WHL Morning Skate: April 20, 2025
NEED TO KNOW
– Everett scored less than a minute into all three periods as the Silvertips throttled the Winterhawks to force Game 7
– Rookie of the Year nominee Landon DuPont’s three-point night has shot him into the rookie playoff scoring lead
– Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and Defenceman of the Year finalist Noah Chadwick’s two-goal night saw the Hurricanes force Game 7 against powerhouse Calgary
– Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall scored with two seconds left in overtime to lift Spokane to a 3-2 series lead against Victoria
– The 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien will return on Tuesday, April 22
TOP PERFORMER- APRIL 19
Always play to the whistle, kids. The crowd at Save-on-Foods Memorial Arena was braced and ready for a second overtime period, but things wouldn’t get that far with Andrew Cristall on the case. The WHL Player of the Year finalist swatted a bouncing puck past the Royals netminder on the backhand to give Spokane its first lead of its Round Two series with two seconds remaining in overtime. Cristall has played a key role in two comeback extra-time wins against Victoria, including Saturday’s four-point effort and an assist on Rasmus Ekstrom’s double-overtime winner in Game 1. Cristall earned a primary helper on Shea Van Olm’s lone Chiefs goal as the visitors trailed 4-1 going into the third. The Washington Capitals prospect kicked into high gear with additional assists on Owen Martin’s scrappy goal to open the final frame and Captain Berkly Catton’s game-tying tally with less than four minutes left in regulation. Cristall, the league’s regular season leading scorer, leads all skaters in playoff goals with 12 while tying for second in points with 24.
RESULTS
Everett 8, Portland 4
Series tied 3-3
Score early, score often. Everett lit the lamp less than a minute into all three periods en route to an 8-4 shelling of the Portland Winterhawks to keep their playoff hopes alive. Eight different Silvertips skaters found the back of the net, including sophomore centreman Lukas Kaplan, who scored the game-opening goal just 44 seconds in after Kaplan took advantage of a strange bounce off the boards. Rookie of the Year nominee Landon DuPont had his best playoff performance yet, snagging the assist on Kaplan’s goal and lighting the lamp himself shortly after Portland’s first goal to maintain momentum entering the first intermission. DuPont dished another assist on Austin Roest’s insurance tally as the Nashville Predators prospect paced all skaters with four points (1G-3A). Jesse Heslop and Tyler MacKenzie struck twice in 90 seconds to earn the eventual game-winner and chase Ondrej Stebetak from the crease. Everett limited Portland to just four shots in the final period to send the series back to Angel of the Winds Arena for a decisive Game 7 on Tuesday night. Can Everett slay the dragon? Or will Portland prevail to eliminate the Tips for a third straight season?
THREE STARS
1- Austin Roest, EVT
– 1G-3A
2- Tyson Jugnauth, POR
– 2A
3- Kyle McDonough, POR
– 1G
Spokane 5, Victoria 4 (OT)
Spokane leads 3-2
The Spokane Chiefs scored four unanswered goals to eke out a second win on Vancouver Island and sit in the driver’s seat heading back to the friendly confines of the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Victoria was in the driver’s seat for two periods, with Cole Reschny bagging his ninth goal of the postseason and Rookie of the Year nominee Keaton Verhoeff picking up a pair of assists for a 4-1 lead. But two quick goals from Owen Martin and regular season goals leader Shea Van Olm turned the tide in the final frame as the Chiefs held the Royals to a single shot. Seattle Kraken prospect Berkly Catton leveled the match with a deceptive wrister from the high slot to send the game to extras, where Cristall called game to give Spokane its first lead of the series. The 2-3-2 series format will see the Royals attempt a road sweep to move on, while the Chiefs will try to take advantage of a wild hometown crowd. Chiefs broadcaster Mike Boyle will also pull off his second hockey/baseball doubleheader of the series on Tuesday!
THREE STARS
1- Kenta Isogai, VIC
– 1G-1A
2- Keaton Verhoeff, VIC
– 2A
3- Shea Van Olm, SPO
– 2A
Calgary 1, Lethbridge 5
Series tied 3-3
A squandered four-goal lead in Game 6 saw the Hurricanes take the ice at home with something to prove and their season on the line. The Bridge City bunch kicked things into high gear- think a Category 4 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale- with a dominant performance that saw the big guns step up. With the game sitting scoreless in the second period, Defenceman of the Year finalist and Canes Captain Noah Chadwick hit paydirt with a powerplay snipe after converting a wild no-look backhand pass from a falling Logan Wormald. Winnipeg Jets prospect and Most Sportsmanlike Player finalist Brayden Yager buried the game-winner shortly after, but Lethbridge wasn’t done with a high-flying second period. Defencemen Chadwick (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Caden Price (Seattle Kraken) scored 20 seconds apart to force the Hitmen into a deep hole entering the final period. 2025 NHL Draft-eligible Brandon Gorzynski spoiled Jackson Unger’s shutout bid, but it was too little, too late as the Canes stormed back to force Game 7 at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.
THREE STARS
1- Noah Chadwick, LET
– 2G
2- Jackson Unger, LET
– 21/22 saves
– .954 save percentage
3- Miguel Marques, LET
– 2A
ON TAP
The 2025 WHL Playoffs resume on Tuesday, April 22
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