WHL Tonight: Seven different Chiefs score in offensive showcase on Vancouver Island
Western Hockey League Three Stars: Saturday, November 10, 2018
1. Brett Kemp, Edmonton Oil Kings: Brett Kemp scored twice Saturday against the Medicine Hat Tigers, once to open the scoring in the game and then 71 seconds into overtime to secure a 4-3 victory for the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Kemp also picked up a primary assist on Edmonton’s second goal in the game. Through 21 games this season, Kemp has 22 points (14G-8A) and well on his way to surpassing his career-best 36-point performance last season with the Oil Kings.
2. Filip Kral, Spokane Chiefs: Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Filip Kral led the offensive charge Saturday for the Spokane Chiefs in a 7-2 win against the Victoria Royals. Kral scored Spokane’s third goal, then assisted on goals two and four in the contest.
The 19-year-old product of Blansko, Czech Republic has five points (1G-4A) in five games this season.
3. Joachim Blichfeld, Portland Winterhawks: San Jose Sharks prospect Joachim Blichfeld factored into all three goals Saturday as the Portland Winterhawks won their fourth-straight game, defeating the Kelowna Rockets 3-0. Blichfeld score Portland’s opening goal of the game, then picked up assists on the following two goals.
Blichfeld’s three-point game gave him some breathing room in third place for the WHL scoring race with 38 points (15G-23A) through 18 games.
Red Deer Rebels 4 at Moose Jaw Warriors 3 (SO)
The Moose Jaw Warriors pulled off an impressive comeback in the third period to force extra time Saturday at Mosaic Place, but the Red Deer Rebels found their form in the shootout to win by a 4-3 final.
After Jeff de Wit and Ryan Peckford traded goals in the first period, the Rebels went ahead on a goal from Chris Douglas midway through the second and increased their lead to two 2:07 into the third period thanks to Douglas’ second of the night. With their net empty and just minutes left in regulation the Warriors climbed back within a goal off Peckford’s second of the game. Just 30 seconds later, Daniil Stepanov tied up the game.
Rebels captain Reese Johnson ended things in the fourth round of the shootout. Picking up a pair of assists in regulation, Oleg Zaytsev also scored for Red Deer in the shootout.
2019 NHL Draft prospect Ethan Anders stopped 38 of 41 shots in regulation and overtime before earning the victory later on.
Swift Current Broncos 0 at Regina Pats 2
Max Paddock’s first career WHL shutout led the Regina Pats to their third consecutive victory with a 2-0 blanking of the Swift Current Broncos Saturday at home.
Paddock stopped four shots in the first, five in the second, and 11 more in the third for the victory, his fifth of the season. A late goal in the first period from captain Jake Leschyshyn (Vegas Golden Knights) stood up as the game-winning goal while Scott Mahovlich scored 2:03 into the second to round out the scoring. Austin Pratt, Nick Henry (Colorado Avalanche), Brady Pouteau, and Logan Nijhoff each picked up a single assist.
Andrew Fyten led the Broncos with three shots while Isaac Poulter stopped 22 of 24 shots.
Saskatoon Blades 2 at Kootenay ICE 1
A 31-save performance from 2019 NHL Draft prospect Nolan Maier led the Saskatoon Blades to a 2-1 win against the Kootenay ICE Saturday in Cranbrook, B.C.
After Gary Haden and Cole Muir traded goals in the first period, Seth Bafaro’s second goal of the season proved to be the difference in the contest, coming 4:29 into the second period.
Josh Paterson and 2019 NHL Draft prospect Kirby Dach each picked up an assist. Maier meanwhile stopped seven of eight shots in the opening period, then stopped all 24 shots over the second and third periods. Jesse Makaj stopped 24 of 26 shots in the loss.
Edmonton Oil Kings 4 at Medicine Hat Tigers 3 (OT)
Brett Kemp’s second goal of the game came 71 seconds into overtime as the Edmonton Oil Kings emerged from Medicine Hat with a 4-3 victory against the Tigers.
