WHL Roundup: ‘Cane Train keeps rolling as Lethbridge collects another win
Offense was hot in the Western Hockey League Saturday night, as the 10 games on hand averaged a total of 8.6 goals per game. Sure, that might amount to nightmares for goaltenders and coaches alike, but there’s no denying the excitement in high-scoring affairs.
The Prince George Cougars, Calgary Hitmen, Tri-City Americans and Victoria Royals all managed to hit or eclipse the seven-goal plateau to set the pace.
On top of that, the Lethbridge Hurricanes skated to a victory over the Saskatoon Blades on WHL on Shaw, marking the 10th straight contest in which the ‘Cane Train has managed to earn at least one point. That’s the kind of stuff that goes a long way in the push towards the post-season.
There were some key U.S. Division matchups and a handful of other fun things to focus on, so let’s recap…
Prince George Cougars (11) at Edmonton Oil Kings (3)
Prince George (35-14-3-0) // Edmonton (18-27-3-1)
Colby McAuley registered four points and a handful of others hit the multipoint mark as the Prince George Cougars rolled to an 11-3 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday night.
After 20 minutes of play, the Cougars held a 5-2 advantage before extending that to 8-2 after 40 minutes of play.
Prince George was a perfect 4-for-4 on the man advantage.
McAuley (2G-2A), Sam Ruopp (2A), Brad Morrison (1G-1A), Jansen Harkins (3A), Jesse Gabrielle (1G-1A), Brogan O’Brien (1G-2A), Jared Bethune (2A), Radovan Bondra (2G-1A) and Kody McDonald (1G-2A) all enjoyed big nights on the scoresheet as 14 different Cougars managed points in the contest.
Will Warm (1G-1A), Tyler Robertson (2G) and Graham Millar (2A) contribute on behalf of the Oil Kings.
Nick McBride made 19 saves for his 10th win of the season.
RECAP: A historical night in Edmonton as the Cats earn a dominant 11-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil kings.
MORE: https://t.co/qhig7H74iX pic.twitter.com/WWxeHJTwSh
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 29, 2017
Portland Winterhawks (5) at Kelowna Rockets (4)
Portland (25-21-1-2) // Kelowna (27-19-4-0)
Joachim Blichfeld scored with less than four seconds remaining in regulation to give the Portland Winterhawks a 5-4 win over the Kelowna Rockets Saturday evening.
Blichfeld’s 16th of the season capped a mighty comeback from the visitors, who trailed 4-1 only 4:29 into the second period. Skyler McKenzie and Ryan Hughes pulled the ‘Hawks within one before the end of the second and Jake Gricius knotted the game with 7:09 remaining in the third.
Blichfeld and McKenzie both finished the night with three points (1G-2A). Nick Merkley (1G-2A) did the same for the Rockets.
Shane Farkas made 31 saves to earn his second career WHL victory.
The game at a glance from tonight’s HUGE comeback win is presented by @Toyota: pic.twitter.com/c3DETmtzQW
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) January 29, 2017
Calgary Hitmen (8) at Kootenay ICE (3)
Calgary (18-21-7-2) // Kootenay (12-31-7-1)
Jake Bean and Jakob Stukel recorded four points apiece as the Calgary Hitmen scored an 8-3 triumph over the Kootenay ICE Saturday in Cranbrook.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the second period, Stukel’s 16th of the season evened the affair before Luke Coleman, Andrew Fyten and Tyler Mrkonjic scored to give Calgary a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.
For Bean, it was his second consecutive four-point effort as he collected four assists in Cranbrook. Friday back in Calgary, the defenceman registered a hat trick and added an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Regina Pats.
Vladislav Yeryomenko (3A), Stukel (1G-3A), Andrei Grishakov (2A), Matteo Gennaro (2G), Coleman (1G-1A) and Mrkonjic (1G-1A) had multipoint evenings as well.
Vince Loschiavo (2G-1A), Dallas Hines (2A), Colton Kroeker (2A) and Brett Davis (1G-1A) responded for the ICE.
Trevor Martin made 15 saves for his fourth win of the season.
#WHLHitmen crush ICE
Game Story ~ https://t.co/5bp2UhhONP#CGYvsKTN pic.twitter.com/BVJK3h4BTk— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) January 29, 2017
Brandon Wheat Kings (4) at Medicine Hat Tigers (6)
Brandon (23-19-4-1) // Medicine Hat (34-15-1-0)
The Medicine Hat Tigers pounced on a third consecutive victory, defeating the Brandon Wheat Kings by a 6-4 margin Saturday evening.
