Seattle Thunderbirds Schedule: Following Colin Jacobs

The Western Hockey League has announced the 2009-2010 schedule which will start up on September 18. All 22 teams play a 72 game schedule compared to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) which play a 68 game schedule. For hockey fans in the southwest, Colin Jacobs of Coppell, Texas will start his first full season for the Seattle Thunderbirds after playing a handful of games including playing in 2 regular season games and playing in the playoff series before getting knocked out by the Spokane Cheifs in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

This level, along with the United States Hockey League (USHL), the North American Hockey League (NAHL), along with the 10 Canadaien Junior A Leagues need to learn about these leagues as the number and the quality of players contuines to get better in the Southwest region. Last season, the Seattle Thunderbirds finished 5th place in the Western Conference with a 35-32-5 record for 75 points before losing to the Spokane Cheifs in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Here's the Divisions for the Western Hockey League

Eastern Conference

Central Division
Calgary Hitmen
Edmonton Oil Kings
Lethbridge Hurricanes
Medicine Hat Tigers
Kootenay Ice
Red Deer Rebels

East Division
Brandon Wheat Kings
Moose Jaw Warriors
Prince Albert Raiders
Regina Pats
Saskatoon Blades
Swift Current Broncos

Western Conference

B.C. Division
Chilliwack Bruins
Kamloops Blazers
Kelwona Rockets
Prince George Cougars
Vancouver Giants

U.S.A. Division
Everett Silvertips
Portland Winterhawks
Seattle Thunderbirds
Spokane Cheifs
Tri-City Americans

Alright here we go with the 2009-2010 season which gets underway on September 18 at home against the Everett Silvertips at the Showare Center in near by Kent and will finish up March 14.
All start times are Central Time

Here's a link on the Seattle Thunderbirds website that goes more in depth into the schedule.
www.seattlethunderbirds.com/news/index.html?article_id=236

September
9/18: VS. Everett Silvertips 9:35 PM
9/19: VS. Portland Winterhawks 9:05 PM
9/20: @ Vancouver Giants 7:00 PM
9/25: VS. Chilliwack Bruins 9:35 PM
9/26: @ Portland Winterhawks 9:00 PM

October
10/2: VS. Tri-City Americans 9:35 PM
10/10: @ Spokane Cheifs 9:00 PM
10/11: VS. Tri-City Americans 7:05 PM
10/13: VS. Prince Albert Raiders 9:05 PM
10/16: @ Everett Silvertips 9:35 PM
10/17: VS. Prince George Cougars 9:05 PM
10/23: VS. Brandon Wheat Kings 9:35 PM
10/25: @ Calgary Hitmen 2:00 PM
10/27: @ Red Deer Rebels 7:00 PM
10/28: @ Edmonton Oil Kings 7:00 PM
10/30: @ Lethbridge Hurricanes 7:00 PM
10/31: @ Medicine Hat Tigers 7:30 PM

November
11/1: @ Kootenay Ice 7:00 PM
11/6: VS. Spokane Cheifs 9:35 PM
11/7: @ Portland Winterhawks 9:00 PM
11/8: @ Chilliwack Bruins 7:00 PM
11/13: @ Kamloops Blazers 9:00 PM
11/14: @ Everett Silvertips 9:05 PM
11/15: @ Vancouver Giants 7:00 PM
11/17: @ Tri-City Americans 9:05 PM
11/20: VS. Kamloops Blazers 9:35 PM
11/21: VS. Everett Silvertips 9:05 PM
11/25: VS. Regina Pats 9:05 PM
11/27: VS. Portland Winterhawks 9:35 PM
11/28: @ Portland Winterhawks 9:00 PM

December
12/4: @ Spokane Cheifs 9:00 PM
12/5: VS. Everett Silvertips 9:05 PM
12/11: VS. Tri-City Americans 9:35 PM
12/12: @ Everett Silvertips 9:05 PM
12/15: VS. Spokane Cheifs 9:05 PM
12/18: @ Spokane Cheifs 9:00 PM
12/19: VS. Swift Current Broncos 9:05 PM
12/27: VS. Chilliwack Bruins 7:05 PM
12/30: VS. Saskatoon Blades 9:05 PM
12/31: @ Portland Winterhawks 10:00 PM

January
1/3: VS. Spokane Cheifs 7:05 PM
1/8: VS. Everett Silvertips 9:35 PM
1/9: VS. Prince George Cougars 9:05 PM
1/13: @ Tri-City Americans 9:05 PM
1/15: @ Tri-City Americans 9:05 PM
1/16: VS. Kamloops Blazers 9:05 PM
1/17: @ Everett Silvertips 7:05 PM
1/23: VS. Portland Winterhawks 9:05 PM
1/27: @ Kelowna Rockets 9:00 PM
1/29: @ Spokane Cheifs 9:00 PM
1/30: @ Portland Winterhawks 9:00 PM
1/31: VS. Kelwona Rockets 7:05 PM

February
2/5: @ Portland Winterhawks 9:30 PM
2/6: VS. Portland Winterhawks 9:05 PM
2/9: @ Tri-City Americans 9:05 PM
2/12: VS. Moose Jaw Warriors 9:35 PM
2/15: VS. Vancouver Giants 9:05 PM
2/16: @ Chilliwack Bruins 9:00 PM
2/19: @ Kamloops Blazers 9:00 PM
2/20: VS. Everett Silvertips 9:05 PM
2/21: VS. Kelowna Rockets 7:05 PM
2/23: @ Prince George Cougars 9:00 PM
2/24: @ Prince George Cougars 9:00 PM
2/27: VS. Portland Winterhawks 9:05 PM
2/28: VS. Tri-City Americans 7:05 PM

March
3/5: @ Kelowna Rockets 9:00 PM
3/6: VS. Spokane Cheifs 9:05 PM
3/7: VS. Tri-City Americans 7:05 PM
3/10: @ Tri-City Americans 9:05 PM
3/12: @ Everett Silvertips 9:35 PM
3/13: VS. Portland Winterhawks 9:05 PM
3/14: VS. Vancouver Giants 7:05 PM

As for the Central and American Hockey League schedules, I emailed both leagues and said that the leagues should be coming out by the end of the week. I will do the American Hockey League all on one page despite that the league plays an 80 game schedule while the Central Hockey League plays a 64 game schedule. For the Central Hockey League, the Texas Brahmas, Allen Americans, Tulsa Oilers, and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs will be one page while the Corpus Christi Icerayz, Laredo Bucks, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, Odessa Jackalopes and the Amarillo Gorillas will be on another posting.

Dallas Stars finish up coaching staff.

Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk have announced the final piece to their coaching staff on Tuesday with Charlie Huddy as an assistant coach. The 50 year old basically spent the entire decade with the Edmonton Oilers where they had a record of 301-252-103 and with 17 playoff wins, most of them coming in 2006 where they had a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final as the 8th seed where they became the lowest seed to ever make the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes. Prior to the Edmonton Oilers, he's spent some time as the AHL's Rochester Americans and the Huntington Blizzard of the ECHL.

Here's the story on the Dallas Stars Website: www.dallasstars.com/club/news.html?id=463423