WHL HEADLINES

BRANDON, SEATTLE, KELOWNA ADVANCE – Eric Fehr scored a hat trick and added three assists to lead the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings to a 9-1 pounding of the Moose Jaw Warriors in game five of their first-round series on Saturday night.
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rThe win gives the Wheat Kings a 4-1 series victory over the Warriors, propelling them into the second round of the playoffs.
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rRyan Stone also had a huge night for the Wheaties, netting a goal and five assists, while Steven Later scored twice – including the winner – and added an assist in the victory. Tyler Plante stopped 24 of 25 shots in the win.
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rJordan Henry scored the lone goal for the Warriors in the defeat. The loss eliminates Moose Jaw from the post-season.
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rElsewhere last night, Lauris Darzins scored the winner midway through the third period to lift the visiting Kelowna Rockets to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants in game six of their opening-round series last night.
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rThe victory gives the Rockets a 4-2 win over the Giants in the best-of-seven series and vaults them move on to round two.
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rJustin Keller and Tyler Spurgeon also scored for the Rockets while Derek Yeomans stopped 26 shots for the victory.
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rMitch Bartley scored both goals for the Giants while Marek Schwarz turned aside 30 of 33 shots he faced in the defeat. The loss eliminates the Giants from the playoffs.
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rIn Seattle, Denis Tolpeko capped a third-period comeback to lead the Thunderbirds to a 2-1 victory over the visiting Tri-City Americans in game five of their first-round series on Saturday night.
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rThe victory lifts Seattle to a 4-1 best-of-seven series win over the Americans, advancing them to the second round.
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rLadislav Scurko also scored for the T-Birds, who overcame a 1-0 third-period deficit, while Bryan Bridges made 26 saves for the victory.
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rIan McDonald scored the lone goal for the Americans while Carey Price made 29 saves in a losing cause. The defeat eliminates the Ams from the post-season.
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rIn other action last night, Darrel May netted his second of the game 1:04 into overtime to lift the visiting Portland Winter Hawks to a 3-2 victory over the Everett Silvertips in game six of their first-round series to force a seventh and deciding game.
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rDan Da Silva also scored for the Hawks, who erased a 2-1 third-period deficit, while Kyle Bailey chipped in a pair of assists in the win. Blake Grenier stopped 23 shots for the Hawks in the victory.
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rMark Kress and Torrie Wheat scored for the Silvertips in the defeat while Mike Wall stopped 19 shots in a losing effort.
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rThe Winter Hawks will host game seven of the series on Tuesday night in Portland.
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