WHL HEADLINES

WHL WEDNESDAY NIGHT RECAP – Jakub Sindel scored a hat trick and added an assist to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to an 8-0 rout of the visiting Saskatoon Blades in one of seven Western Hockey League contests on Wednesday night.
r
rRyan Stone, Eric Fehr and Steven Later each tallied a goal and an assist for the Wheat Kings while Tyler Plante stopped 19 shots for his fifth shutout of the season. The victory extends Brandon’s winning streak to 13 games and improves them to 39-19-5-1, giving them a five-point cushion over the Blades for the East division lead.
r
rRyan Cyr and Russel Monette combined for 29 saves in a losing effort for the Blades. The loss – the Blades’ third straight – sees them fall to 34-21-5-6 and they remain second in the East division.
r
rElsewhere last night, Konstantin Pushkarev‘s third-period marker stood up as the winner as the Calgary Hitmen hung on for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers.
r
rTyrel Lucas also tallied for the Hitmen, who pick up their first win over the Tigers this season, while Justin Pogge turned in a 27-save effort. The win improves the Hitmen to 33-21-8-4 and leaves them just two points behind the Tigers for second in the Central division.
r
rJarret Lukin scored the lone goal for the Tigers while Matt Keetley made 26 saves in the defeat. The loss leaves the Tigers at 37-20-4-2 and second in the Central division.
r
rIn Kelowna, Tyler Spurgeon scored a goal and added two assists to lead the Rockets to a 4-1 win over the visiting Spokane Chiefs last night.
r
rBrent Howarth, Justin Keller and Troy Bodie also scored for the Rockets, who win their fifth straight contest, while Kristofer Westblom stopped 27 shots for the victory. The win improves the Rockets to 40-12-11-2 and gives them a three-point cushion over Kootenay for the B.C. division lead.
r
rJeff Lynch scored the lone goal for the Chiefs while Jim Watt made 31 saves in a losing cause. The defeat leaves the Chiefs at 22-31-8-2 and drops them two points back of Tri-Cities for fourth in the U.S. division.
r
rCaine Pearpoint scored the game-winner and chipped in an assist to lead the visiting Prince Albert Raiders to a 3-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday night.
r
rRick Kozak and Chris Schlenker also scored for the Raiders in the victory while Rejean Beauchemin kicked out 21 shots for the Raiders. The win improves Prince Albert to 27-29-5-4 and they remain third in the East division.
r
rMasi Marjamaki and Troy Brouwer scored for the Warriors, who extend their winless skid to six games. The loss leaves the Warriors at 12-42-10-1 and they remain fourth in the East division.
r
rJonathan Filewich scored a goal and picked up three assists to lead the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 4-0 blanking of the Swift Current Broncos last night.
r
rBrent Seabrook shipped in a goal and two assists for the ‘Canes while Scott Bolland stopped 20 shots for his first career WHL shutout. The win – the Hurricanes’ ninth straight – improves them to 36-15-12-1 and gives them a five-point lead over the Tigers for the Central division lead.
r
rKyle Moir made 23 saves in a losing effort for the Broncos, who drop their sixth straight contest. The loss leaves the Broncos at 19-35-6-3 and fifth in the Central division.
r
rRyan Gibbons scored a goal and added an assist to lift the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants last night.
r
rChris Durand chipped in three assists for the Thunderbirds while Bryan Bridges made 22 saves for his 32nd win of the season. The victory improves the T-Birds to 39-20-2-2 and they remain comfortably atop the U.S. division.
r
rMitch Bartley scored the lone goal for the Giants, who drop their sixth straight game to the Thunderbirds this season. The loss leaves the Giants at 30-27-3-4 and third in the B.C. division.
r
rIn other action on Wednesday, Shawn Belle tallied late in the third period to lift the Tri-City Americans to a 1-1 tie with the visiting Kamloops Blazers.
r
rCarey Price made 20 saves for the Americans in the draw. The tie improves the Ams to 23-31-7-3 and gives them a two-point lead over Spokane for fourth in the U.S. division.
r
rBrock Nixon scored the lone goal for the Blazers while Devan Dubnyk made 32 saves to hold on for the draw. The tie improves the Blazers to 24-32-7-2 and keeps them fourth in the B.C. division.
r
r————————————————————————–
r