FRIDAY’S WHL ROUND-UP
CLICK HERE for WHL Images
CLICK HERE for WHL Highlights
–
BLADES SHUT OUT HITMEN; ROCKETS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT – Andrey Makarov turned in a 42-save performance to claim his WHL-leading sixth shutout of the season as the Saskatoon Blades blanked the visiting Calgary Hitmen 6-0 in Western Hockey League action on Friday night.
Nathan Burns and Brenden Walker each scored twice while Josh Nicholls and Matej Stransky also scored for the Blades (26-21-0-3), who went 2-for-6 on the power play as they claim their third win in a row, moving them into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Mack Shields stopped 28 of 34 shots he faced in the loss for the Hitmen (33-15-1-3), who suffer their second straight defeat and their fifth setback in eight games, and fall nine points back of the Eastern Conference-leading Edmonton Oil Kings.
PATS 3, WHEAT KINGS 2
Lane Scheidl scored his second goal of the game with 2:32 remaining to play in the third period to lift the Regina Pats to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday.
Morgan Klimchuk scored and set up another for the Pats (19-27-3-3), who put a stop to an eight-game losing skid. Matt Hewitt turned aside 22 of 24 shots he faced to record his 12th victory of the season and 56th of his WHL career.
Jayce Hawryluk – with his 12th and 13th goals of the season – scored both markers for the Wheat Kings (18-31-2-2), who suffer their third consecutive loss. Jordan Papirny made 21 saves on 24 shots to take the loss in his WHL debut.
WARRIORS 8, TIGERS 4
Torrin White scored twice and Morgan Rielly chipped in four assists to help the Moose Jaw Warriors to an 8-4 win over the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday.
Bryson Gore – with a goal and two assists – Josh Uhrich, Colton McCarthy, Justin Kirsch, Brayden Point and Sam Fioretti also scored for the Warriors (18-26-3-6), who converted one of three power play chances and scored shorthanded as they post their second win in a row. Justin Paulic made 33 saves to record the victory.
Curtis Valk scored a hat trick and Elgin Pearce notched a goal and two assists for the Tigers (25-25-2-1), who drop their second straight decision. Marek Langhamer turned in a 29-save effort in the defeat.
OIL KINGS 3, BRONCOS 0
Laurent Brossoit turned aside all 23 shots he faced to post his third shutout of the season as his Edmonton Oil Kings shut down the visiting Swift Current Broncos 3-0 on Friday.
Curtis Lazar scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season and David Musil added his sixth while Dylan Wruck and Henrik Samuelsson each chipped in two assists for the Oil Kings (37-11-2-3), who stretch their win streak to seven game and post their eighth shutout win of the season.
Eetu Laurikainen stopped 39 of 42 shots he faced in a losing cause for the Broncos (25-22-3-2), who drop their second decision in their last three games and fall into a tie with Saskatoon for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
HURRICANES 3, REBELS 2
Russell Maxwell scored the go-ahead goal with just 2:51 to play in the third period as the Lethbridge Hurricanes edged the visiting Red Deer Rebels 3-2 on Friday.
Graham Hood and Sam Mckechnie also scored while Ryan Pilon picked up two assists for the Hurricanes (24-22-1-7), who overturned a 2-1 deficit in the final half of the third period to earn the win. Ty Rimmer made 31 saves in the victory.
Dominik Volek and Matt Dumba – with his 10th of the season – scored while Rhyse Dieno chipped in a pair of helpers for the Rebels (27-21-4-2), who went 1-for-3 on the power play in the setback. Patrik Bartosak stopped 28 of 31 shots in a losing cause.
BLAZERS 7, CHIEFS 4
Kale Kessy scored twice and set up three more for a five-point effort as the Kamloops Blazers downed the visiting Spokane Chiefs 7-4 on Friday.
Tim Bozon scored two goals and two assists, Colin Smith notched a goal and four helpers while Jordan Thomson and JC Lipon also counted for the Blazers (34-15-2-3), who converted three of their six power play chances as they earn their 20th home-ice win of the season. Cole Cheveldave made 24 saves to post the win.
Mitch Holmberg scored three goals, including his 30th of the season, and Blake Gal had a goal and an assist for the Chiefs (30-19-2-0), who slump to their third loss in a row. Eric Williams made 23 saves on 28 shots over 41:30 of action, taking the loss, while Garret Hughson made eight saves the rest of the way in relief.
COUGARS 6, ROYALS 2
Chase Witala scored a hat trick as the Prince George Cougars managed a 6-2 win over the visiting Victoria Royals on Friday night.
Dallas Ehrhardt – with a goal and two assists – Tanner Lyshchynski and Colin Jacobs also scored for the Cougars (16-30-2-4), who scored four times in the second period en route to the win. Mac Engel made 28 stops to post his sixth win of the season.
Alex Gogolev and Logan Fisher scored for the Royals (27-19-1-3), who drop their third straight decision but remain firmly in fifth place in the Western Conference. Coleman Vollrath and Patrik Polivka combined for 28 saves in the defeat.
ROCKETS 5, GIANTS 1
Colton Sissons scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season to help lead the visiting Kelowna Rockets to a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Giants on Friday night.
Tyson Baillie also scored his 20th goal of the season while Tyrell Goulbourne and JT Barnett also scored for the Rockets (39-10-3-1), who roll to their second win in a row and clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Jackson Whistle made 32 saves to earn the victory.
Dalton Sward scored the lone marker for the Giants (13-39-0-0), who went scoreless on six power play chances. Jared Rathjen stopped 24 of 29 shots he faced in the defeat.
AMERICANS 2, SILVERTIPS 1 S/O
Justin Feser and Malte Stromwall scored in a shootout to lift the visiting Tri-City Americans to a 2-1 triumph over the Everett Silvertips on Friday.
Stromwall got his 15th goal of the season in regulation play for the Americans (30-19-1-2), who earn their second win in a row and leapfrog Spokane into fourth place in the Western Conference. Luke Lee-Knight made 22 saves in regulation play and wasn’t beaten in the shootout to record his ninth victory of the season.
Logan Aasman scored the only goal in regulation for the Silvertips (21-28-1-3), who were blanked on six power play opportunities as they drop their third straight decision. Daniel Cotton stopped 24 shots through regulation play but was beaten on both Ams’ shootout chances to absorb the loss.
WINTERHAWKS 5, THUNDERBIRDS 3
Ty Rattie scored his 29th goal of the season and set up three more to pace the visiting Portland Winterhawks to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday.
Brendan Leipsic picked up a goal and two assists, rookie Shaun MacPherson scored his first WHL goal and Nic Petan and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored for the Winterhawks (42-7-1-2), who stretch their winning streak to five games. Brendan Burke made 23 saves to claim his 17th win of the season.
Connor Honey, Alex Delnov and Shea Theodore scored for the Thunderbirds (19-29-3-1), who have lost eight of 10 meetings with Portland this season. Danny Mumaugh made 36 saves in a losing cause.
