WHL Tonight: ICE top Hurricanes in shootout to extend home win streak to three

Games on opposite sides of the Western Hockey League’s territory occupied Wednesday’s action. In Winnipeg, the ICE kept their home winning streak alive with a shootout victory against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. In a rematch on Vancouver Island, the Kelowna Rockets earned a measure of revenge against the Victoria Royals, holding them off the scoresheet to complete a split of mid-week games. 

Lethbridge Hurricanes at Winnipeg ICE – Scoring & Highlights

The Winnipeg ICE extended their home winning streak to three games Wednesday with a 4-3 shootout decision over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Michal Teply (Chicago Blackhawks) and Isaac Johnson scored in the shootout for the ICE while Jesse Makaj refused to allow a goal in the post-overtime session after stopping 31 of 34 shots through the first 65 minutes of action.

Oliver Okuliar opened the scoring 33 seconds into the second period followed midway through the period by Austin Schellenberg’s second of the season to keep the game tied headed to the third period.

Calen Addison (Pittsburgh Penguins) put the Hurricanes ahead 2-1 early in the third, but goals from Owen Pederson and Michael Milne put the ICE in in front by the midway mark of the final period. However, the Hurricanes had a final response in regulation with a late tip-in goal by Dino Kambeitz on a Dylan Cozens (Buffalo Sabres) shot, which sent the game off to extra time.

In the shootout the ICE had the only goals while both Hurricane skaters were unable to convert, securing the extra point for the ICE. Rookie ICE forward Logan Danis picked up a pair of assists for the first points of his WHL career in Wednesday’s win. Hurricane goaltender Carl Tetachuk stopped 39 of 42 shots in the narrow loss.

Kelowna Rockets at Victoria Royals – Scoring & Highlights

A goal by captain Nolan Foote (Tampa Bay Lightning) midway through the first period was more than enough offence for Cole Schwebius Wednesday as the 18-year-old goaltender delivered a 33-save shutout in a 1-0 victory against the Victoria Royals.

The first shutout of Schwebius’ career saw him stop 12 shots in the first seven in the second, and 14 in the third.

Foote struck for his eighth goal of the season 11:31 into the first period with 2020 NHL Draft prospect Pavel Novak and overage forward Kyle Topping drawing assists on the scoring play.

2020 NHL Draft prospect Brock Gould stopped 16 of 17 shots for the Royals in the one-goal loss. Keanu Derungs led the Royals with four shots in the contest.