WHL Tonight: Warriors begin B.C. road trip with win in Kamloops

 

Western Hockey League Three Stars: Tuesday, January 15, 2019

1. Justin Almeida, Moose Jaw Warriors: Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Justin Almeida of the Moose Jaw Warriors scored twice as part of a four-point night in a 5-2 win against the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday as the Warriors began their biennial road trip through the B.C. Division.

The Kitimat, B.C. product scored the second and fourth goals of the game for the Warriors, also picking up assists on their third and fifth goals of the game. Selected in the fifth round, 129th overall, by the Penguins in the 2018 NHL Draft, Almeida remains on pace for another strong season with 55 points (13G-42A) in 36 games. Overall, the 19-year-old has 187 points (69G-118A) in 228 WHL regular season games.

2. Jaeger White, Kootenay ICE: 20-year-old forward Jaeger White of the Kootenay ICE tallied a goal and an assist Tuesday as his team shutout the Swift Current Broncos by a 2-0 score. White scored the first goal of the game 51 seconds into the second period, then picked up an assist on his team’s insurance goal early in the third to ensure the victory.

The Medicine Hat, Alta. product now leads the ICE with 17 goals this season as part of a career-best season for the overage forward, who has 37 points (17G-20A) in 45 games this season. Overall, White has 91 points (32G-59A) in 197 WHL regular season games.

3. Jesse Makaj, Kootenay ICE: Kootenay ICE goaltender Jesse Makaj stopped all 16 shots sent his way Tuesday, recording the first shutout of his WHL career in a 2-0 victory against the Swift Current Broncos. Makaj stopped six shots in the first, three in the second, and seven in the third.

The victory pushed his record this season to 3-14-4-1 with a 3.91 goals-against-average, 0.889 save percentage, and one shutout. The East Vancouver, B.C. product was selected by the ICE in the second round, 23rd overall, at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

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Kootenay ICE 2 at Swift Current Broncos 0

Kootenay ICE captain and 2019 NHL Draft prospect Peyton Krebs tallied a goal and an assist while Jesse Makaj stopped all 16 shots as the ICE shutout the Swift Current Broncos by a 2-0 score Tuesday night in Saskatchewan.

After a scoreless first, Krebs contributed to the opening goal, by drawing enough attention to himself with the puck before floating a pass over to a wide open Jaegar White, who buried his team-leading 17th goal just 51 seconds into the middle period.

On the power play early in the third, Krebs controlled the puck near his bench, drove into the middle of the ice and chipped the puck to teammate Jakin Smallwood, who immediately gave it right back as Krebs cut behind the Broncos’ defence and beat Isaac Poulter for his 16th goal of the season.

That’d be all the offence needed by Makaj as he stopped six shots in the first, three in the second, and seven in the third for the first shutout of his WHL career.

White also picked up an assist for the multi-point game as well. Ian Briscoe led the Broncos with four shots while Poulter stopped 32 of the 34 shots sent his way.

Moose Jaw Warriors 5 at Kamloops Blazers 2

The Moose Jaw Warriors began their bi-annual road trip through the B.C. Division with a dominating 5-2 win Tuesday night against the Kamloops Blazers.

Justin Almeida (Pittsburgh Penguins) scored twice as part of a four-point night while Tristin Langan and captain Josh Brook (Montreal Canadiens) each recorded multi-point performances.

Langan opened the scoring with his 33rd goal of the season, getting his puck on a Blazers’ pass up ice, dishing the puck to rookie Brayden Tracey, who sent the puck right back to Langan to convert on the broken odd-man rush.

Connor Zary helped the Blazers responded minutes later though as he brought the puck down the side before spinning and finding Brodi Stuart in the slot, who wired home his 13th of the season to tie up the game. The Warriors regained the lead just minutes later on the power play as Brook found Almeida across the ice with a perfect pass, with him wiring home his own shot to help the visitors re-take the lead.

Almeida factored into his team’s next goal, finding teammate Daniil Stepanov down low for the quick redirect to extend the lead to two after 20 minutes.

Off a broken play in the second, Blazers captain Jermaine Loewen brought his team within a goal as he picked up the puck in front of the net off a solid pass by Montana Onyebuchi and buried it for the Blazers’ second goal of the night.

That’d be all from the Blazers though as Almeida converted a goal off a Blazers turnover in the offensive zone while Dalton Hamaliuk put in a loose puck at the side of the net to round out the scoring.

Adam Evanoff stopped 34 shots to earn the victory.