FRIDAY’S WHL ROUND-UP
CLICK HERE for WHL Images
CLICK HERE for WHL Highlights
——————————-
Three more teams clinched playoff spots in WHL action on Friday night, with the Eastern Conference’s Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen, and the Western Conference’s Kelowna Rockets guaranteeing themselves post-season hockey.
In addition, the Kamloops Blazers clinched the B.C. Division crown after the Vancouver Giants lost on Friday night. It’s the first division title for the Blazers since the 2000-01 season.
TIGERS 6, GIANTS 4
Emerson Etem scored a pair of goals and Hunter Shinkaruk chipped in three assists as the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers skated to a 6-4 win over the Vancouver Giants on Friday night.
With the win, the Tigers clinch a playoff berth and will play post-season hockey for a 10th straight season.
Matt Konan, Jayden Hart, James Bettauer and Boston Leier also scored for the Tigers (40-21-2-3), who trailed 5-4 after two periods of play but scored three unanswered goals in the third period to post their fourth win in a row. Tyler Bunz made 35 saves to record his 37th win of the season.
Marek Tvrdon scored twice while Brendan Gallagher and Cain Franson also scored for the Giants (36-24-1-3), who went 0-for-8 on the power play while allowing three goals on seven Tigers’ chances. Adam Morrison made 13 saves in a losing cause.
HITMEN 4, BLADES 3 O/T
Cody Sylvester scored his second goal of the game 3:46 into overtime to lift the Calgary Hitmen to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Friday night.
The victory, coupled with Red Deer’s loss, clinched the Hitmen a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jimmy Bubnick and Victor Rask each scored their 30th goals of the season for the Hitmen (39-23-2-1), who earn their third win in a row but remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Chris Driedger made six saves over the final 11 minutes of the third period and overtime to take the win after replacing Brandon Glover, who stopped 17 of 20 shots he faced over the first 50 minutes of the contest.
Josh Nicholls and Dalton Thrower each tallied a goal and an assist while Matej Stransky also counted for the Blades (36-25-1-2), who let a 3-1 lead slip away over the final 10 minutes of the third period. Andrey Makarov made 37 saves in the loss.
ROCKETS 6, BLAZERS 3
Brett Bulmer and Chane McColgan each scored two goals to lead the visiting Kelowna Rockets to a 6-3 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Friday.
The win, coupled with Seattle’s loss, clinched the Rockets a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Blazers clinch the B.C. Division title thanks to Vancouver’s loss to Medicine Hat.
Cody Chikie and Madison Bowey also scored and Zach Franko picked up three assists for the Rockets (27-29-3-6), who scored the game’s first four goals in the contest. Adam Brown made 43 saves to record his 20th win of the season.
Brandon Herrod, Marek Hrbas and Jordan DePape scored for the Blazers (44-17-1-3), who outshot the visiting Rockets 46-18 in the contest but suffer their third loss in four games. Cole Cheveldave and Cam Lanigan combined for 12 saves in a losing effort.
WARRIORS 4, RAIDERS 3
Torrin White broke a 3-3 tie with his 10th goal of the season 15:21 into the third period to lead the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors to a 4-3 triumph over the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday.
Cam Braes scored twice and James Henry notched a goal and two assists for the Warriors (40-17-5-2), who now hold a 12-point lead for first place in the East Division. Luke Siemens made 23 saves in earning his 32nd win of the season.
Anthony Bardaro tallied a goal and two assists while Chance Braid – with his first WHL goal – and Josh Morrissey also scored for the Raiders (20-38-3-3), who drop their third straight decision. Cole Holowenko made 29 saves in the loss.
WHEAT KINGS 6, HURRICANES 2
Brenden Walker scored twice and Alessio Bertaggia picked up three helpers to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 6-2 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday night.
Daniel Asham, Paul Ciarelli, Bruno Mraz and Brodie Melnychuk also scored for the Wheat Kings (35-26-1-3), who move past the Regina Pats into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Corbin Boes made 34 saves to record the victory.
Jaimen Yakubowski and Macoy Erkamps scored for the Hurricanes (26-38-0-1), who have dropped two of their last three games. Damien Ketlo made 32 saves in a losing cause.
BRONCOS 4, REBELS 0
Jon Groenheyde made 45 saves to post his second shutout of the season as the visiting Swift Current Broncos skated to a 4-0 win over the Red Deer Rebels on Friday.
Josh Derko, Taylor Vause, Dillon Heatherington and Brad Hoban – with a goal and two assists – scored for the Broncos (24-34-2-6), who converted both of their power play chances in the contest.
Deven Dubyk made 32 saves in a losing cause for the Rebels (29-29-1-5), who now sit nine points outside of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
CHIEFS 4, COUGARS 1
Marek Kalus tallied a goal and an assist to help the visiting Spokane Chiefs to a 4-1 win over the Prince George Cougars on Friday.
Todd Fiddler, Darren Kramer – with his 20th of the season – and Dylan Walchuk also scored for the Chiefs (35-22-4-3), who stretch their win streak to three games and remain a point behind Vancouver for fourth place in the Western Conference. Mac Engel made 17 saves in the win.
Daulton Siwak scored the only goal for the Cougars (19-43-0-2), who slump to their seventh consecutive defeat and now sit five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Drew Owsley made 34 saves in the defeat.
WINTERHAWKS 6, AMERICANS 4
Taylor Leier scored a pair of goals in the third period to lift the visiting Portland Winterhawks to a 6-4 win over the Tri-City Americans on Friday night.
Chase De Leo and Sven Bartschi also scored and Oliver Gabriel added three assists for the Winterhawks (45-15-3-1), who leapfrog the Ams into first place in the U.S. Division, Western Conference and overall WHL standings. Mac Carruth made 22 saves in the loss.
Justin Feser scored twice while Adam Hughesman and Zach Yuen also counted for the Americans (45-16-1-2), who see their seven-game winning streak come to an end. Ty Rimmer made 33 saves in absorbing the loss.
SILVERTIPS 4, THUNDERBIRDS 0
Kent Simpson turned in a 25-save effort to post his first shutout of the season as the Everett Silvertips shut down the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 4-0 on Friday.
Josh Birkholz and Reid Petryk each netted a goal and an assist while Josh Winquist and Ryan Murray also scored for the Silvertips (18-37-1-8), who move one point up on the T-Birds for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Calvin Pickard made 26 saves in a losing cause for the Thunderbirds (21-40-1-1), who drop their third straight decision and now sit on the outside looking in on the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
——————————————-
