Weekend Wrap-up: 5 top moments from across the CHL

By Cory Wilkins February 14, 2022

Welcome to another edition of Weekend Wrap-up where each week we break down some of the top moments from across the CHL:

Valade, Cajan power Rangers to victory over Knights on national TV

The Kitchener Rangers hosted the London Knights in their first-ever Pride game on Friday night. Several Rangers players sported Pride tape on their sticks and had helmet decals in support of the LGBTQ+ community. The sixth meetup between the two squads this season, the Knights entered the matchup having won each previous contest.

But it was a different story Friday as the home side got a dream start to the game, scoring first when 19-year-old left-wing Reid Valade found the back of the net just minutes before 2002-born centre Joseph Serpa put the Rangers ahead by a pair to close out the first frame. London made it a one-goal game in the second period, drawing a tally from overage centre Cody Morgan, before a wild final frame that saw the two sides combine for seven goals where both Valade and Morgan picked up their second goals of the game.

In the end, the Rangers prevailed to a 6-4 victory. It was a significant win for the Rangers, marking their first victory over London since December 2019. The Rangers got another solid game from alternate captain Mike Petizian, who had a goal and two assists, while the club also welcomed back netminder Pavel Cajan, who proved to be the difference maker in turning aside 44 shots. In all, it was a wild weekend for Cajan who on Saturday stopped 65 shots – an OHL season high – in a 4-3 overtime triumph against Owen Sound.

#OHL Goaltender of the Week Pavel Cajan (@Cajda101) stopped 44 shots in the @OHLRangers' Friday win over London on @TSN_Sports, following up with an OHL season-high 65 saves in a win over Owen Sound on Saturday 🎥 pic.twitter.com/mUPzDtUtZN

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 14, 2022

Royals, Otters raise awareness for breast cancer

Both the Victoria Royals and Erie Otters hosted their Pink in the Rink nights this weekend.

Since 2009, the Royals’ Pink in the Rink games have raised more than $325,000 for breast cancer research and care at B.C. Cancer. Each Royals player as well as team mascot Marty had a donation site where supporters contributed in hopes of reaching the $5,000 goal. To mark the occasion, the Royals sported limited edition pink jerseys that had many special features in honour of breast cancer awareness such as the words ‘triumph’ and ‘overcome’ on the collar, the B.C. Cancer Foundation patch on the sleeves, as well as the team logo transformed to pink and black. Players also wore pink socks to complete the look. Fans in attendance then got an opportunity to bid on the game-worn jerseys with all funds supporting the B.C. Cancer Foundation. In the end, more than $6,000 was raised, and while the squad came up short against visiting Seattle, they scored a win for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.

Heading east, the Erie Otters hosted their own Pink in the Rink night, where the club donned special pink jerseys that were then put up for auction. As part of the special night, the Otters also offered a unique Pink Puck as part of its ticket package for the game. All funds raised were in support of the American Cancer Society.

For our Pink in the Rink night, we play for all those who are affected by cancer, close to us and in the community pic.twitter.com/12ALENR2Vk

— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) February 12, 2022

Gauthier’s shutout streak lasts 251 minutes

One of the hottest teams in the circuit, the Portland Winterhawks pieced together 10-straight victories to climb to third in the WHL’s Western Conference with a 29-12-3-2 showing and No. 5 recognition in the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings.

Travelling to Spokane this weekend, the two sides reunited after a showdown earlier in the week that saw the Winterhawks prevail in a 9-0 final that marked the third consecutive shutout for overage netminder Taylor Gauthier. With the feat, Gauthier took sole possession of the franchise’s all-time shutout mark in minutes, surpassing former Portland netminder Brendan Burke. Two nights later, Gauthier’s incredible shutout streak came to a close as he surrendered a first-period marker to Chiefs 2002-born right-wing Erik Atchison. Gauthier ultimately finished the night with 25 saves in an 8-1 win. In the end, Gauthier’s shutout streak lasted 251 minutes and 11 seconds, while he still remains undefeated since joining the Winterhawks where through 10 contests he owns a 2.75 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

On Saturday, the Chiefs turned the tables on the Winterhawks, coming away with a 3-2 win that began with an early goal courtesy of 18-year-old left-wing Carter Streek who found the back of the net two minutes into the game. With the victory, Spokane halted a four-game losing skid, while between the pipes rookie netminder Cooper Michaluk turned aside 36 shots to notch his first career victory.

The Chiefs and Winterhawks meet again Tuesday and Sunday.

History now has its number!

Taylor Gauthier's Club record shutout streak officially stands at 251:11 🏆

Congratulations on a remarkable run, @tgoats_35! pic.twitter.com/gF0QhxPgFC

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) February 12, 2022

A weekend of hatties including Bedard

It was a weekend of hat-tricks across the CHL.

Starting in Hamilton on Friday, powering the Bulldogs to a 5-1 victory was a three-goal effort from 19-year-old right-wing Avery Hayes, who scored twice in the first frame and then completed the hat-trick in the third period. Not yet finished, Hayes then put up another multi-goal showing two nights later in a 5-4 final versus Kingston. The Michigan native is in the midst of his best season with 27 goals and 19 assists through 40 appearances.

