WEDNESDAY’S WHL ROUND-UP
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RAIDERS TAME BRONCOS – Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of goals to help the Prince Albert Raiders to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos in Western Hockey League action on Wednesday night.
Jonas Knutsen also counted for the Raiders (32-21-2-3), who snap a two-game losing skid and move back into sole possession of first place in the East Division standings. Luke Siemens turned aside 25 of 26 shots he faced to post his 30th win of the season.
Colby Cave – with his 16th goal of the season – had the lone tally for the Broncos (27-25-3-3), who allowed the go-ahead goal just 23 seconds after Cave had knotted the score at 1-1 early in the second period. Eetu Laurikainen made 26 saves in the defeat.
TIGERS 3, WHEAT KINGS 0
Cam Lanigan stopped all 32 shots he faced to claim his third shutout of the season for the Medicine Hat Tigers as the Tigers skated to a 3-0 win over the Wheat Kings in Brandon on Wednesday.
Curtis Valk got his 34th and 35th goals of the season and Elgin Pearce notched his 25th of the campaign for the Tigers (29-26-2-1), who cruise to their fourth straight victory and move into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Curtis Honey turned in a 32-save effort in a losing cause for the Wheat Kings (20-34-2-2), who suffer their third straight setback and remain in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.
ICE 5, ROYALS 1
Jaedon Descheneau scored and set up two more as the Kootenay Ice managed a 5-1 win over the visiting Victoria Royals on Wednesday.
Mackenzie Skapski made 30 saves on 31 shots to claim his 26th win of the season for the Ice (27-28-2-0), who have won four of their last five and now sit just three points back of Lethbridge for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Sam Reinhart – with a goal and an assist – Tanner Muth, Brock Montgomery and Luke Philp also scored in the victory.
Steven Hodges – with his 23rd of the season – scored the only marker for the Royals (32-20-1-3), who see a five-game winning streak snapped. Patrik Polivka made 19 saves on 23 shots over 45 minutes of action, taking the loss, while Coleman Vollrath made four saves in relief.
REBELS 4, COUGARS 1
Rhyse Dieno scored twice and Matt Dumba chipped in three assists as the Red Deer Rebels downed the visiting Prince George Cougars 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Brooks Maxwell tallied a goal and an assist while Joel Hamilton notched his ninth marker of the season for the Rebels (30-22-4-2), who went 2-for-7 on the power play in the victory. Patrik Bartosak turned aside 31 of 32 shots to post his 24th win of the season.
Zach Pochiro scored the lone goal for Prince George (17-32-2-6), losers of 14 of their last 15 road games. Mac Engel made 31 saves in the setback.
BLAZERS 4, GIANTS 1
Colin Smith and Kale Kessy each picked up a goal and an assist to help lead the Kamloops Blazers to a 4-1 triumph over the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday.
Joel Edmundson and Matt Needham also found the net for the Blazers (38-15-2-3), who also got two assists from Brendan Ranford as they stretch their win streak to five games. Cole Cheveldave stopped 22 of 23 shots in the win.
Arvin Atwal notched the lone goal for the Giants (14-43-0-0), who were held scoreless on six power play opportunities as they drop their second straight decision. Jared Rathjen made 24 saves in a losing cause.
CHIEFS 4, HITMEN 3
Todd Fiddler’s 37th goal of the season, scored 10:57 into the third period, held up as the winner as the Spokane Chiefs edged the visiting Calgary Hitmen 4-3 on Wednesday.
Dylan Walchuk – with a goal and an assist – Brendan Kichton and Carter Proft also scored for the Chiefs (33-22-2-0), who overturned a 2-0 deficit in the second period as they claim their third win over their last five games and move into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference. Eric Williams made 31 saves in the win.
Cody Sylvester scored and set up two more while Brady Brassart and Victor Rask also scored for the Hitmen (37-17-1-3), who close out their U.S. Division tour with a 4-1 record. Chris Driedger made 32 saves in the setback.
