WHL HEADLINES – Sunday Recap

ROCKETS UPEND SILVERTIPS – Troy Bodie scored twice to lead the visiting Kelowna Rockets (2-3-0-0) to a 3-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips (1-2-0-0) in one of seven Western Hockey League contests on Sunday, October 2nd.
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rJustin Keller added an empty-netter for the Rockets, who snap a three-game losing skid with the victory, while Derek Yeomans (pictured) turned aside 28 of 29 shots he faced for the win. The victory leaves the Rockets tied for fourth in the B.C. Division.
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rJohn Lammers – with his third of the season – tallied the lone goal for the Silvertips while Leland Irving faced only 10 shots, making eight saves in the defeat. The loss leaves the ‘Tips in a tie for third in the U.S. Division.
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rElsewhere on Sunday, Dale Mahovsky scored twice and set up another to lift the Kootenay Ice (4-0-0-1) to a 5-1 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings (1-4-0-0).
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rAdam Cracknell also potted a pair of goals for the Ice while Ryan Russell chipped in a goal and two assists in the win. Goalie Kris Lazaruk stopped 13 of 14 shots for his fourth victory of the season. The win keeps the Ice atop the B.C. Division.
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rTyler Dittmer – with his first WHL tally – potted the lone goal for the Wheat Kings, who drop their fourth straight contest. Tyler Plante stopped 34 of 39 shots for Brandon in the loss. The defeat leaves the Wheat Kings tied for third in the East Division.
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rIn Lethbridge, Colton Yellow Horn scored once and added two assists as his Hurricanes (3-1-0-0) downed the visiting Swift Current Broncos (1-4-0-0) on Sunday.
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rKen Petkau netted the game-winner for the Hurricanes while Kris Hogg also scored in the victory. Kevin Opsahl made 28 saves in goal for the ‘Canes. The win – Lethbridge’s third straight – leaves them tied for second in the Central Division.
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rMarc Desloges and Jeremy Schenderling scored for the Broncos, who drop their third straight, while Kyle Moir made 28 saves in the loss. The defeat leaves the Broncos tied for fourth in the Central Division.
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rIn Medicine Hat, Brodie Dupont scored the deciding goal in a shoot-out as the visiting Calgary Hitmen (4-0-0-0) got by the Tigers (2-0-0-2) 4-3 on Sunday.
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rJeff Schultz and Fredrik Pettersson each scored once and picked up an assist for the Hitmen in regulation while Dylan Yeo also tallied. Justin Pogge turned in a 28-save effort in regulation and stopped four of five shooter in the shoot-out for the victory. The win keeps the Hitmen with a perfect record to start the season and keeps them atop the Central Division.
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rRookies Chris Stevens and Brennan Bosch each scored their first WHL goals for the Tigers while Kevin Undershute also netted in the loss. Blaine Neufeld stopped 21 shots in regulation but was beaten twice in the shoot-out loss. The defeat leaves the Tigers tied for second in the Central Division.
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rIn Moose Jaw, Blair Jones scored twice and added two assists to lead the Warriors (4-0-0-0) to a 5-2 win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels (1-4-0-0) on Sunday.
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rRiley Holzapfel scored once and chipped in two assists in his second game back for the Warriors while Dustin Boyd and Troy Brouwer also counted in the win. Josh Lepp stopped 14 of 16 shots for the victory. The win – their fourth straight to start the season – keeps the Warriors first in the East Division.
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rAshton Rome had a goal and an assist for the Rebels while rookie Jonathon Smith netted his first WHL goal in the loss. Andrew Leslie stopped 33 of 38 shots in a losing effort. The defeat leaves the Rebels tied for fourth in the Central Division.
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rIn Portland, Myles Zimmer scored the third-period winner to lead the visiting Prince George Cougars (2-3-0-0) to a 3-2 victory over the Winter Hawks (3-1-0-0) on Sunday.
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rNicholas Drazenovic scored once and added two assists for the Cougars while Colin Patterson also tallied in the win. Scott Bowles turned aside 30 shots for his second win of the season. The win leaves the Cougars tied for fourth in the B.C. Division.
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rJannik Hansen scored once and added an assist for the Winter Hawks, who see their three-game win streak halted, while Sasha Golin also scored in the defeat. Luke Shier turned in a commendable 38-save effort in a losing cause. Despite the loss, the Hawks remain atop the U.S. Division.
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rIn other Sunday action, Michal Repik scored twice to lead the Vancouver Giants (2-0-0-1) to a 4-1 win over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds (1-3-0-1).
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rCody Franson tallied a goal and an assist for the Giants while J.D. Watt also scored in the win. Dustin Slade made 12 saves for his second victory of the season. The win leaves the Giants in third in the B.C. division.
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rChris Durand scored the lone goal for the T-Birds, who drop their third straight contest, while Gavin McHale made 28 saves in the defeat. The loss leaves the Thunderbirds in second spot in the U.S. Division.
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