Western Hockey League Season Gets Underway this week

The Western Hockey League will get underway this Friday Night as the 72 Game Season gets underway and with Coppell Native Colin Jacobs getting ready for his NHL Draft Season.

He looks to lead what will hopefully be a much improved Seattle Thunderbirds team as they will start the season with a 3 game in 3 night weekend as the Thunderbirds will take on the Portland Winterhawks in the team's home opener on Saturday Night, in addition to the Winterhawks, they will take on follow US Division Foes Everett Silvertips & Tri-City Americans this weekend as well.

In addition to Jacobs, another player that could make his WHL Debut this season is Connor Hutchins who was selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the 6th Round of the WHL Bantam Draft back in May.

He's expected to be with the Honeybaked team which is in Detroit for most of the season, but perhaps be called up late in the season as he as been known for being very mature for his age and playing very well.

He's moved back to Texas to play for the Dallas Stars Midget Minor U16 Team this season, for the U16's, their Tier 1 Season gets underway this weekend as they will head to Ohio to open up the season as they will play 4 games this weekend.

In case you forget, their's 22 teams in the Western Hockey League divided into Eastern & Western Conference. 12 teams play out East which are divided into 2 six Team Divisions which makes up the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba, while the Western Conference is divided into 2 five team Divisions which is made up of the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the province of British Columbia.

Here's the WHL Player Profiles of the Southwest Players.

Colin Jacobs (Seattle Thunderbirds)

Connor Hutchins (Portland Winterhawks Prospect)



Here's the Conference Set Up

Eastern Conference

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

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


Western Conference

B.C. Division: Chilliwack Bruins, Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, Prince George Cougars, Vancouver Giants

U.S. Division: Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs, Tri-City Americans


This Weekends Schedule (All Start Times are CDT)

9/24

Regina Pats VS. Brandon Wheat Kings 7:30 PM

Lethbridge Hurricanes VS. Calgary Hitmen 8:00 PM

Red Deer Rebels VS. Edmonton Oil Kings 8:00 PM

Swift Current Broncos VS. Moose Jaw Warriors 8:00 PM

Prince Albert Raiders VS. Saskatoon Blades 8:05 PM

Prince George Cougars VS. Kamloops Blazers 9:00 PM

Chilliwack Bruins VS. Vancouver Giants 9:30 PM

Seattle Thunderbirds VS. Everett Silvertips 9:35 PM


9/25

Calgary Hitmen VS. Kootenay Ice 8:00 PM

Saskatoon Blades VS. Prince Albert Raiders 8:00 PM

Lethbridge Hurricanes VS. Medicine Hat Tigers 8:30 PM

Edmonton Oil Kings VS. Red Deer Rebels 8:30 PM

Moose Jaw Warriors VS. Swift Current Broncos 8:30 PM

Chilliwack Bruins VS. Kamloops Blazers 9:00 PM

Vancouver Giants VS. Everett Silvertips 9:05 PM

Prince George Cougars VS. Kelowna Rockets 9:05 PM

Portland Winterhawks VS. Seattle Thunderbirds 9:05 PM

Spokane Chiefs VS. Tri-City Americans 9:05 PM


9/26

Brandon Wheat Kings VS. Regina Pats 3:00 PM

Seattle Thunderbirds VS. Tri-City Americans 7:05 PM