WHL Morning Skate: April 15

NEED TO KNOW

– Victoria’s perfect powerplay helped the Royals level their series against Spokane

– Twenty-two players listed in NHL Central Scouting’s final 2025 NHL Draft rankings are competing for the 2025 WHL Championship

– Calgary will try to avoid a 3-0 deficit as they visit Lethbridge for Game 3

– Portland will fight for its first win of Round Two after dropping Games 1 and 2 in overtime against Everett

TOP PERFORMER- APRIL 14

Go, Johnny, go! go!

First-year netminder Johnny Hicks stood on his head to fend off a barrage of Spokane shots to return the Royals to the win column on Monday night. The 5-foot-11, 154-pound netminder from Kamloops, B.C., steered aside 40 of 41 shots for a blistering .976 save percentage. He did some of his best work in the first period, where he denied all 17 Spokane shots. The Chiefs had also entered Game 2 as the second-highest scoring team in the 2025 WHL Playoffs, averaging more than five goals per game. This marks the fewest goals they’ve scored in a single match going back to March 16, 2025, in the regular season. Hicks is now 5-0-1-0 in his first trip to the WHL postseason with a 1.73 goals-against average, a .949 save percentage and two shutouts. The 19-year-old is second in GAA, first in save percentage, tied for second in wins and has sole possession of the league playoff shutouts lead. Can he do it again on home ice as the Royals return to the Island for Games 3-5?

RESULTS

Victoria 5, Spokane 1

Series tied 1-1

For a second-straight game at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, the Victoria Royals were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead. But unlike Sunday’s comeback thriller, which saw Spokane tie the match and snag the win in double overtime, Victoria was able to knuckle down and continue to fill the net and tie the series. After Kenta Isogai’s game-opening tally, the Royals connected on all three of their powerplay opportunities, with Utah Hockey Club prospect and team Captain Justin Kipkie burying the game-winner early in the second period on the man advantage. Seattle Kraken prospect Berkly Catton scored with less than a minute remaining in the middle frame to get Spokane on the board, but the Chiefs were unable to solve Johnny Hicks despite piling dozens of shots on net. Isogai and Reggie Newman finished the net with a goal and an assist each, while 2024 San Jose Sharks pick Nate Misskey picked up a pair of helpers. Star centre Cole Reschny, who was ranked 26th among all North American skaters in NHLCSS’s final rankings, also snagged two assists. The Macklin, Sask. product is now tied for fourth in playoff points among all WHL skaters, third in goals and fourth in assists.

THREE STARS

1- Johnny Hicks, VIC

– 40/41 saves

– .975 save percentage

2- Kenta Isogai, VIC

– 1G-1A

3- Cole Reschny, VIC

– 2A

ON TAP