Tuesday’s WHL Round-up
WALKER LEADS WINTER HAWKS PAST COUGARS – Luke Walker scored three goals to pace the visiting Portland Winter Hawks to a 5-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars in Western Hockey League action on Tuesday, February 10th.
Chris Francis – with a goal and two assists – and Stefan Schneider also scored for the Winter Hawks (14-36-2-2), who tallied the game’s first four goals en route to snapping a six-game road losing skid, while Brett Ponich added three assists. Kurtis Mucha made 33 saves to record his 10th win of the season and 50th of his WHL career.
Corey Tyrell – with his fourth of the season – scored the only goal for the Cougars (22-33-0-2), who see a three-game winning streak come to an end. Kevin Armstrong and Joe Caligiuri combined for 21 saves in the loss.
WHEAT KINGS 7, WARRIORS 0
16-year-old rookie Mark Stone scored three goals and added an assist to lead the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings to a 7-0 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Tuesday.
Brayden Schenn – with a goal and three helpers – Del Cowen, Chad Erb and Jay Fehr also scored for the Wheat Kings (38-15-3-1), who earn their fifth straight victory, while Matt Calvert picked up three assists. Andrew Hayes made 27 saves to record his second shutout of the season.
Jeff Bosch and Deven Dubyk combined for 21 saves in a losing effort for the Warriors (15-38-1-2), who drop their fourth straight decision and 11th straight on home ice.
BLADES 3, TIGERS 0
Braden Holtby turned aside all 24 shots he faced to record his fifth shutout of the season and 75th win of his WHL career as the Saskatoon Blades blanked the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 3-0 on Tuesday.
Milan Kytnar tallied his 17th and 18th goals of the season and Stefan Elliott added a goal and a pair of assists for the Blades (41-13-3-1), who improve to 14-2 in their last 16 games. The win keeps the Blades six points ahead of Brandon for top spot in the East Division.
Tyler Bunz turned aside 32 of 35 shots he faced in a losing cause for the Tigers (29-22-3-3), who have dropped five of their last six games and four straight on the road. The Tigers remain tied with Swift Current for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
HITMEN 8, BLAZERS 1
Brandon Kozun notched two goals and an assist and Carson McMillan added a goal and a pair of assists to lead the Calgary Hitmen to an 8-1 win over the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday.
Bostjan Golicic – with a goal and an assist – Brett Sonne, Jason MacDonald, Austin Madaisky and Cody Sylvester also scored for the Hitmen (48-7-3-1), who become the first team to hit the 100-point mark this season, while Paul Postma and Michael Stone each chipped in three assists. Martin Jones made 16 saves to earn his 36th win of the season.
Jimmy Bubnick – with his 22nd goal of the season – scored the lone marker for the Blazers (26-27-1-4), who drop their second straight decision after being outshot 59-17 by the Hitmen. Jon Groenhyde made 51 saves in the loss.
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Photo courtesy Steve Hiscock