WHL Morning Skate: April 25

NEED TO KNOW

– Prince Albert routed Medicine Hat in front of a sellout crowd to take Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Championship

– Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes logged two assists while going 9/12 at the faceoff dot

– This marks the third time a team has scored eight goals in a single game in the 2026 WHL Playoffs

– Penticton looks to level the Western Conference Championship against the Everett Silvertips on Saturday

TOP PERFORMER

One of the longest-serving Raiders in team history made his mark in Game 1. Aiden Oiring logged two goals and an assist to bring his team within three wins of the Championship Series. Both of Oiring’s goals came in the third period, the first being a picture-perfect powerplay deflection as he parked just beyond the outstretched pad of Carter Casey. The 20-year-old followed it up with a snapper from the slot off a feed from stellar rookie Brock Cripps. Oiring, from Calgary, Alta., has five goals (including a game-winner) and seven assists for 12 points and a +9 rating in 10 games. He’s only been held off the scoresheet twice in the 2026 WHL Playoffs.

RESULTS

Medicine Hat 3, Prince Albert 8

PA leads 1-0

Prince Albert never trailed as they opened the Eastern Conference Championship with a statement 8-3 win at the Art Hauser Centre. Brayden Dube drew first blood by breezing around his check and cutting to the Tigers’ net for a sharp backhand in the early goings of the first period. 2026 WHL Top Scorer Markus Ruck briefly levelled the game with a quick wrister on a two-on-one break, but Prince Albert captain Justice Christensen put the green and gold back on top for good less than two minutes later with a powerful one-timer. Rookie Ben Harvey added to the lead with a long shot and San Jose Sharks prospect Max Heise scored his second goal of the postseason with a powerplay one-timer from the slot. 2027 NHL Draft-eligible Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll made it a 4-2 game with a precision tip from the top of the blue paint. The third period saw the Raiders run away with four goals, including two on the powerplay. Oiring collected his first goal of the night with a slick redirection on the doorstep and Alisher Sarkenov buried a wrister through traffic. Tigers Captain and Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford gave his team some life with a stunning shot from above the faceoff dot, but the Tabbies were unable to muster further offence as Oiring and Evan Smith closed out the scoring.

THREE STARS

1- Aiden Oiring, PA

– 2G-1A

2- Brock Cripps, PA

– 3A

3- Max Heise, PA

– 1G-1A

ON TAP