WHL HEADLINES

WHL WEDNESDAY NIGHT RECAP – Jakub Sindel scored the winner late in the second period as the Brandon Wheat Kings eked out a 2-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen in Winnipeg in one of five Western Hockey League contests Wednesday night.
r
rLance Monych also tallied while Tim Konsorada and Eric Fehr each chipped in two helpers. The win improves the Wheat Kings to 26-18-5-1 and keeps them firmly in second place in the East division.
r
rKeegan Dansereau scored the lone goal for the Hitmen while Justin Pogge made 34 saves in a losing effort. The loss – Calgary’s second defeat to Brandon this week – leaves them at 26-18-6-3 and drops them to fourth in the Central division.
r
rElsewhere on Wednesday night, Blake Comeau scored twice to lead the Kelowna Rockets to a 5-2 win over the visiting Tri-City Americans.
r
rJustin Keller netted a goal and an assist as the Rockets extend their home unbeaten streak to 18 games. The win improves the Rockets to 31-10-9-2 and gives them sole possession of first in the B.C. division and first overall.
r
rShawn Belle tallied a goal and an assist for the Americans while Marcus Jonasen also scored in the defeat. The loss leaves the Ams at 17-24-5-3 and keeps them fifth in the U.S. division.
r
rAaron Sorochan made 30 saves for his fifth shutout of the season as the Lethbridge Hurricanes skated to a 3-0 win over the visiting Prince George Cougars last night.
r
rMartin Ruzicka, Colton Yellow Horn and Robert Klinkhammer tallied for the ‘Canes in the victory. The win improves the Hurricanes to 27-13-11-1 and gives them a three-point lead over the Tigers for top spot in the Central division.
r
rScott Bowles made 28 saves in a losing effort for the Cougars. The loss leaves the Cougars at 21-29-3-1 and they remain fourth in the B.C. division.
r
rDion Phaneuf netted the winner as the Red Deer Rebels got by the visiting Vancouver Giants 4-3 Wednesday night.
r
rTy Morris tallied for the Rebels to extend his point streak to 12 games while Ted Vandermeer tallied a goal and an assist in the victory. The win improves the Rebels to 27-17-4-4 and vaults them past Calgary into third place in the Central division.
r
rMitch Bartley tallied twice for the Giants while Adam Courchaine also scored in the defeat. The loss drops the Giants to 26-22-2-2 and keeps them third in the B.C. division.
r
rIn other action Wednesday, Chad Klassen tallied the winner as the visiting Spokane Chiefs upset the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2.
r
rDerek Ryan tallied a goal and an assist while Kevin Opsahl made25 saves for the win. The victory improves the Chiefs to 18-23-8-1 and leaves them three points up on Tri-Cities for fourth in the U.S. division.
r
rNate Thompson and Bud Holloway scored for the Thunderbirds in the loss. The defeat drops Seattle to 34-15-0-1 but they remain comfortably in first place in the U.S. division.
r
r———————————————————————–
r
r
r