Western Hockey League Western Conference Quarterfinals

The WHL has a strong top 3 as the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans came down to the final day of the regular season as the Spokane Chiefs spolied the Silvertips hopes of winning the U.S. Division and getting the #1 Seed. Instead, it's the Tri-City Americans that will go as the opening round as the Top Seed in the Western Conference.

In addidition to the U.S. Teams, the Vancouver Giants won the B.C. Division with a pretty big margin over teams like defending WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets. Vancouver is the only B.C. Team in this year's Western Conference Playoffs with 4 of the top 5 teams coming from the U.S.

Other then the top 3, expect the winner of the Portland VS. Spokane Series to be a very big indicator of how the playoffs will go. Both teams have some great players like Nino Niederreiter and Chris Francis. As for the Chiefs, Tyler Johnson has the total package, at 5'9" 175, he may be small, but he is lighting fast and can score and help set up Kyle Beech who led the season in goals with 52 during the Regular Season.

This could be the best of the 4 1st Round Series here in the Western Conference and who ever wins this series should be considered to be a big challenger to Everett and Tri-City. Expect this series to go at least 6 games with some great games on both sides.

The bottom 3 has the Defending Champion Kelowna who's usually tough in the playoffs. But this year will be tough as they will face Everett where the Silvertips have won 5 of 6 this season against the Rockets and are playing really confident. Usually, the Rockets would be expected to win at least one series, but I don't think it's going to happen this year.

Kamloops and Chilliwack are going to be the big underdogs as both teams have been a bit stale recently as neither team had to fight off a serious challenge to make it in the playoffs. Expect these teams to be ousted quickly this year.

#1 Tri-City Americans VS. #8 Chilliwack Bruins

Tri-City Americans Regular Season Record: 47-22-3 97 PTS, 272 GF 193 GA

Tri-City Scoring Leaders
Brendan Shinnimin 70 GP 82 PTS (27G 55A)
Justin Feser 72 GP 73 PTS (36G 37A)
Brooks Macek 72 GP 73 PTS (21G 52A)

Tri-City Goaltending
Drew Owsey 50 GP 33-11-2 2.51 GAA .918 SV%
Alexander Pechurskiy 27 GP 13-10-1 2.61 GAA .912 SV%


Chilliwack Bruins Regular Season Record: 32-33-7 71 PTS, 215 GF 239 GA

Chilliwack Scoring Leaders
Ryan Howse 72 GP 72 PTS (47G 25A)
Kevin Sundher 72 GP 61 PTS (25G 36A)
Brandon Manning 69 GP 54 PTS (13G 41A)

Chilliwack Goaltending
Lucas Gore 41 GP 20-18-2 2.98 GAA .902 SV%
Braden Gamble 20 GP 6-7-1 3.54 GAA .882 SV%

All Tri-City Americans Home Games are @ Toyota Center

All Chilliwack Bruins Home Games are @ Prospera Center

Game 1, 3/19: @ Tri-City 9:00 PM

Game 2, 3/20: @ Tri-City 9:00 PM

Game 3, 3/23: @ Chilliwack 9:00 PM

Game 4, 3/24: @ Chilliwack 9:00 PM

Game 5, 3/26: @ Tri-City 9:00 PM*

Game 6, 3/28: @ Chilliwack 9:00 PM*

Game 7, 3/30: @ Tri-City 9:00 PM*

*If Necessary


#2 Vancouver Giants VS. #7 Kamloops Blazers

Vancouver Giants Regular Season Record: 41-25-6 88 PTS, 267 GF 211 GA

Vancouver Scoring Leaders
Craig Cunningham 72 GP 97 PTS (37G 60A)
Brendan Gallagher 72 GP 81 PTS (41G 40A)
Kevin Connauton 69 GP 72 PTS (24G 48A)

Vancouver Goaltending
Mark Segal 36 GP 18-12-2 2.66 GAA .910 SV%
Derek Tendler 10 GP 4-2-1 3.74 GAA .869 SV%


Kamloops Blazers Regular Season Record: 32-33-7 71 PTS, 237 GF 284 GA

Kamloops Scoring Leaders
C.J. Stretch 68 GP 81 PTS (30G 51A)
Brenden Ranford 72 GP 65 PTS (29G 36A)
Chase Schaber 68 GP 49 PTS (18G 31A)

