WHL Morning Skate: Saturday, April 6

NEED TO KNOW

– Saskatoon won four straight games to eliminate Prince Albert in Game 5 on Friday night

– Red Deer defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers in Game 5 to advance to Round Two

– Wenatchee forward Steven Arp’s overtime winner helped the Wild stave off elimination and force Game 6 against Kelowna

RESULTS

Everett 4, Vancouver 1

EVT leads 3-1

Goaltender Brett Mirwald continues to be a formidable presence for the Giants, despite a third-straight win by Everett. The veteran netminder stopped 53 of 57 shots in the loss, with Seattle Kraken prospect Kaden Hammell tallying the opening goal and assisting the game-winner. Nashville Predators prospect Austin Roest also snagged his third goal of the series to add some insurance for the ‘Tips. The co-captain has registered at least two points in each of the last three games.

THREE STARS

1- Kaden Hammell, EVT

-1G, 1A, +2

2- Brett Mirwald, VAN

-53/57 saves

-.930 save percentage

3- Jesse Heslop, EVT

-1G

Red Deer 5, Medicine Hat 2

RD wins 4-1

The Rebels silenced the near-sellout crowd in Medicine Hat with Carson Latimer’s opening goal less than three minutes into the game. Red Deer didn’t let off the gas pedal from there, scoring five straight goals before the Tabbies would get on the board.  Captain Kai Uchacz had a goal and assisted Frantisek Formanek’s game-winner as the Rebels punched their ticket to Round Two and a date with the Saskatoon Blades.

THREE STARS

1- Rhett Parsons, MH

–1

2- Dru Krebs, MH

-1A, -1

3- Bogdans Hodass, MH

Kelowna 4, Wenatchee 5 (OT)

KEL leads 3-2

Talk about whiplash. Wenatchee looked prime to cruise to a Game 5 win with a 4-2 lead, but two late goals by the Rockets, including a clutch tally from top 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Tij Iginla with 45 seconds remaining, forced overtime. Kelowna had all the momentum, but Wild forward Steven Arp fired the winning shot less than a minute into the extra frame to keep Wenatchee’s season alive. Game 6 is slated for Sunday in Kelowna.

THREE STARS

1- Briley Wood, WEN

-1G, 2A, +2

2- Graham Sward, WEN

-1A, +2

3- Karter Prosofsky, WEN

WHL PLAYOFFS TOP PERFORMER- APRIL 5

Playoff points leader Briley Wood is the first player of the postseason to earn Top Performer honours twice.

The Wild veteran netted a goal and added two assists, including a shorthanded apple, to help Wenatchee eke out a 5-4 overtime victory against Kelowna to force an all-important Game 6.

Wood kicked off his night by wrapping around the Rockets’ net to set up Kenta Isogai for a tap-in goal to give Wenatchee a 1-0 lead.

Later in the first frame, Wood set up Isogai again with a sneaky drop pass on the penalty kill.

The Rivers, Man. product capped off his night with a heavy one-timer that blew past Jari Kykkanen.

2:22 left, period 2, and a 2-goal lead for the Wild!

It's a backdoor bang-in from Briley Wood!#RestoreTheRoarWHLstyle #WHLPlayoffs #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/dx0KDeFMMQ

— Wenatchee Wild (@WHLwild_) April 6, 2024

ON TAP

There are no games scheduled for Saturday, April 6.

PAYING TRIBUTE

April 6 marks six years since the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy that took the lives of 16 people.

Today and every day we remember and honour the legacies of Tyler Bieber, Logan Boulet, Dayna Brons, Mark Cross, Glen Doerkson, Darcy Haugan, Adam Herold, Brody Hinz, Logan Hunter, Jaxon Joseph, Jacob Leicht, Conner Lukan, Logan Schatz, Even Thomas, Parker Tobin, Stephen Wack, the survivors, family, community and all people touched by the tragedy.

Forever and always, #HumboldtStrong