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RECENTLY RELEASED PRINTERS TO UNDERGO SURGERY ON TORN ACL

Former B.C. Lions quarterback Casey Printers is undergoing surgery Thursday in Vancouver to repair a torn ACL.

Printers, who was released by the Lions two weeks ago, suffered the injury during a Week 3 game at Montreal on July 16th, forcing him to miss B.C.'s next four games. He returned as the starter on Aug. 27th but kept the no.1 job for just five games before being benched in favour of Travis Lulay.

The Lions released Printers after he threw an interception in overtime against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Oct. 12th, in releif of Lulay.

Though Printers knee injury was by no means a secret, the extent of it was apparently kept between him and the team. Printers downplayed the severity of the injury, but was often criticized this season for his lack of mobility, rushing just 13 times for 75 yards overall.

The former CFL Most Outstanding Player now faces months of rehabilitation before being able to prove he deserves an opportunity with another team.

GIANTS HOST SILVERTIPS – Brendan Gallagher and the Vancouver Giants (7-5-1-1) host Tyler Maxwell and the Everett Silvertips (5-3-1-2) in Western Hockey League action on Saturday, October 23rd.

The Giants are coming off Friday’s 5-2 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings for their second straight victory.  The Giants have scored a WHL-leading 58 goals this season.  Gallagher scored twice in Friday’s win over Brandon, and leads all WHL players with 15 goals this season.

The Silvertips dropped a 4-3 decision in a shootout to the Rockets in Kelowna on Friday night for their third straight defeat.  The ‘Tips are winless through their first three road games this season.  Maxwell (12g-4a) leads the Silvertips in scoring with 16 points.

It’s the second meeting of the season between the Giants and Silvertips.  The Silvertips defeated the giants 5-2 in Everett on the opening weekend of the 2010-11 season.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Tyler Fiddler and the Calgary Hitmen (4-6-0-0) host Dalibor Bortnak and the Kamloops Blazers (6-6-0-1).

The Hitmen are coming off an 8-1 loss in Spokane to the Chiefs on Wednesday to close out their U.S. Division road trip.  10 of Calgary’s 26 goals this season have come on the power play.

The Blazers edged the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-2 in Edmonton on Friday night for their second straight win on their current Central Division road trip.  The Blazers are 4-2 on the road this season, and have won four straight away from home.

In Chilliwack, B.C., Ryan Howse and the Chilliwack Bruins (5-4-0-0) host Mark Stone and the Brandon Wheat Kings (4-8-0-0) on Saturday.

The Bruins have been idle since earning a 6-3 win over the visiting Vancouver Giants last Saturday for their second win in their last three games.  Howse has scored 14 goals in his first nine games of the season.

The Wheat Kings dropped a 5-2 decision in Vancouver on Friday night, stretching their losing skid to eight games.  The Wheat Kings have given up just six power play goals this season.

In Prince Albert, SK, Brandon Herrod and the Prince Albert Raiders (5-7-1-0) host Mike Reddington and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (4-4-0-3) on Saturday.

The Raiders are coming off a 9-2 thrashing at the hands of the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday night for their third consecutive setback.  The Raiders’ power play is operating at 7.7 per cent effectiveness on home ice this season.

The Hurricanes suffered a 4-3 shootout loss in Saskatoon to the Blades on Friday night for their third shootout loss of the season.  The ‘Canes are 3-2-0-2 on the road this season.

In Saskatoon, SK, Duncan Siemens and the Saskatoon Blades (9-2-0-0) host Linden Vey and the Medicine Hat Tigers (6-3-0-0) on Saturday.

The Blades edged the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night for their Eastern Conference-leading ninth win of the season.  The Blades ran their home-ice record to a perfect 6-0 with Friday’s win over the ‘Canes.

The Tigers are coming off Friday’s 9-2 performance in Prince Albert on Friday night for their fourth consecutive victory.  The Tigers are 4-1 on the road this season, and have won three straight games away from home.

In Spokane, WA, Tyler Johnson and the Spokane Chiefs (4-5-0-0) host Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Red Deer Rebels (8-5-0-0).

The Chiefs are coming off Wednesday’s 8-1 hammering of the visiting Calgary Hitmen for their second straight win.  Johnson (3g-8a) leads the Chiefs in scoring with 11 points through the team’s first nine games.

The Rebels fell 4-1 in Cranbrook to the Kootenay Ice on Friday night for their second straight loss.  The Rebels have scored a combined two goals over the course of their last three defeats.

In other WHL action on Saturday, Cody Eakin and the Swift Current Broncos (7-7-0-0) host Quinton Howden and the Moose Jaw Warriors (4-7-0-1) for an East Division battle.

The Broncos were blanked 2-0 in Regina by the Pats on Friday night, putting an end to a five-game winning streak.  The Broncos are 4-3 on home ice this season, and have won four straight at home.

The Warriors are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday night after winning their previous two contests.  Howden shares the team scoring lead with six goals and 13 points this season.