Heading to Oshawa, Colorado Avalanche 2021 first-round pick Oskar Olausson recorded his second hat-trick in Sunday’s 6-3 takedown of Peterborough. Elsewhere, Sudbury Wolves rookie centre David Goyette registered his third hat-trick of the season in a 4-3 overtime final versus North Bay. The No. 35 ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s midterms, Goyette leads all OHL rookies with 19 goals and 23 assists in 43 contests.

In the WHL, Regina Pats superstar Connor Bedard recorded his second hat-trick of the season in a 5-0 win over Calgary on Friday. Bedard scored in all three frames and added two assists in the fifth five-point night of his career. After dominating at the World Juniors, the latest feat by Bedard marks the third time since the calendar turned to 2022 that he has recorded four or more points in a game. The 16-year-old is currently riding a six-game point streak in which he has recorded nine goals and seven assists, while on the season he has notched 29 goals and 25 assists for 54 points in 36 appearances.

In Portland, finding the back of the net three times was Detroit Red Wings 2020 second rounder Cross Hanas who pulled off the feat Friday versus Spokane. The first hat-trick of his career, Hanas did it in a unique way as he scored on a penalty shot early in the second period to mark his first of the game. Having already bested his previous career high, on the season Hanas stands at 55 points counting 18 goals and 37 assists through 40 games.

Saturday was busy for hat-tricks as well, beginning with Moose Jaw Warriors rookie centre Brayden Yager who notched his second three-goal game of the season in a 4-1 defeat over Calgary. On the season, the Saskatoon native ranks third among all WHL freshmen with 46 points in 44 games and is drawing strong impressions ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Elsewhere, Saskatoon Blades 17-year-old left-wing Egor Sidorov flashed his offensive potential in notching his first career three-goal game in a 6-2 takedown of Regina. On the season, the Belarusian-born forward has impressed with 14 goals and nine assists coming in 34 games. Lastly, in Kelowna, 2002-born forward and Minnesota Wild prospect Pavel Novak came away with three tallies in a 5-4 overtime thriller against Tri-City after opening the second with a penalty shot goal before then securing the overtime winner to complete the hat-trick. On the season, the Czech-born forward has dazzled with 52 points through 38 games.

In the QMJHL, Friday night saw Sherbrooke Phoenix captain Xavier Parent net his first career hat-trick in a 5-4 win over Moncton. The overage centre scored once in the middle frame and then twice in the third period. Closing out his junior days in style, Parent has dominated this season in collecting 24 goals and 24 assists through 32 appearances.

Elsewhere, Saturday action saw Val-d’Or Foreurs overage left-wing Alexandre Doucet pick up his first career hat-trick in a 6-3 defeat of Rouyn-Noranda. Underscoring the effort for Doucet was that he opened the scoring on a short-handed tally. On the season, Doucet stands at 38 points counting 17 goals and 21 assists in 34 contests.

WHEN *YOU'RE* HOT, *YOU'RE* HOT🔥🔥🔥!

HAVE A NIGHT, CONNOR BEDARD🎩🎩🎩!@WHLPats | #CB98 pic.twitter.com/hsn0J1cKkU

— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 12, 2022

Winning streaks stay alive

Across the CHL, a handful of teams are riding hot streaks, beginning in the OHL where Oshawa has pieced together six-straight victories to shift to fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-16-1-2 record. Over the weekend, the Generals came away victorious against Ottawa in a 5-4 shootout decision before downing Peterborough in a 6-3 final two nights later. Staying in the East, North Bay has won seven straight, underscored by weekend wins over Mississauga and Sudbury.

Winning five in a row, the Flint Firebirds have climbed to tops in the OHL’s Western Conference with a 27-14-0-2 record and 56 points. For Flint, the weekend counted a 5-4 overtime triumph over Guelph followed by a 5-1 defeat of Erie led by a 38-save performance by overage goaltender Luke Cavallin.

In the WHL, the Seattle Thunderbirds have won four straight to climb to fourth in the Western Conference with a 27-11-4-1 showing and 59 points, three points shy of Portland. On Friday, the Thunderbirds toppled the Royals in a 6-1 final led by a four-point effort from 19-year-old alternate captain Jared Davidson. Two nights later, Dallas Stars draftee Conner Roulette notched four points of his own in a 7-3 final versus Victoria.

Regaining top spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference, the Edmonton Oil Kings have won four straight, now standing 34-11-2-1 on the season, good for 71 points. Beginning Friday, the Oil Kings prevailed with a 4-0 victory over Red Deer thanks to a two-goal, one-assist effort from Florida Panthers prospect Justin Sourdif. Back at it again the next night, Edmonton once again came away on the right side of the scoreboard, this time defeating Medicine Hat in a 7-3 final.

Finally, in the QMJHL, the Charlottetown Islanders continue to be the team to beat as they are riding an eight-game win streak. On Sunday, the streak stayed in tact as the Islanders prevailed in a 6-5 overtime thriller versus Acadie-Bathurst, with the winning tally coming off the stick of rookie left-wing Michael Horth. Elsewhere, the Shawinigan Cataractes are winners of six straight, now standing 23-9-1-2 on the season following a hard-battled 1-0 victory over Baie-Comeau in which netminder Antoine Coulombe turned aside all 26 shots to lead his squad to victory.

Set up by Svejkovsky, wrapped up by Roulette!@SeattleTbirds | @penguins | @DallasStars pic.twitter.com/qBnocLBOzE

— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 13, 2022