Kamloops Goaltending
Kurtis Mucha 48 GP 23-17-4 3.29 GAA .900 SV%
Jon Groenheyde 31 GP 10-14-2 3.79 GAA .896 SV%
Justin Leclerc 18 GP 8-8-1 4.37 GAA .893 SV%

All Vancouver Giants Home Games are @ Pacific Coliseum

All Kamloops Blazers Home Games are @ Interior Savings Center

Game 1, 3/19: @ Vancouver 9:30 PM

Game 2, 3/20: @ Vancouver 9:00 PM

Game 3, 3/23: @ Kamloops 9:00 PM

Game 4, 3/24: @ Kamloops 9:00 PM

Game 5, 3/26: @ Vancouver 9:30 PM*

Game 6, 3/27: @ Kamloops 9:00 PM*

Game 7, 3/30: @ Vancouver 9:00 PM*

*If Necessary


#3 Everett Silvertips VS. #6 Kelowna Rockets

Everett Silvertips Regular Season Record: 46-21-5 97 PTS, 232 GF 175 GA

Everett Scoring Leaders
Shane Harper 72 GP 80 PTS (42G 38A)
Tyler Maxwell 72 GP 69 PTS (33G 36A)
Kellan Tochkin 72 GP 68 PTS (28G 40A)

Everett Goaltending
Kent Simpson 34 GP 22-9-1 2.26 GAA .925 SV%
Thomas Heemskerk 42 GP 24-12-4 2.34 GAA .927 SV%


Kelowna Rockets Regular Season Record: 35-31-6 76 PTS

Kelowna Scoring Leaders
Tyson Barrie 63 GP 72 PTS (19G 53A)
Shane Mccolgan 71 GP 69 PTS (25G 44A)
Brandon Mcmillan 55 GP 67 PTS (25G 42A)

Kelowna Goaltending
Adam Brown 59 GP 31-18-5 2.80 GAA .905 SV%
Mark Guggenberger 16 GP 4-11-1 3.45 GAA .880 SV%


All Everett Silvertips Home Games are @ Comcast Arena

All Kelowna Rockets Home Games are @ Prospera Place

Game 1, 3/19: @ Everett 9:30 PM

Game 2, 3/20: @ Everett 9:00 PM

Game 3, 3/23: @ Kelowna 9:00 PM

Game 4, 3/24: @ Kelowna 9:00 PM

Game 5, 3/26: @ Everett 9:30 PM*

Game 6, 3/27: @ Kelowna 9:00 PM*

Game 7, 3/30: @ Everett 9:00 PM*

*If Necessary


#4 Spokane Chiefs VS. #5 Portland Winterhawks

Spokane Chiefs Regular Season Record: 45-22-5 95 PTS, 240 GF 179 GA

Spokane Scoring Leaders
Mitch Wahl 72 GP 96 PTS (30G 66A)
Kyle Beach 68 GP 86 PTS (52G 34A)
Tyler Johnson 64 GP 71 PTS (36G 35A)

Spokane Goaltending
James Reid 60 GP 38-16-5 2.41 GAA .920 SV%
Michael Tadjdeh 17 GP 7-7-0 2.82 GAA .903 SV%


Portland Winterhawks Regular Season Record: 44-25-3 91 PTS, 266 GF 241 GA

Portland Scoring Leaders
Chris Francis 72 GP 82 PTS (26G 56A)
Ryan Johnson 71 GP 69 PTS (25G 44A)
Brad Ross 71 GP 68 PTS (27G 41A)

Portland Goaltending
Ian Curtis 38 GP 21-10-2 3.25 GAA .908 SV%
Mac Carruth 26 GP 14-9-1 3.41 GAA .893 SV%


All Spokane Chiefs Home Games are @ Spokane Vets. Memorial Coliseum

All Portland Winterhawks Home Games @ Portland Memorial Coliseum

Game 1, 3/20: @ Portland 9:00 PM

Game 2, 3/21: @ Portland 7:00 PM

Game 3, 3/24: @ Spokane 9:00 PM

Game 4, 3/26: @ Spokane 9:00 PM

Game 5, 3/27: @ Spokane 9:00 PM*

Game 6, 3/29: @ Portland 9:00 PM*

Game 7, 3/31: @ Spokane 9:00 PM*

*If Necessary