WHL HEADLINES

HITMEN ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND – Andrew Ladd (pictured) scored 4:02 into overtime to lead the visiting Calgary Hitmen to a 2-1 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes in game five of their first-round series last night.
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rWith the victory, the Hitmen win the best-of-seven series four games to one and advance to the second round of the playoffs.
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rTyrel Lucas also scored for the Hitmen, who win their fourth straight game in the series, while Ryan Getzlaf chipped in two assists. Justin Pogge made 27 saves for the victory while Ladd’s overtime marker was his second straight extra-frame winner and his league-leading fifth tally of the post-season.
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rKyle Pess scored the lone goal for the Hurricanes who, with the defeat, are eliminated from the post-season, while Aaron Sorochan made 34 saves in a losing cause.
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rElsewhere last night, Jeff Topilko‘s second-period marker stood up as the winner as the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-3 in game four of their first-round match-up.
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rCodey Burki scored a goal and an assist for the Wheat Kings, who grab a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, while Sami Sandell and Lance Monych also tallied in the victory. Brandon netminder Tyler Plante turned aside 40 of 43 shots for the win.
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rBlair Jones tallied a goal and an assist for the Warriors while Kenndal McArdle and Troy Brouwer also scored in the defeat. Warriors’ netminders Josh Lepp and Joey Perricone combined for 30 saves in a losing effort.
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rIn Cranbrook, Adam Taylor scored a goal and chipped in a pair of assists as the Kootenay Ice beat the visiting Kamloops Blazers 5-2 in game five of their first-round match-up last night.
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rSteven DaSilva, Brett Sutter, Martin Sagat and Dale Mahovsky also scored for the Ice, who take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, while Michael Busto chipped in three assists. Jeff Glass turned aside 18 shots for the victory.
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rNathan Grochmal and Brock Nixon scored for the Blazers while Devan Dubnyk made 25 saves in a losing effort.
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rIn Kelowna, Brett Palin‘s second-period marker was the winner as the Rockets managed a 3-2 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants in game five of their first-round series last night.
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rLauris Darzins tallied a goal and an assist for the Rockets, who stake themselves a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, while Blake Comeau also scored in the victory. Derek Yeomans turned aside 21 shots in the win.
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rAdam Courchaine netted a goal and an assist for the Giants while Paul Albers also scored in the defeat. Giants’ goalie Marek Schwarz stopped 22 shots in a losing effort.
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rBrian Woolger netted the winner with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in regulation time to give the Portland Winter Hawks a 3-2 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips in game five of their opening-round match-up on Friday evening.
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rBrandon Dubinsky scored a goal and added an assist for the Hawks who, with the victory, trail the best-of-seven series 2-3, while Nick Hotson also tallied in the win. Netminder Blake Grenier turned aside 24 shots in the win.
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rIvan Baranka and Brady Calla scored for the Silvertips while Mike Wall stopped 22 shots in a losing cause.
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rIn Kennewick, Marc Connors scored 3:16 into overtime to lead the Tri-City Americans to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds in game four of their opening-round series last night.
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rShawn Belle and Marcus Jonasen also tallied for the Americans who, with the win, stave off elimination but still trail the best-of-seven series 1-3, while Clayton Stoner and Ian McDonald each chipped in a pair of assists. Carey Price made 24 saves for the victory.
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rMitch Fadden and Derek Couture scored for the Thunderbirds who, despite the loss, still lead the series three games to one. Bryan Bridges made 24 saves in a losing effort for the T-Birds.
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rIn other action last night, Clarke MacArthur scored his second of the game on a third-period penalty shot to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Red Deer Rebels in game five of their first-round series.
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rRoman Psurny, Derek Dorsett and Gord Baldwin also tallied for the Tigers, who grab a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, while Kevin Nastiuk stopped 27 shots for the victory.
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rColin Fraser and Chris Neiszner each tallied a goal and an assist for the Rebels while Paul Kurceba and Jared Walker also tallied in a losing effort. Andrew Leslie made 25 saves in a losing cause.
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