Kemp opened the scoring 9:20 into the second period, but the Tigers had a response with goals from Ryan Jevne and Trevor Longo to take a 2-1 lead 5:50 into the third period. Goals from Vince Loschiavo and Andrei Pavlenko quickly flipped the game into a 3-2 score for the Oil Kings, but Hayden Ostir scored shortly after Pavlenko to force overtime.
Kemp added an assist for the three-point game while Trey Fix-Wolansky (Columbus Blue Jackets) added a pair of helpers to take over sole possession of the WHL scoring lead with 42 points (12G-30A).
Dylan Myskiw came through with 25 saves for the victory, including a dazzling stop in the third period to keep Edmonton in the game. Mads Sogaard stopped 41 of 45 shots in the loss.
Kelowna Rockets 0 at Portland Winterhawks 3
The Portland Winterhawks extended their winning streak to four games by stopping the Kelowna Rockets’ bid for a fifth straight victory with a 3-0 result Saturday in Oregon.
The Winterhawks received a single goal in each period with Joachim Blichfeld (San Jose Sharks), captain Cody Glass (Vegas Golden Knights), and Reece Newkirk finding the back of the net. Blichfeld added a pair of assists for the three-point game while Glass added an assist for the multi-point game.
Shane Farkas was perfect between the pipes for Portland, stopping eight shots in the first, 10 in the second, and eight more in the third. The Winterhawks threw 50 shots on James Porter, who finished with 47 saves in the contest.
Leif Mattson led the Rockets with five shots in the game.
Everett Silvertips 5 at Seattle Thunderbirds 1
A three-goal first period powered the Everett Silvertips to their second road win in as many nights, this time coming in a 5-1 result against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Captain Connor Dewar (Minnesota Wild) scored twice to lead the Silvertips while Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia Flyers) and Bryce Kindopp each added a goal and an assist. Riley Sutter (Washington Capitals) added a pair of assists in the victory, extending his point streak to seven games.
2019 NHL Draft prospect Dustin Wolf stopped 25 of 26 shots for the victory. Reece Harsch had the lone goal for the Thunderbirds while Liam Hughes stopped 36 of 40 shots.
Prince George Cougars 1 at Vancouver Giants 2
The Vancouver Giants scored twice in the second period to improve to 8-2-1-0 at the Langley Events Centre this season, downing the visiting Prince George Cougars by a 2-1 score Saturday.
Connor Bowie put the visiting Cougars up 1-0 after 20 minutes, but the Giants responded with goals from Tyler Ho and Cyle McNabb 3:23 apart. Evan Patrician, Lukas Svejkovsky, and Jared Dmytriw each picked up a single assist for the Giants. Kjell Kjemhus and Austin Crossley each had a single helper for the Cougars.
The low-scoring affair was aided by the presence of two 2019 NHL Draft prospects between the pipes and both delivered spectacular performances. Trent Miner stopped 32 of 33 shots while Taylor Gauthier stopped 27 of 29 shots for the Cougars.
Spokane Chiefs 7 at Victoria Royals 2
Seven different members of the Spokane Chiefs found the back of the net Saturday as the Spokane Chiefs earned a split against the Victoria Royals on Vancouver Island with a 7-2 victory.
Filip Kral (Toronto Maple Leafs) led the way with a goal and two assists while Riley Wood and Adam Beckman each had a goal and an assist in the contest. Captain Ty Smith (New Jersey Devils) added a pair of assists in the victory.
Cordel Larson, Luke Toporowski, Eli Zummack, and Carter Chorney also scored for the Chiefs, who leapfrogged the Tri-City Americans for third in the U.S. Division with the victory.
Phillip Schultz and Kaid Oliver scored for the Royals in the loss. Dawson Weatherill stopped 30 of 32 shots to secure the victory.
