WHL ROUND UP – FRIDAY
‘CANES COME BACK TO TOP HITMEN ON OPENING NIGHT – Austin Fyten scored three goals and added an assist to lead the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 5-3 win over the defending WHL champion Calgary Hitmen on the opening night of the 2010-11 WHL regular season on Friday.
Cam Braes scored twice while rearguard Landon Oslanski chipped in three assists for the Hurricanes (1-0-0-0), who trailed 2-0 at the midway point of the second period but scored four unanswered goals en route to their first win of the season. Brandon Anderson made 30 saves to record the win.
Cody Sylvester and Justin Kirsch each notched a goal and an assist and Zak Stebner also scored for the Hitmen (0-1-0-0), who outshot the hosts 33-21 in the contest. Michael Snider made 16 saves in a losing cause.
WHEAT KINGS 5, PATS 4
Brenden Walker notched a goal and an assist and Mark Stone picked up four assists to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Regina Pats on Friday.
David Toews – with the eventual game-winner late in the second period – Michael Ferland, Tyrel Seaman and Jesse Sinatynski also scored for the Wheat Kings (1-0-0-0), who converted three of six power play chances in the contest. Liam Liston made 24 saves to record his first WHL victory.
Myles Bell, Dane Muench and Garrett Mitchell each tallied a goal and an assist while Hampus Gustafsson also scored for the Pats (0-1-0-0), who were 0-for-3 on the power play. Damien Ketlo made 36 saves in the loss.
REBELS 4, OIL KINGS 1
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored once and 16-year-old rookie Matt Dumba netted his first WHL tally to lead the visiting Red Deer Rebels to a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday.
Tyson Ness – with his first WHL tally – and Andrej Kudrna also scored for Red Deer (1-0-0-0), who were 2-for-7 with the man advantage in the contest. Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves to claim the win.
Michael St. Croix scored the lone marker for the Oil Kings (0-1-0-0), who couldn’t convert on seven power play opportunities. Cam Lanigan made 26 stops in a losing cause.
BRONCOS 4, WARRIORS 1
Brad Hoban scored twice and Stepan Novotny chipped in a goal and an assist to pace the visiting Swift Current Broncos to a 4-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday.
Taylor Vause also counted for the Broncos (1-0-0-0), who opened the second period with goals 1:18 apart in the first two minutes of the frame. Mark Friesen made 25 saves to claim his 38th career WHL win.
Antonin honejsek scored the only goal for the Warriors (0-1-0-0), who were blanked on seven power play chances in the game. Thomas Heemskerk made 28 saves in a losing cause in his Warriors’ debut.
BLADES 3, RAIDERS 2
Darian Dziurzynski’s second goal of the game with 1:46 remaining in the third period lifted the Saskatoon Blades to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Friday.
Dalton Thrower notched a goal and an assist while Lukas Sutter chipped in a pair of helpers for the Blades (1-0-0-0), who trailed 2-1 after the second period. Steven Stanford made 35 saves to record the victory.
Todd Fiddler and Brandon Herrod scored for the Raiders (0-1-0-0), who outshot the hosts 37-31 in the contest. Jamie Tucker made 28 stops in the loss.
BLAZERS 5, COUGARS 2
Dylan Willick scored a pair of goals as the Kamloops Blazers skated to a 5-2 win over the visiting Prince George Cougars on Friday.
Chase Schaber, Brendan Ranford and JT Barnett each tallied a goal and an assist for the Blazers (1-0-0-0), who were outshot 41-28 by the visiting Cougars. Jon Groenheyde turned aside 39 of 41 shots he faced to backstop the Blazers to the win.
Brett Connolly and Martin Marincin scored for the Cougars (0-1-0-0), who converted one of five power play opportunities in the game. James Priestner made 23 saves in the loss.
GIANTS 9, BRUINS 4
Brendan Gallagher scored twice and set up three more while Slovakian rookie Marek Tvrdon notched two goals and an assist in his first WHL game as the Vancouver Giants blasted the visiting Chilliwack Bruins 9-4 on Friday.
James Henry, Dalton Sward, Jordan Martinook, Matt MacKay and Craig Cunningham – with a goal and an assist – also scored for the Giants (1-0-0-0), who trailed 4-3 at the 13-minute mark of the second period before scoring the game’s next six goals. Mark Segal made 25 saves in the win.
Ryan Howse scored three goals and Jamie Crooks added a single for the Bruins (0-1-0-0). Lucas Gore and Braden Gamble combined for 36 saves in a losing cause.
SILVERTIPS 4, THUNDERBIRDS 3
Tyler Maxwell scored twice in the third period, including netting the winner with just 38 second remaining, to lead the Everett Silvertips to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday.
Kellan Tochkin and Campbell Elynuik also counted for the Silvertips (1-0-0-0), who were 2-for-3 on the power play. Kent Simpson made 20 saves to claim the victory.
Marcel Noebels – with his first WHL tally – Luke Lockhart and Burke Gallimore scored for the Thunderbirds (0-1-0-0), who led 3-2 after two periods of play. Calvin Pickard made 24 stops in a losing cause.
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