Wednesday’s WHL Round-up
JOHNSON, BOWMAN LEAD CHIEFS PAST THUNDERBIRDS – Tyler Johnson and Drayson Bowman each scored three goals and chipped in an assist to lead the Spokane Chiefs to a 7-3 win over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds in Western hockey League action on Wednesday, February 18th.
Ondrej Roman – with his eighth goal of the season – also counted for the Chiefs (39-16-0-3), who pick up their fifth straight victory and have won 17 of their last 19 games, while Mitch Wahl chipped in three assists. Dustin Tokarski made 19 saves to record his 29th win of the season.
Jeremy Boyer scored twice and Thomas Hickey notched his 15th goal of the season for the Thunderbirds (27-29-1-3), who fall to 9-22-1-2 on the road this season. Calvin Pickard made 17 saves in a losing cause.
SILVERTIPS 7, WINTER HAWKS 3
Shane Harper, Byron Froese and Zack Dailey each tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Everett Silvertips to a 7-3 win over the visiting Portland Winter Hawks on Wednesday.
Rookie Campbell Elynuik – with his first WHL goal – Chris de la Lande, Tyler Parker and Daniel Bartek also scored for the Silvertips (25-26-7-2), who held a 40-18 advantage on the shot clock. Thomas Heemskerk made 15 saves to record the win.
Troy Rutkowski – with a goal and an assist – Sawyer Mick and Chris Francis scored for the Winter Hawks (15-39-2-2), who went 2-for-5 on the power play but allowed three ‘Tips’ power play goals on nine chances. Kurtis Mucha and Ian Curtis combined for 33 saves in the loss.
HITMEN 5, BLADES 1
Brett Sonne scored once and added two assists to lead the Calgary Hitmen to a 5-1 victory over the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday.
Kyle Bortis – with a goal and an assist – Joel Broda, Carson McMillan and Paul Postma also scored for the Hitmen (52-7-3-1), who earn their ninth straight victory and their 30th home-ice win of the season. Martin Jones made 26 saves to record his 39th win of the season.
Burke Gallimore scored the only goal for the Blades (43-15-3-1), who suffer just their fifth regulation loss on the road all season. Braden Holtby made 33 saves in a losing cause.
RAIDERS 4, WARRIORS 3
Brandon Herrod scored twice, including the eventual winner, to lead the visiting Prince Albert Raiders to a 4-3 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday.
Ryan Harrison and Jordan Hickmott also scored for the Raiders (27-31-3-1), who move two points ahead of idle Edmonton for sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Steven Stanford made 22 saves in the win.
Jason Bast – with a goal and two assists – Thomas Frazee and Travis Hamonic scored for the Warriors (16-40-1-2), who drop their second straight decision and fall to 7-21-0-2 on home ice this season. Jeff Bosch made 21 saves in the loss.
WHEAT KINGS 4, TIGERS 1
Del Cowan scored twice as the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings skated to a 4-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday.
Nathan Green – with a goal and an assist – and Mark Stone also scored for the Wheat Kings (41-16-3-1), who pick up their third straight victory and have won seven of their last eight road games. Andrew Hayes made 23 saves in the win.
Linden Vey – with his 21st goal of the season – scored the lone marker for the Tigers (31-23-4-3), who see a modest two-game winning streak come to an end. Ryan Holfeld made 26 saves in the defeat.
BRUINS 4, ROCKETS 3 S/O
Alexander Wiklund scored the decisive goal in a shootout as the visiting Chilliwack Bruins pulled off a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Kelowna Rockets on Wednesday.
Ryan Howse, Kevin Sundher and Brandon Manning scored in regulation for the Bruins (15-40-2-4), who snap a 10-game losing skid after rallying from a 3-0 deficit after the first period. Mark Friesen stopped all 32 shots he faced in 55:05 of regulation and overtime, and denied two of three Rockets’ shootout attempts to earn the win after replacing starter Lucas Gore, who allowed three goals in the first 10 minutes of the first period.
Colin Long, Cody Almond and Stepan Novotny scored for the Rockets (35-20-1-3), who suffer their second straight loss to a non-playoff team. Mark Guggenberger made 19 saves through three periods and overtime, but was beaten twice in the shootout for the loss.
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Photos courtesy of WHL Club Photographers Gary Peterson, Mark Rogers, Frank Deines III
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