WHL HEADLINES

SASKATOON CLINCHES PLAYOFF SPOT – With Saturday’s 7-1 win over the Regina Pats, the Saskatoon Blades became the Western Hockey League’s first team to clinch a playoff berth in the 2004-05 season.
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rThe Blades currently hold a 29-15-5-4 record, giving them 67 points – 43 points more than fifth-placed Moose Jaw. The Warriors have 21 games remaining, which means they can finish with no more than 66 points, giving the Blades a guaranteed place in the post-season.
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rThe clinching of a playoff spot marks another high point in a season that has proved to be a dramatic turnaround for the Blades. Last season, Saskatoon finished with the WHL’s worst record, winning just seven times and finishing with only 27 points.
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rWHL SUNDAY RECAP
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rTim Konsorada scored his second of the game with just four seconds remaining in overtime to give the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings a 3-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen in one of six Western Hockey League contests on Sunday.
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rDaryl Boyle also scored for the Wheat Kings while Mike Nichol turned aside 23 shots for the victory. The win snaps Brandon’s three-game losing skid, improving them to 25-18-5-1 and keeping them comfortably in second place in the East division.
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rRyan White and Keegan Dansereau tallied for the Hitmen while Justin Pogge made 28 saves in a losing effort. The overtime loss leaves the Hitmen at 26-17-6-3 and moves them into sole possession of third in the Central division.
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rElsewhere on Sunday, Martin Sagat netted the third-period equalizer to lift the visiting Kootenay Ice to a 3-3 tie with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
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rRyan Russell and Dale Mahovsky also scored for the Ice, who extend their unbeaten streak to 12 games with the draw. The tie improves the Ice to 33-13-5-0 and moves them into a tie with Kelowna for top spot in the B.C. division and first overall.
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rRobert Klinkhammer, Kyle Pess and Michael Kaye tallied for the Hurricanes in the draw. The tie improves the ‘Canes to 26-13-11-1 and moves them into sole possession of top spot in the Central division.
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rPetr Jelinek scored twice – including the winner – to lead the visiting Prince George Cougars to a 4-3 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday.
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rNicholas Drazenovic and Greg Gardner also netted for the Cougars while Real Cyr made 40 saves to hold on for the win. The victory snaps the Cougars’ four-game losing streak, improving them to 21-27-3-1 and moving them four points up on Kamloops for fourth spot in the B.C. division.
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rStefan Meyer, Cody Blanshan, and Roman Psurny tallied for the Tigers in a losing effort. The loss drops the Tigers to 29-16-3-2 and leaves them second in the Central division.
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rThe visiting Moose Jaw Warriors scored four first-period goals and held on for a 4-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders on Sunday.
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rKenndal McArdle tallied the game-winner and Josh Lepp made 35 saves for the Warriors, who win only their second road contest all season. The victory improves the Warriors to 8-35-7-1 and moves them to within five points of Regina for fourth in the East division.
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rScott Doucet and Aki Seitsonen tallied for the Raiders in a losing effort. The loss drops the Raiders to 20-25-4-2 but they remain firmly in third spot in the East division.
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rBrady Leavold netted the winner as the Swift Current Broncos got by the visiting Regina Pats 3-2 on Sunday.
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rDavid Schulz and Jeremy Schenderling also scored for the Broncos while Kyle Moir made 22 saves for the victory. The win improves the Broncos to 17-26-6-1 but they remain fifth in the Central division.
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rRyan McDonald and Rick Rypien tallied for the Pats, who see their winless skid extended to 11 games. The loss leaves the Pats at 11-34-3-4 and they remain fourth in the East division.
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rIn other action on Sunday, Mike Wall made 29 saves for his eighth shutout of the season as the visiting Everett Silvertips downed the Tri-City Americans 2-0.
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rShaun Heshka and Alex Leavitt tallied for the Silvertips who, with the win, snap a five-game losing streak. The win improves the ‘Tips to 22-21-6-2 and moves them into a tie with Portland for second in the U.S. division.
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rCarey Price made 21 saves for the Ams in the defeat. The loss – the Americans’ third in a row – leaves them at 17-23-5-3 and keeps them fifth in the U.S. division.
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