WEDNESDAY’S WHL ROUND-UP
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PATS UPEND RAIDERS – Matt Marantz scored three goals and Jordan Weal notched a goal and four assists to lead the Regina Pats to an 8-3 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders in Western Hockey League action on Wednesday night.
Andrew Rieder scored twice, Dominik Volek tallied a goal and two assists and Dyson Stevenson also scored for the Pats (22-15-3-1), who earn their third win in a row and move to within two points of Kootenay and Medicine Hat for a share of third place in the Eastern Conference. Matt Hewitt made 31 saves to claim his 21st win of the season.
Logan McVeigh and Mike Winther each tallied a goal and an assist while Anthony Bardaro also scored for the Raiders (14-24-1-2), who suffer their second loss in a row. Cole Holowenko and Luke Lee-Knight combined for 24 saves in the loss.
OIL KINGS 6, HURRICANES 3
Michael St. Croix scored and set up two more to lead the Edmonton Oil Kings to a 6-3 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday.
T.J. Foster and Dylan Wruck each tallied a goal and an assist while Klarc Wilson, Cole Benson and Mitch Moroz also scored for the Oil Kings (26-10-1-3), who now hold a three-point lead for first place in the Eastern Conference. Laurent Brossoit made 30 saves to earn the victory.
Cam Braes, Reid Duke and Landon Oslanski scored for the Hurricanes (15-26-0-1), who have dropped four of their last five contests and remain in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Damien Ketlo and Liam Liston combined for 35 saves in a losing cause.
ICE 5, BRONCOS 1
Max Reinhart scored twice, including his 20th of the season, and added two assists to lead the Kootenay Ice to a 5-1 win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday.
Brock Montgomery – with a goal and an assist – Elgin Pearce and Jagger Dirk also scored and Drew Czerwonka chipped in three assists for the Ice (23-12-1-3), who put a halt to a three-game losing skid and move into a tie with Medicine Hat for third place in the Eastern Conference. Nathan Lieuwen made 33 saves to claim his 75th career win.
Taylor Vause – with his 22nd of the season – scored the lone goal for the Broncos (15-20-2-3), who opened the scoring in the game but allowed the next five goals en route to the defeat. Jon Groenheyde and Austin Smith combined for 27 saves in the setback.
HITMEN 6, GIANTS 4
Collin Bowman scored once and set up two more while finishing with a +4 rating to lead the visiting Calgary Hitmen to a 6-4 triumph over the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday.
Jake Virtanen, Jaynen Rissling, Brooks Macek, Danny Gayle and Chase Clayton also scored for the Hitmen (21-16-2-1), who earn their fourth straight win on the road and move past Brandon into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Chris Driedger made 20 saves to post the win.
Jordan Martinook scored twice while Brodyn Nielsen – with his first WHL marker – and Neil Manning also scored for the Giants (24-14-1-1), who held a 2-0 lead early in the first period but were outscored 6-2 the rest of the way en route to the defeat. Adam Morrison made 33 saves in the loss.
SILVERTIPS 5, THUNDERBIRDS 2
Josh Birkholz scored three goals to pace the Everett Silvertips to a 5-2 win over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday.
Josh Winquist picked up a goal and an assist and Nick Walters also counted for the Silvertips (7-22-1-7), who converted two of six power play chances in the contest. Kent Simpson made 32 saves to backstop the ‘Tips to the win.
Branden Troock and Marcel Noebels scored for the Thunderbirds (16-19-0-1), who drop their second straight decision. Calvin Pickard stopped 22 of 27 shots in a losing effort.
ROCKETS 5, CHIEFS 2
Brett Bulmer tallied three straight goals in the second period to propel the Kelowna Rockets to a 5-2 win over the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday.
Mitchell Chapman and Colton Heffley also scored for the Rockets (15-19-2-3), who snap a three-game losing skid and move into sole possession of sixth place in the Western Conference. Adam Brown made 24 saves to claim his 97th career victory.
Jason Fram and Darren Kramer scored and Mitch Holmberg chipped in a pair of helpers for the Chiefs (17-13-2-3), who went 0-for-3 on the power play as they drop their second straight decision. Eric Williams and Mac Engel combined for 26 saves in the defeat.
AMERICANS 5, WARRIORS 0
Ty Rimmer turned in a 42-save performance to record his fourth shutout of the season as the Tri-City Americans blanked the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 5-0 on Wednesday.
Brendan Shinnimin and Jordan Messier each scored twice, Zach Yuen added a single and Patrick Holland drew four assists for the Americans (30-7-0-0), who roll to their 11th straight victory and their 30th win of the season.
Luke Siemens made 19 saves in the loss for the Warriors (24-11-4-1), who fall to 1-2-1 through four games of their U.S. Division road trip.
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