WHL Morning Skate: April 26

NEED TO KNOW

– Tigers star Gavin McKenna has tied a modern CHL record (2000-present) for points in consecutive regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup matches with 123 points in 50 straight games

– Spokane became the fifth team in the last 10 years and the first since 2023 to score 10 goals in a playoff match

– Berkly Catton has taken over the points lead with a goal and four assists

– Catton has already tied 2024 Playoff scoring leader and fellow Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus’s 32-point mark from last year

TOP PERFORMER- APRIL 26

Big Berk got to werk on Friday night. The Spokane Chiefs Captain scored the opening goal on the first shot of the Western Conference Championship just 34 seconds into the first period. He followed it up with his first of three primary assists just two minutes later on an Owen Martin Tally before teeing up Shea Van Olm and Mathis Preston in a wild, high-scoring affair. Catton is up to 32 points (8G-24A) to lead all skaters in the playoff scoring race. For context, he’s already tied 2024 WHL Playoff scoring leader and fellow Seattle Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus’s 32-point mark in eight fewer games. Catton is also on a nine-game point streak as he inches his Chiefs closer to reaching the WHL Championship Series for the first time since 2008.

RESULTS

Portland 4, Spokane 10

Spokane leads 1-0

Nine different Chiefs lit the lamp as Spokane silenced the Winterhawks in Game 1. After Catton struck on the first shot of the game, things quickly spiralled for Portland. An eight-goal opening frame also marks the highest-scoring single period of the 2025 WHL Playoffs. 2025 NHL Draft-eligible forward Assanali Sarkenov was the lone skater to score twice. Catton and regular season goals leader Shea Van Olm both picked up a goal and three helpers, while Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall tallied his league-leading 14th goal of the playoffs. Rookie forward Brody Gillespie also netted his first-ever WHL playoff goal for Spokane. Kraken prospect and defensive points leader Tyson Jugnauth and Josh Zakreski scored for Portland, while Diego Buttazzoni added two more. The teams have a chance to catch their breath before the rematch goes on Sunday.

THREE STARS

1- Berkly Catton, SPO

– 1G-3A

2- Assanali Sarkenov, SPO

– 2G

3- Saige Weinstein, SPO

– 1A

Lethbridge 2, Medicine Hat 5

Medicine Hat leads 1-0

The Medicine Hat/Lethbridge rivalry truly may be one of the most underrated in the WHL, and the simmering tension started to boil over in Game 1 with a packed-to-the-brim Co-op Place ready to cheer the players on. Rookie Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll potted his second goal of the playoffs less than three minutes into the game and Gavin McKenna doubled the lead just six seconds later. Hurricanes alternate Captain Logan Wormald sliced the lead in half with his fifth of the postseason, but Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt capped off a four-goal opening period with the eventual game-winning tally. Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie, winger Ethan Neutens and Winnipeg Jets prospect Brayden Yager rounded out the scoring, while Tigers netminder Harrison Meneghin made 17 saves to beat his former team.

THREE STARS

1- Gavin McKenna, MH

– 1G-1A

2- Oasiz Wiesblatt, MH

– 1G-2A

3- Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, MH

– 1G

ON TAP