. Division, No. 2 Kamloops finished a comfortable 12 points ahead of No. 3 Prince George. However, the Blazers staggered to the finish line with captain Reid Jorgensen out injured. Meanwhile, Prince George picked up its play down the stretch, including three consecutive victories over Kamloops since Feb. 24.
The B.C. Division also contains another notable storyline as expansion Chilliwack made the playoffs in its inaugural year. The Bruins are heavy underdogs against top-seeded Vancouver. However, the last time an expansion team made the playoffs, Everett shocked everyone by making it all the way to the league championship series.
The other first-round series appear to be more routine, with the higher seed a considerable favorite. In the Central Division, top-seeded Medicine Hat takes on fourth-seeded Red Deer. In the East Division, No. 1 Brandon plays No. 4 Prince Albert, while No. 2 Regina faces No. 3 Swift Current.
Around the WHL: Former Everett captain Cody Thoring was out of the hospital and able to cheer his Moose Jaw teammates on in their season finale, the Web site discovermoosejaw.com reported. Thoring had to be removed from the ice on a stretcher and was bedridden in a Regina, Saskatchewan, hospital for a week after suffering back injuries Mar. 2 in a game against Tri-City. … Spokane has called up 15-year-old defenseman Jared Cowen, the first-overall pick in the 2006 bantam draft, for the duration of the playoffs. … The Giants reached an agreement to extend their lease at Pacific Coliseum through the 2016-17 season. … By finishing last in the B.C. Division, Kelowna failed to make the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s 16-year history, including four seasons in Tacoma. … Lethbridge center Zach Boychuk was named the WHL Player of the Week. Boychuk had three goals and six assists in two games.
Final league leaders: Points – Zach Hamill (Everett) 93; goals – Mark Derlago (Brandon) 46; assists – Hamill 61; penalty minutes – Mike Gauthier (Prince Albert) 264; wins – Matt Keetley (Medicine Hat) 42; goals against average – Tyson Sexsmith (Vancouver) 1.79; save percentage – Leland Irving (Everett) .929.
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