WHL Roundup: Thompson terrific as Wheat Kings win tenth straight
Kamloops Blazers (5) at Moose Jaw Warriors (2)
Kamloops (16-16-0-1) // Moose Jaw (26-6-1-1)
The Kamloops Blazers rolled into Moose Jaw and claimed a valuable pair of road points, securing a 5-2 win over the Warriors Friday evening.
Jermaine Loewen (2G) and Connor Zary (2A) helped pace the Blazers offense, which also received scoring from WHL Rookie of the Month for November, Brodi Stuart, Luc Smith and Carson Denomie.
Tanner Jeannot and Brayden Burke provided the response for the host Warriors.
Loewen, who collected his 14th and 15th goals of the season, put the game out of reach for Moose Jaw by extending the Kamloops lead to 4-2 with only 4:19 to go in regulation. He added one more for good measure by hitting an empty net moments later.
Dylan Ferguson wasn’t tested often, making 15 saves on the 17 pucks sent his way, including a critical glove stop midway through the third period that preserved a 3-2 advantage for the Blazers.
For Kamloops, the win boosted the Blazers to .500 on the season, highlighting a remarkable turnaround after the club started the campaign by dropping nine consecutive contests.
The Blazers with a great road game tonight as they beat Moose Jaw, the top team in the WHL, 5-2 tonight! The Blazers improve to 16-16-0-1 on the season and 3-1-0-1 on the six-game road trip. Will end their trip in Swift Current Saturday night.
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 16, 2017
Kelowna Rockets (7) at Prince Albert Raiders (3)
Kelowna (19-11-2-1) // Prince Albert (13-14-5-2)
Kole Lind recorded a hat trick and Carsen Twarynski notched two goals and four points as the Kelowna Rockets snapped a three-game slide with a 7-3 triumph over the Prince Albert Raiders Friday night.
Lind, a prospect of the Vancouver Canucks, provided some pop to the Kelowna offense only one day after being returned to the club upon being released by Hockey Canada from its National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp.
The product of Shaunavon, Sask., recorded his 14th, 15th and 16th goals of the season, each of which came via the man advantage. Lind accounted for all of the power-play production for the Rockets, as they went 3-for-5 on the night.
Twarynski, a prospect of the Philadelphia Flyers, ensure the Rockets were dangerous on both special teams, striking for a short-handed marker midway through the third period. The product of Calgary also added an even strength goal, along with two assists, to complete a four-point effort.
Rookie Will Kushniryk andveteran Conner Brugen-Cate also found the back of the net for the Rockets.
Spencer Moe, Jordy Stallard and Max Martin replied for the Raiders.
Between the pipes, rookie Roman Basran continued collecting wins, making 15 saves for his fourth win in seven appearances.
Lind nets a hatty, Rockets top Raiders 7-3. Story: https://t.co/npMOPmB2Dz #KELvsPA #WHLRockets #XmasRoady ???????????? pic.twitter.com/qhhArzPg38
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) December 16, 2017
Saskatoon Blades (4) at Regina Pats (3) – OT
Saskatoon (14-16-2-1) // Regina (16-15-3-0)
Captain Evan Fiala scored with 1:16 to go in overtime as the Saskatoon Blades edged the Regina Pats by a 4-3 margin Friday, earning a third straight victory.
Wyatt Sloboshan and Bryce Platt gave the Pats a 2-0 lead before Mark Rubinchik and Fiala converted to knot the game. Josh Paterson notched his 11th goal of the campaign, putting Saskatoon ahead 3-2 midway through the third, only to see Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jake Leschyshyn track down his ninth goal of the season to even the affair and force overtime.
Rookie goaltender Nolan Maier continued his hot play of late, making 30 saves for his sixth victory in his 14th appearance.
Fiala leads the troops to victory in Regina Friday night
RECAP » https://t.co/bqtPCHZs7G#RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/MQT9pY13OU
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 16, 2017
Lethbridge Hurricanes (0) at Brandon Wheat Kings (3)
Lethbridge (14-16-2-0) // Brandon (24-7-0-1)
Logan Thompson made 38 saves, backstopping the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 10th consecutive victory with a 3-0 shutout of the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night.
While the veteran Thompson, a product of Calgary, did his part in the blue paint, the Wheat Kings got all the scoring they needed in a matter of 15 seconds late in the first period. Gunnar Wegleitner opened the scoring on Teddy Bear Toss night before Connor Gutenberg added some insurance with his 10th goal of the year only 15 seconds later, though that 15 seconds was accompanied by the first intermission due to Wegleitner’s late strike.
Baron Thompson hit an empty net late in the third period to round out the scoring.
For Logan Thompson, the goose egg goes into the books as his second of the season and third of his career. The 20-year-old puck-stopper has now earned a career-high 19 victories as the Wheat Kings work their way up the East Division standings.
What a night at Westman Place! The #BWK win their 1⃣0⃣th game in a row in front of a boisterous Teddy Bear Toss crowd! Thank you Wheat Kings fans! #GoldRush #bdnmb pic.twitter.com/1w2wBfOpVK
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) December 16, 2017
Tri-City Americans (5) at Edmonton Oil Kings (0)
Tri-City (17-10-3-0) // Edmonton (7-22-3-0)
Nolan Yaremko scored twice and Patrick Dea was perfect against his old club as the Tri-City Americans blanked the Edmonton Oil Kings by a 5-0 score Friday night.
