SATURDAY’S WHL ROUND-UP
ICE FREEZE OUT HITMEN – Adam Rossignol scored twice to lead the Kootenay Ice to a 5-1 win over the visiting Calgary Hitmen in Western Hockey League action on Saturday night.
Sam Reinhart, Erik Benoit and Jesse Ismond also scored while Brock Montgomery chipped in four assists for the Ice (1-0-0-1), who were 2-for-5 on the power play in the contest. Nathan Lieuwen turned in a 29-save effort to earn the victory.
Alex Gogolev – with his first WHL marker – had the lone goal for the Hitmen (0-1-0-0), who outshot the hosts 30-18 in the contest. Brandon Glover turned aside 13 of 18 shots in a losing cause.
BLADES 5, RAIDERS 3
Jesse Paradis, Josh Nicholls and Jake Trask each notched a goal and an assist as the visiting Saskatoon Blades claimed a 5-3 win over the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday.
Matej Stransky and Lukas Sutter also scored for the Blades (2-0-0-0), who sweep their home-and-home series versus the Raiders. Andrey Makarov turned aside 33 of 36 shots to post his first WHL win.
Todd Fiddler, James Bettauer and TJ Constant scored for the Raiders (0-2-0-0), who led 3-1 early in the second period but surrendered the next four goals en route to their second loss in a row. Eric Williams made 27 saves in the defeat.
PATS 4, BRONCOS 2
Dyson Stevenson picked up a goal and an assist to pace the visiting Regina Pats to a 4-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday night.
Brandon Underwood, Dominik Volek and Campbell Elynuik also counted while Jordan Weal and Morgan Klimchuk each chipped in a pair of assists for the Pats (2-0-0-0), who complete the sweep of the Broncos in their opening-weekend home-and-home series. Matt Hewitt made 27 saves in the win.
Trevor Cameron and Adam Lowry scored for the Broncos (0-2-0-0), who were 1-for-4 on the man advantage. Austin Smith made 23 saves in the loss.
HURRICANES 4, TIGERS 2
Russell Maxwell scored two goals as the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes doubled up the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-2 on Saturday.
Cam Braes also scored twice for the Hurricanes (1-0-0-0), who converted two of 10 power play chances in the contest. Brandon Anderson made 26 saves to earn his 30th career win.
Adam Rehak and Dylan Bredo scored for the Tigers (0-1-0-0), who were scoreless on nine power play chances in the game. Tyler Bunz made 32 saves in a losing cause.
COUGARS 1, BLAZERS 0
Charles Inglis’ goal 19:59 into the second period was the only marker of the game as the visiting Prince George Cougars claimed a 1-0 victory over the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday.
Drew Owsley turned in a 32-save performance to post a shutout in his debut for the Cougars (1-0-0-0), who went 0-for-5 on the power play.
Cam Lanigan made 24 saves in the defeat for the Blazers (0-1-0-0), who outshot the visitors 32-25 in the contest.
ROCKETS 5, SILVERTIPS 4 S/O
Filip Vasko scored the decisive goal in a shootout to lift the visiting Kelowna Rockets to a 5-4 win over the Everett Silvertips on Saturday.
Tyson Baillie, Spencer Main and Cody Chikie each notched a goal and an assist while Colton Scissons also counted in regulation for the Rockets (1-0-0-0), who were 2-for-8 on the power play. Adam Brown made 31 saves through three periods and overtime, including stopping a penalty shot in overtime, and denied five of seven Silvertips’ shootout attempts to claim the victory.
Tyler Maxwell – with two goals – Josh Birkholz and Josh Winquist scored in regulation for the Silvertips (0-0-0-2), who suffer their second straight shootout loss to open the season. Kent Simpson made 32 saves in regulation, but was beaten three times in the shootout to suffer the loss.
WINTERHAWKS 6, THUNDERBIRDS 3
Ty Rattie scored twice and set up another while Brad Ross added a goal and two assists as the visiting Portland Winterhawks skated to a 6-3 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday.
Troy Rutkowski, Nick Petan and Brendan Leipsic also scored for the Winterhawks (2-0-0-0), who earn their second straight victory to open the season. Mac Carruth made 21 saves to post the victory.
Taylor Green – with his first WHL goal – Marcel Noebels and Chance Lund scored for the Thunderbirds (0-1-0-0), who were outshot 46-24 by the visiting Hawks. Calvin Pickard turned aside 40 of 45 shots he faced in the loss.
AMERICANS 4, CHIEFS 1
Justin Feser and Adam Hughesman each tallied a goal and two assists to lead the Tri-City Americans to a 4-1 triumph over the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Saturday.
Michal Plutnar and Connor Rankin also scored for the Americans (1-0-0-0), who were 3-for-6 on the power play in the game. Ty Rimmer made 28 saves to earn the win in his first regular-season contest as a member of the Ams.
Anthony Bardaro scored for the Chiefs (0-1-0-0), who led 1-0 after the opening period but gave up the next four goals en route to the loss. Mac Engel made 22 saves in the defeat.
ROYALS 5, GIANTS 3
Kevin Sundher notched a goal and two assists as the Victoria Royals claimed a 5-3 win over the visiting Vancouver Giants on Saturday.
Rookie Logan Nelson notched his first WHL goal and added an assist for the Royals (1-1-0-0), who were playing their first home game in front of 7,006 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena, while Jamie Crooks, Brandon Magee and Robin Soudek also scored. Keith Hamilton turned in a 48-save performance to backstop the Royals to the win.
James Henry – with a goal and two assists – Nathan Burns and Dalton Sward scored for the Giants (1-1-0-0), who outshot the hosts 51-25 in the contest. Brendan Jensen and Jackson Whistle combined for 20 saves in a losing effort.
–
