WHL Morning Skate: March 31

NEED TO KNOW

– Chiefs rookie Mathis Preston didn’t just get his first WHL postseason goal- he got a hat trick in a wild win against Vancouver

– Hitmen forward Ethan Moore has scored both game-winning goals for Calgary to take a 2-0 series lead against Saskatoon

– 2025 NHL Draft-eligible Cameron Schmidt had four points in a single period as the Giants nearly erased a six-goal deficit

-Three series are tied 1-1 after the first weekend of playoff action

– Playoff action resumes on Tuesday, April 1

TOP PERFORMER- SUNDAY, MARCH 30

There’s a reason TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has Cameron Schmidt ranked eighth in his latest 2025 NHL Draft rankings. The 18-year-old sniper played a critical role in Vancouver’s comeback attempt in Game 2 with a four-point period to make it a 6-5 game with just over three minutes left. Schmidt chipped up a pass to Adam Titlbach to get Vancouver’s first goal, which sparked a flurry of goals. He earned a secondary assist on a Connor Levis tally, then buried his own rebound on a breakaway shot three minutes later. On a late powerplay, Schmidt fired a heavy pass to Tyler Thorpe in front of the blue paint for a picture-perfect redirect to get the G-men within one. While Vancouver ultimately fell, they proved they’re never out of a game and can put up some major points as the series shifts to Spokane for Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary.

RESULTS

Spokane (7), Vancouver (5)

Spokane leads 2-0

You know what they say. Six goals is the most dangerous lead in hockey… right? Mathis Preston netted a hat trick as the Spokane Chiefs jumped out to a commanding 6-0 lead in the third period, but the Giants stormed back within an inch of tying the game with five goals in just under 15 minutes. 2025 NHL Draft-eligible Cameron Schmidt closed out the night with a goal, three assists and a game-leading nine shots on goal. However, the comeback push came too late as Seattle Kraken prospect Berkly Catton iced the match with a shorthanded empty-net goal for his second of the night.

THREE STARS

1- Mathis Preston, SPO

– 3G

2- Cameron Schmidt, VAN

– 1G-3A

3- Connor Levis, VAN

– 1G-1A

Saskatoon (1), Calgary 5

Calgary leads 2-0

With namesake Bret Hart in the building, the Hitmen channeled the energy of the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be. Calgary overwhelmed Saskatoon in a chippy match that saw the Hitmen outshoot the Blades 22-5 in the second period. Veteran Ethan Moore scored the game-winner to continue his recent hot streak of nine goals in his last seven games, going back to the regular season. Moore, an Okotoks, Alta. product, is also tied with Carson Birnie for most playoff goals among active Calgary skaters (4). NHL Prospects Carson Wetsch (San Jose Sharks), Kalem Parker (Minnesota Wild) and Tanner Howe (Pittsburgh Penguins) found the back of the net for Calgary, while former Hitmen defenceman Grayden Siepmann spoiled Anders Miller’s shutout bid with a third-period strike.

THREE STARS

1- Brandon Gorzynski, CGY

– 1G-1A

2- Ethan Moore, CGY

– 1G-1A

3- Kalem Parker, CGY

– 1G

ON TAP

Day off