OIL KINGS TAKE ON WARRIORS FOR SERIES OPENER, LIVE ON SHAW – Mark Pysyk and the Edmonton Oil Kings host Quinton Howden and the Moose Jaw Warriors for Game 1 of their Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship series in WHL playoff action on Friday night.

Friday’s WHL playoff contest between the Warriors and Oil Kings can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:00pm MST).

The Oil Kings enter the Eastern Conference final having won eight straight post-season contests and 19 straight games, dating back to the regular season.  Edmonton swept the defending Kootenay Ice in the first round then swept the Brandon Wheat Kings in the second round en route to their first Conference championships series appearance.  The Oil Kingsd have given up only 12 goals over their eight post-season games.

The Warriors are making their first appearance in the Eastern Conference final since 2006 when they advanced all the way to the WHL championship series and lost to Vancouver.  The Warriors are also on an eight-game winning streak, having won the last four games of their first-round series versus Regina before sweeping the Medicine Hat Tigers in the second round.  Moose Jaw’s offense has scored 39 goals over their last eight games.

It’s the first playoff meeting between the Warriors and Oil Kings in the modern history of both franchises.  The teams met four times during the regular season, with the Oil Kings winning three of the four meetings.

KAL TIRE WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE

In Kennewick, WA, Brendan Shinnimin and the Tri-City Americans host Sven Bartschi and the Portland Winterhawks for Game 1 of their Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Championship series on Friday.

The Americans advanced to their third appearance in the Western Conference final in five years after edging out U.S. Division archrival the Spokane Chiefs in a hard-fought second-round series.  The Ams won the 2010 Western Conference title en route to losing the WHL championship series in five games to Calgary.  Shinnimin, who scored the series-winning goal versus Spokane, leads the Ams in post-season scoring with 18 points.

The Winterhawks made their way to their second straight Western Conference final appearance after defeating the Kamloops Blazers in seven games in a thrilling second-round series.  The Hawks held a 3-0 series lead versus the Blazers, then lost the next three games before winning Game 7 at home.  Rattie continues to lead the WHL playoff scoring race with 23 points.

It’s the first playoff meeting between the Ams and Hawks since 2004 when the Americans downed the Winterhawks in five games in the first round.  The teams met up 10 times during the regular season, with the Americans winning six of 10 encounters.

Click HERE to view the 2012 WHL Playoff bracket and schedule.

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