THURSDAY’S WHL ROUND-UP
ROCKETS DOUSE BLAZERS – Shane McColgan scored twice and set up another to lead the Kelowna Rockets to a 7-1 triumph over the visiting Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League action on Thursday.
Geordie Wudrick and Cody Chikie also scored two goals apiece while Brett Bulmer tallied his 13th of the season and added two helpers for the Rockets (21-15-0-0), who leapfrog the idle Prince George Cougars into first place in the B.C. Division. Adam Brown turned in a 35-save effort to record his 17th win of the season.
Chase Schaber scored the only marker for the Blazers (17-19-1-1), who had given up just two goals through their previous two contests. Jeff Bosch made 18 saves in a losing effort.
WARRIORS 6, GIANTS 3
Spencer Edwards scored twice and set up two more for a four-point effort to lead the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors to a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Giants on Thursday.
Dylan Hood also scored twice while Joey Kornelsen – with a goal and two assists – and Cody Beach also counted for the Warriors (22-13-0-2), who earn their second straight victory on the road since returning from the holiday break. Thomas Heemskerk made 26 saves to claim his 19th win of the campaign.
Spencer Bennett – with a shorthanded marker – scored in his first game as a member of the Giants (16-17-1-4), who drop their fifth straight decision, while Luke Fenske and Brendan Rowinski also scored. Mark Segal made 17 saves in a losing cause.
REBELS 5, HURRICANES 0
Darcy Kuemper turned in a 23-save effort to claim his League-leading sixth shutout and 24th win of the season as the Red Deer Rebels shut down the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-0 on Thursday.
Adam Kambeitz scored his 11th goal of the season and added two assists while Colten Mayor, Turner Elson, Daulton Siwak and Alex Petrovic also scored for the Rebels (24-10-1-3), who earn their third straight win and move one point ahead of Kootenay for first place in the Central Division.
Dylan Tait made 25 saves in a losing cause for the Hurricanes (12-17-2-6), who suffer their eighth loss in a row but remain tied with Prince Albert for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
HITMEN 5, WHEAT KINGS 2
Tyler Fiddler scored just his sixth goal of the season to help the Calgary Hitmen to a 5-2 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Thursday.
Kris Foucault, Ben Wilson, Carter Berg – with his first WHL tally – and Jon Lawrence also scored for the Hitmen (11-24-2-0), who converted two of seven power play chances in the contest. Brandon Glover turned aside 25 of 27 shots he faced to record his third win of the season.
David Toews and Michael Ferland scored and Brenden Walker chipped in two assists for the Wheat Kings (13-21-1-4), who have dropped 13 of their last 15 games. Liam Liston made 20 saves in the loss.
BLADES 5, RAIDERS 1
Darian Dziurzynski scored twice and Jake Trask drew three assists to lead the Saskatoon Blades to a 5-1 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Thursday.
Brent Benson notched a goal and two assists while Josh Nicholls and Stefan Elliott also counted for the Blades (28-8-0-1), who win their fourth straight game while defeating the Raiders for the second straight night. Adam Morrison made 27 saves to claim the win.
Brandon Herrod – with his 17th of the season – scored the only goal for the Raiders (14-21-2-2), who were 0-for-3 on the power play in the contest. Eric Williams and Jamie Tucker combined for 34 saves in a losing cause.
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