WHL Morning Skate: April 7, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

– Seattle Kraken prospect Lukas Dragicevic’s late strike helped Prince Albert force Game 7 against Edmonton

– Cougars Captain Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild) scored a hat trick to bring a sold-out CN Centre crowd to their feet and force Game 7

– Portland and Prince George’s dramatic series finale will take place on Monday night

-The regular-season champion Everett Silvertips will hit the road to try to eliminate pesky Seattle in Game 6

TOP PERFORMER- APRIL 6, 2025

Rilen Kovacevic is all in. The veteran forward was acquired by the Raiders at the 2025 WHL Trade Deadline in hopes of bringing his championship experience and scoring touch to the Prince Albert attack- and he delivered on Sunday night. Kovacevic was a key part of all four Raiders goals in a 4-1 comeback victory on the road. He set up alternate captain Aiden Oiring’s first goal to tie the match in the second period before burying a shorthanded goal less than a minute into the third period. The 20-year-old served up two more primary assists to force Game 7 and send the series back to Saskatchewan. This marks Kovacevic’s first playoff four-point night, beating his previous best of three points (1G-2A) for the Moose Jaw Warriors in Game 6 against the Saskatoon Blades in the 2024 Eastern Conference Championship- an important step in Moose Jaw’s journey to the team’s first Ed Chynoweth Cup win. Kovacevic, from Kelowna, B.C., is in his final WHL season and sits third on the Raiders in postseason scoring with six points (3G-3A) in six games.

RESULTS

Portland (1), Prince George (4)

Series tied 3-3

The Prince George Cougars pulled off a 4-1 win in front of a sellout crowd of more than 6,000 ravenous fans at the CN Centre. After facing elimination for two straight games, the Cats have battled back to tie their conference quarterfinal series against Portland. Cougars Captain Riley Heidt has been on a tear since returning from a one-game suspension. The Minnesota Wild prospect put up his first playoff hat trick- including the game-winning goal- to seal the decision on Sunday night. 2025 WHL Trade Deadline acquisition Ben Riche also potted his first postseason goal as a Cougar to add some insurance late in the third period. Winterhawks Captain Kyle Chyzowski potted Portland’s lone goal in the middle frame and will try to lead his group past the Cougars in Prince George for a second straight year with Game 7 coming up on Monday night. This sets up Prince George’s first Game 7 since 2002, when they fell to the eventual WHL Champion Kootenay ICE. Portland last participated in a Game 7 in Round Two against the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2022 WHL Playoffs, which saw the Thunderbirds advance to the WHL Championship Series.

THREE STARS

1- Riley Heidt, PG

– 3G

2- Joshua Ravensbergen, PG

– 26/27 saves

– .962 save percentage

3- Bauer Dumanski, PG

– 2 shots

Prince Albert (4), Edmonton (3)

Series tied 3-3

Prince Albert has won two straight games to stay alive and prevent an Edmonton upset in Round One after grinding out a gutsy win on the road in Game 6. Oil Kings alternate captain Marshall Finnie opened the scoring in the first period before Aiden Oiring tied the game in the second to set up a winner-take-all third period. Edmonton started the final period on a powerplay, but 2024 WHL Champion Rilen Kovacevic spoiled the man advantage with a shorthanded goal less than a minute into the frame. Shortly afterward, the veteran teed up Oiring to make it 3-1 for the visitors. The Oil Kings roared back with goals from Rylen Roersma and Landon Hanson coming a minute apart to level the match, but the celebration was short-lived as a late penalty sealed their fate. Seattle Kraken prospect Lukas Dragicevic buried the game-winner for Prince Albert with a one-timer on the powerplay in the final minute of regulation. Netminders Ethan Simcoe and Max Hildebrand traded several highlight-reel stops in the final stretch of the night, with Hildebrand stopping 30/33 shots for the Raiders in the win. Game 7 is set for Tuesday, April 8 at the Art Hauser Centre.

THREE STARS

1- Rilen Kovacevic, PA

– 1G-3A

2- Landon Hanson, EDM

– 1G-1A

3- Aiden Oiring, PA

– 2G

ON TAP