Cougars remain undefeated, big guns put up big performances
Another night, another nine games on the #WHLOpeningWeek itinerary Saturday as action continued throughout Western Canada at the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Teams around the WHL are quickly learning they need to fear the north as the Prince George Cougars blanked the Kelowna Rockets to remain undefeated, winning their sixth consecutive contest to open the campaign.
Some big nights from some big guns as point totals continued to rise around the league, including a three-point performance from top prospect Nolan Patrick and four-point efforts from Keoni Texeira and Hudson Elynuik.
Goaltenders had their moment in the spotlight as well, with Nick McBride and Stuart Skinner grabbing goose eggs.
All of this and more on an enormous night out in the Western Hockey League…
Red Deer Rebels (2) at Brandon Wheat Kings (5)
Red Deer (1-1-1-1) // Brandon (1-0-1-0)
The newly-minted leadership group for the Brandon Wheat Kings was out in full force Saturday night as veteran forwards Tanner Kaspick and Tyler Coulter each scored twice, while captain Nolan Patrick found the back of the net as well, leading Brandon to its first victory of the 2016-17 campaign.
Patrick, a leading candidate to go first overall at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, collected three points on the night, adding a pair of assists. He now has two goals and six points through three games. Sophomore Stelio Mattheos collected three assists to boost his own totals.
Jordan Papirny was steady between the pipes, making 36 saves to earn himself third-star honours.
Nice hand-eye by @nolan_patrick19 to give the #BWK the lead tonight! #Patty pic.twitter.com/2iynrNDk0O
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) October 2, 2016
Saskatoon Blades (3) at Kootenay ICE (2)
Saskatoon (2-2-0-0) // Kootenay (0-2-1-1)
Logan Christensen tallied a power-play goal midway through the third period, propelling the Saskatoon Blades to their second triumph of the campaign.
Both Bryton Sayers and Libor Hajek contributed two assists from the backend, while Brock Hamm stood his ground, making 30 saves to get the Blades back to .500 early in the season.
On the other side of the puck, overage forward Zak Zborosky continued his torrid start to the season, notching both goals for the ICE. In four games, the native of Regina now has four goals.
Despite being far from home, the Blades found some friendly faces in the crowd in Cranabrook…
Blades fans in the house in Cranbrook tonight! ? #RiseWithUs
A photo posted by Saskatoon Blades (@bladeshockeyofficial) on
Calgary Hitmen (0) at Lethbridge Hurricanes (4)
Calgary (2-1-0-0) // Lethbridge (3-1-0-0)
Friday night, Hurricanes captain Tyler Wong had fans smiling as he visited with them in crowd. Saturday night, he brought them to their feet with a goal and two assists, leading Lethbridge to a 4-0 victory over the Calgary Hitmen in his 2016-17 debut.
Wong returned to the ‘Canes on Friday after putting in time with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and wasted no time having an impact on the ice Saturday. He wasn’t alone, as veteran Ryley Lindgren posted a two-goal effort of his own.
For Lindgren, the 20-year-old Manitoba product, he bolstered his strong start to the season and now sits with four goals and eight points in four games.
In the blue paint, it was the big man Stuart Skinner steering aside all 34 shots sent his way, earning his fifth career shutout.
Stuart. Skinner. #BrickWall pic.twitter.com/mc69eyRnMF
— LethbridgeHurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) October 2, 2016
Edmonton Oil Kings (2) at Moose Jaw Warriors (3) – OT
Edmonton (2-1-1-0) // Moose Jaw (2-0-1-0)
Jayden Halbgewachs continued to prove his worth Saturday night, scoring twice, including the overtime winner, as the Moose Jaw Warriors edged the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The 19-year-old product of Emerald Park, Sask., came to the Warriors prior to the start of the 2016-17 season and now has three goals and four points in four contests.
Warriors captain Brett Howden had himself a multipoint night with a goal and an assist, while overage defenceman Matt Sozanski collected two assists.
