WHL HEADLINES

WHL SATURDAY NIGHT RECAP – Brent Howarth scored the game-winner and added an assist to lead the Kelowna Rockets to a 5-3 win over the visiting Vancouver Giants in one of nine Western Hockey League contests Saturday night.
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rChris Ray netted a goal and two helpers in the win while Shea Weber also tallied for the Rockets, who improve to 24-10-9-1 and remain first in the B.C. division.
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rMatt Robinson, Kyle Lamb, and Mitch Bartley scored in a losing cause for the Giants, who slip to 22-17-1-2 and sit third in the B.C. division.
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rElsewhere last night, Jeff Glass made 21 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the Kootenay Ice beat the Calgary Hitmen 3-0.
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rNigel Dawes scored twice and added an assist for the Ice while Adam Cracknell also tallied in the win. The victory improves the Ice to 25-13-4-0 and keeps them second in the B.C. division.
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rScott Bowles turned aside 21 of 24 shots for the Hitmen who, with the defeat, fall to 18-15-6-2 and drop to fourth in the Central division.
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rIn Regina, Ian Duval scored the winner late in the third period to lift the Pats to a 3-2 win over the visiting Saskatoon Blades last night.
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rRick Rypien tallied a goal and an assist while Adam ward made 33 saves for the Pats who win only their second contest in their last 18, improving them to 11-24-2-4 and keeping them fourth in the East division.
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rWacey Rabbit and Mike Green tallied for the Blades in a losing effort. The loss leaves Saskatoon at 23-10-5-4 but they remain comfortably atop the East division.
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rIn Spokane, Jim Watt made 33 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as his Chiefs blanked the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 3-0 Saturday night.
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rChad Klassen and Adam Hobson each netted a goal and an assist for the Chiefs, who improve to 14-20-7-1 and move into a tie with Tri-Cities for fourth in the U.S. division.
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rMatt Keetley stopped 30 shots in the loss for the Tigers. The defeat leaves the Tigers at 23-13-3-2 and second in the Central division.
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rDevan Dubnyk turned in a 35-save performance for his third shutout of the season as the visiting Kamloops Blazers blanked the Everett Silvertips 4-0 last night.
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rRay Macias tallied a goal and an assist for the Blazers while Aaron Richards chipped in two assists. The win improves the Blazers to 17-21-2-2 and keeps them within two points of Prince George for fourth in the B.C. division.
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rWith the loss, Everett falls to 20-13-6-2 and remains second in the U.S. division.
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rMatt Hansen scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-2 win over the visiting Tri-City Americans last night.
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rYashar Farmanara netted the winner while Mitch Fadden chipped in two assists for the T-birds, who win their third straight and improve to 28-10-0-1, keeping them first in the U.S. division,
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rShaun Vey and Marc Connors tallied for the Ams who, with the defeat, slip to 15-16-4-2 and move into a tie with Spokane for fourth in the U.S. division.
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rIn Prince Albert, Cody McLeod scored twice and added an assist to lead the visiting Portland Winter Hawks to a 3-1 win over the Raiders Saturday night.
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rBrandon Dubinsky also tallied for the Hawks while Dustin Butler stopped 18 shots for the win. The victory improves the Hawks to 17-19-3-4 and keeps them third in the U.S. division.
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rBrett Novak scored the lone goal for the Raiders, who fall to 16-22-4-1 and remain third in the East division.
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rColin Patterson scored twice – including the winner – to lead the Prince George Cougars to a 4-3 win over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors last night.
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rMyles Zimmer scored once and added an assist in the win for the Cougars, who improve to 18-20-3-1 and remain two points up on Kamloops for fourth spot in the B.C. division.
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rKenndal McArdle scored twice in a losing cause for the Warriors, who drop their eighth straight contest and fall to 6-32-5-1.
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rIn other action last night, Dion Phaneuf scored a goal and added an assist as his Red Deer Rebels downed the visiting Swift Current Broncos 4-1.
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rTy Morris also tallied for the Rebels while Tyler Johnson chipped in three assists in the win. The victory improves the Rebels to 19-14-4-4 and moves them into sole possession of third in the Central division.
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rAndrew Wasmuth scored the lone goal for the Broncos, who drop their third straight contest and fall to 13-23-5-1.
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