Yaremko, a 19-year-old product of the northern Alberta town of Spirit River – opened the scoring with his eighth of the campaign only 29 seconds into the proceedings. Vegas Golden Knights prospect Dylan Coghlan made it a 2-0 game before the first period came to a close.
Yaremko notched his ninth of the year with yet another quick strike, boosting the Ams lead to 3-0 only 37 seconds into the second period. Carson Focht and Jordan Topping piled on as the Americans won a second straight outing.
As for Dea, the 20-year-old product of St. Albert, Alta., was cast aside by the Oil Kings following the 2016-17 season before catching on with the Americans in the fall. The five-year WHL veteran made the most of his return to Rogers Place, steering aside 24 shots for his second shutout of the season and the fourth of his WHL career.
Americans captain Michael Rasmussen registered three assists in the game.
That's the game folks! @pdea01 completes the shutout against his former team in a 5-0 victory for the Americans! #AmsNation #NoiseFTB pic.twitter.com/YVpIXKTdhG
— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) December 16, 2017
Red Deer Rebels (4) at Medicine Hat Tigers (1)
Red Deer (10-18-4-1) // Medicine Hat (17-14-2-0)
Ethan Anders made 27 saves and Alexander Alexeyev scored twice as the Red Deer Rebels knocked off the Medicine Hat Tigers by a 4-1 margin Friday evening.
Alexeyev opened the scoring for Red Deer 1:21 into the first period with Austin Pratt tickling twine 2:25 into the second.
Tigers captain Mark Rassell registered his 28th goal of the year to get the Tigers within one late in the second period, but a reply from Rebels captain Grayson Pawlenchuk restore the two-goal lead late in the third period.
Alexeyev hit an empty net for his second goal of the night to round out the scoring.
For the Rebels, Friday’s victory was a long time coming as it served to snap an 11-game winless skid.
Mason McCarty contributed a pair of assists for the Rebels.
Rebels win!!!!! The final in Medicine Hat was 4-1 for Red Deer. Rebels third period goals by Grayson Pawlenchuk and Alexander Alexeyev. Final shots 28-22 MH. #RDR
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 16, 2017
Everett Silvertips (3) at Spokane Chiefs (5)
Everett (19-13-1-1) // Spokane (17-12-1-2)
Hudson Elynuik recorded three points, including the game-winning goal, as the Spokane Chiefs earned a 5-3 triumph, putting an end to the Everett Silvertips’ nine-game winning streak Friday evening.
Elynuik, the 20-year-old prospect of the Carolina Hurricanes, snapped a 3-3 tie 12:47 into the third period by scoring his 16th goal of the season. The 6-foot-5 forward iced the decision with an empty-net marker late in the festivities.
In addition to Elynuik’s three-point performance, the Chiefs saw continued strong play from Zach Fischer. The Calgary Flames prospect chipped in with three points of his own, including his 14th goal of the season during the first period.
Nolan Reid and Jeff Faith also found the back of the net for Spokane, while Akash Bains, Sean Richards and Matt Fonteyne replied for the ‘Tips.
Rookie netminder Donovan Buskey blocked 23 of 26 shots to claim his sixth victory through 11 appearances.
Spokane Snaps Silvertips’ Streak
BOX SCORE ???? | https://t.co/sXa0jZ15A9
RECAP ???? | https://t.co/miedUc3wXZ pic.twitter.com/CN6FbNjUvp
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) December 16, 2017
Victoria Royals (1) at Vancouver Giants (3)
Victoria (20-12-3-0) // Vancouver (16-13-2-2)
The Vancouver Giants continued to make up ground in the BC Division, skating to a fourth straight win with a 3-1 triumph over the division-leading Victoria Royals Friday night.
Jared Dmytriw and Darian Skeoch scored back-to-back daggers only 29 seconds apart in the dying moments of the first period to give the Giants a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Captain Tyler Benson extended the advantage with his 13th goal of the season only 3:32 into the second period and that was all the Giants needed Friday night.
Recently-acquired Noah Gregor notched his 15th goal of the season and first as a Royal, but it wasn’t enough to spark his new club to erase the three-goal deficit as David Tendeck made 21 saves for his 11th win of the campaign.
The win pushed the Giants three points ahead of the Kamloops Blazers for third place in the BC Division.
The Captain & @EdmontonOilers prospect @TylerBenson_17 extends the lead, making it 3-0. pic.twitter.com/VE3BDE1NX4
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 16, 2017
Prince George Cougars (3) at Seattle Thunderbirds (5)
Prince George (12-15-3-2) // Seattle (14-14-3-1)
The Seattle Thunderbirds scored four times in the third period to claim a 5-3 win over the Prince George Cougars Friday night.
Nolan Volcan evened the score at 2-2 only 1:40 into the third period, notching his 12th goal of the season. Midway through the final period, recently-signed LA Kings prospect Austin Strand converted on a power play to make it a 3-2 game before Donovan Neuls added some necessary insurance.
Aaron Boyd managed to claw one back for Prince George before the final buzzer, but with the goaltender at the bench for the extra attacker, Zack Andrusiak sealed the decision on behalf of Seattle.
Matt Berlin made 35 saves to log the victory in net for the Thunderbirds.
VICTORY! T-Birds win 5-3!! pic.twitter.com/PEILXmTbiG
— Seattle Thunderbirds 2017 WHL Champions (@SeattleTbirds) December 16, 2017
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