While Halbgewachs starred for the home side, 17-year-old Liam Hughes turned in admirable performance in his first career WHL regular season outing. The Kelowna product did everything in his power to get his team into the extra period, making 40 saves on 40 shots.
In the other crease, Brody Willms got in the way of 28 pucks to earn his second win of the campaign.
OT winner from #12 Jayden Halbgewachs (@halbgewachs97). pic.twitter.com/k347I5SFRI
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) October 2, 2016
Kelowna Rockets (0) at Prince George Cougars (3)
Kelowna (1-4-0-0) // Prince George (6-0-0-0)
There is simply no stopping the Prince George Cougars.
For the second time in as many nights, the Cougars got the best of the Kelowna Rockets with Nick McBride pitching a 29-save shutout and high-flying Minnesota product Jared Bethune scoring his WHL leading fifth goal of the season. Through six games, the 19-year-old Bethune leads the WHL with 10 points.
With the hot start, the Cougars now lead the B.C. Division by an eight-point margin over the Kamloops Blazers. It might be early in the 72-game slate, but the Cougar’s aren’t wasting anytime showing the rest of the league that they mean business in 2016-17.
Medicine Hat Tigers (3) at Swift Current Broncos (1)
Medicine Hat (3-1-0-0) // Swift Current (2-2-0-0)
Mark Rassell registered a shorthanded goal 3:25 into the third period, snapping a 1-1 tie to lead the Tigers to a win in Speedy Creek.
In the blue paint, veteran Nick Schneider knocked down 27 of 28 shots to stake out his second victory of the campaign.
At the other end, Taz Burman turned in a second-star performance, making 41 saves in a losing cause.
Portland Winterhawks (6) at Seattle Thunderbirds (1)
Portland (3-1-0-0) // Seattle (1-2-0-0)
Captain Keegan Iverson crushed two goals and an assist, while defenceman Keoni Texeira hammered out four helpers as the Portland Winterhawks converted on 4-of-5 power-play opportunities en route to a 6-1 over the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Sophomore Ryan Hughes built on his great start to the season, grabbing a goal and an assist to boost his point total to eight through four contests. Fellow sophomore Cody Glass collected two assists of his own to elevate his early production to seven points in four games.
Cole Kehler kicked out 25 shots, notching his first win of the season for Portland.
The Winterhawks did all of their scoring on special teams, with Iverson’s second of the night coming shorthanded late in the third period.
Mood: pic.twitter.com/YtKPFmacUz
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) October 2, 2016
Tri-City Americans (2) at Spokane Chiefs (5)
Tri-City (1-2-0-0) // Spokane (1-1-0-0)
Hudson Elynuik turned in a monstrous four-point night, claiming a goal and three assists as the Chiefs earned their first win of 2016-17. Kailer Yamamoto tickled the twine twice, while Tyson Helgesen had a goal and an assist.
Overage goaltender Jayden Sittler was sharp, making 30 saves to grab his first win as a Chief.
Defenceman Parker Wotherspoon whipped up a two-assist night for the Americans.
Kamloops Blazers (5) at Victoria Royals (2)
Kamloops (2-2-0-0) // Victoria (1-3-0-0)
Collin Shirley had three assists, while Nick Chyzowski scored once and added a helper as the Blazers avenged Friday’s 1-0 shutout loss to the Royals with a 5-2 triumph.
Rookie defenceman Luke Zazula claimed one assist while finishing the evening with a plus-4 rating.
Connor Ingram earned his first win of the season since returning from training camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning, kicking out 21 shots.
Sunday in the WHL (five games)
Swift Current Broncos at Brandon Wheat Kings (4 p.m. CDT)
Edmonton Oil Kings at Prince Albert Raiders (4 p.m. CST)
Red Deer Rebels at Regina Pats (4 p.m. CST)
Everett Silvertips at Tri-City Americans (5:05 p.m. PDT)
Kamloops Blazers at Vancouver Giants (4 p.m. PDT)
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