WHL HEADLINES – Sunday Recap

AMS BRING DOWN HAWKS – Ian McDonald (pictured) scored twice and set up another to lead the visiting Tri-City Americans to a 5-3 win over the Portland Winter Hawks in one of five Western Hockey League contests on Sunday, December 4th.
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rJuraj Gracik netted a goal and two assists for the Americans while Matthew Swaby and Matt Schneider also counted in the win. Carey Price made 22 saves for his eighth win of the season. The victory improves Tri-Cities to 10-12-3-1 but they remain fifth in the U.S. Division.
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rMichael Sauer scored twice for the Winter Hawks, who drop their second straight contest, while Sasha Golin also scored in the defeat. Kurtis Mucha stopped 32 shots in a losing cause. The defeat drops the Hawks to 14-9-1-2 and keeps them second in the U.S. Division.
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rElsewhere on Sunday, Chris Bruton scored the deciding goal in a shoot-out to lift the visiting Spokane Chiefs to a 3-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos.
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rJoe Logan and Adam Hobson scored for the Chiefs in regulation while Thomas Stehr turned aside 23 shots through three periods and overtime, and denied five of seven shooters in the shoot-out to claim the victory. The win improves the Chiefs to 13-13-1-0 and leaves them just one point behind Seattle for third in the U.S. Division.
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rJosh Aspenlind and Daniel Rakos scored for the Broncos in regulation while Kyle Moir turned in a 40-save performance through 65 minutes, but was beaten three times in the shoot-out to take the loss. The shoot-out defeat leaves the Broncos at 9-15-0-7 and they remain fourth in the Central Division.
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rIn Calgary, Brodie Dupont scored once and added two assists as the Hitmen downed the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 5-1 on Sunday afternoon.
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rRyan White and Jeff Schultz each tallied a goal and an assist for the Hitmen, who win their fourth straight outing, while Mike Reich and Dylan Yeo also scored in the win. Justin Pogge turned in a solid 35-save effort for his 21st victory of the season. The win improves the Hitmen to 22-8-0-0 and moves them into a tie with Medicine Hat for first in the Central Division.
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rDustin Boyd scored the lone goal for the Warriors while Joey Perricone made 33 saves in a losing effort. The defeat leaves the Warriors at 18-7-2-2 but they still hold a four-point lead atop the East Division.
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rIn Kamloops, Michal Repik scored the winner and added an assist to lead the visiting Vancouver Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Blazers on Sunday.
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rTim Kraus also netted a goal and an assist for the Giants while rookie Kenton Dulle tallied his first career WHL goal in the victory. Tommy Tartaglione stopped 23 shots to earn his fifth win of the season. The victory – the Giants’ third straight – improves the team to 18-7-0-4 and moves them past idle Kelowna into second place in the B.C. Division.
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rIn other Sunday action, Rob Klinkhammer scored twice and added an assist to lead the Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 5-3 win over the visiting Saskatoon Blades.
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rZach Boychuk – with a goal and an assist – Dwight King, and Brad Riege also counted for the ‘Canes while Justin Leclerc made 22 saves for the victory. The win improves Lethbridge to 14-12-1-3 and keeps them comfortably in third place in the Central Division.
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rAaron Bader scored twice for the Blades while Justin McCrae picked up a goal and two assists in a losing cause. Anton Khudobin made 23 saves to take the loss. The defeat drops the Blades to 17-13-1-1 and they remain second in the East Division.
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rWHL ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION AND FINES
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r-The Spokane Chiefs have been fined $250.00 for a second multiple-fight situation at Swift Current on December 4.
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r-Jason Lynch of the Spokane Chiefs has been suspended for one game for receiving a third game misconduct at Medicine Hat on December 3. The suspension has been served.
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r-The Swift Current Broncos have been fined $250.00 for a second multiple-fight situation versus Spokane on December 4.
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