Matt Bradley notched a goal and two assists, while Ryan Jevne struck twice to help propel the Tigers. Latvian defenceman Kristians Rubins added two helpers.
Michael Bullion made 18 saves for his 10th win of the season.
TIGERS WIN! Tigers walk away with their 3rd straight victory, a 6-4 win over @bdnwheatkings
RECAP: https://t.co/KWeoZ4kNVm pic.twitter.com/L7rZQbCJrJ
— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) January 29, 2017
Moose Jaw Warriors (4) at Prince Albert Raiders (5)
Moose Jaw (30-13-6-1) // Prince Albert (12-35-3-2)
Cole Fonstad scored with 6:25 remaining in regulation as the Prince Albert Raiders upset the Moose Jaw Warriors, skating to a 5-4 win Saturday night.
Cavin Leth scored his 15th of the season on a short-handed effort 4:12 into the third period to tie the game for the Raiders.
Simon Stransky (1G-1A) and Leth (1G-1A) recorded multipoint nights for the Raiders.
Justin Almeida scored twice for the Warriors, while Brayden Burke (1G-1A) and Thomas Foster (1G-1A) also contributed.
Nicholas Sanders made 27 saves for his sixth win of the season.
The Raiders wrap up January this afternoon when we take on the @SCBroncos. @RaidersVoice has the call!
PREVIEW: https://t.co/fjUod2JTbK pic.twitter.com/erMo5L1YmF
— PrinceAlbert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) January 29, 2017
Regina Pats (4) at Red Deer Rebels (1)
Regina (33-6-6-1) // Red Deer (22-21-4-3)
Adam Brooks scored twice to lead the Regina Pats to a 4-1 win over the Red Deer Rebels Saturday night.
The Rebels managed to hold the WHL’s leading scorer Sam Steel off the scoresheet, but Brooks – the league’s second-leading scorer – found pay dirt instead. Wyatt Sloboshan (1G-1A) and Filip Ahl managed to do damage as well.
Adam Musil replied for the Rebels, scoring his 18th of the season on the power play.
Tyler Brown made 31 saves for his 20th win of the season.
RECAP: Pats Win 4th Straight Game, 4-1 in Red Deer. Details here: https://t.co/GxoxyDyxpY#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/V1YgU6ZR3i
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) January 29, 2017
Lethbridge Hurricanes (3) at Saskatoon Blades (1)
Lethbridge (28-15-4-3) // Saskatoon (20-24-5-1)
With a 3-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have now collected points in 10 consecutive outings.
The ‘Cane Train continues to steam along in the second half of the WHL season and Saturday night it was Zak Zborosky and Jordy Bellerive stoking the fire. The 20-year-old Zborosky scored his 32nd goal of the season while Bellerive struck twice – his 22nd and 23rd of the campaign.
Jake Kustra responded with his first of the season on behalf of Saskatoon.
Ryan Gilchrist made 27 saves for his fourth win of the season.
The #WHLCanes extended point streak to 10 games with 3-1 win over the Blades Saturday! #30YearsStrong #YQL
RECAP – https://t.co/8kbmAzjDsV pic.twitter.com/tGYml98x4e
— LethbridgeHurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) January 29, 2017
Everett Silvertips (2) at Seattle Thunderbirds (3)
Everett (30-8-7-2-) // Seattle (28-15-3-1)
The Seattle Thunderbirds won their fourth in a row after securing a 3-2 triumph over the Everett Silvertips on Saturday.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, Ethan Bear notched two power-play goals – his 16th and 17th strikes of the season – to boost the Thunderbirds into the win column. Mathew Barzal did was he does best – distribute the biscuit – en route to collecting three assists. Keegan Kolesar (1G-1A) also managed a multipoint effort.
Dominic Zwerger and Patrick Bajkov responded for the ‘Tips. Bajkov added an assist for a multipoint night.
Between the pipes, Matt Berlin made 21 saves for his fourth win of the season.
GAME RECAP: Bear’s Power-Play Goals Devour Tips https://t.co/FFicvO32nJ pic.twitter.com/34gudQUy29
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) January 29, 2017
Spokane Chiefs (3) at Tri-City Americans (8)
Spokane (20-22-6-2) // Tri-City (30-19-3-0)
Kyle Olson and Dylan Coghlan each recorded four points to help guide the Tri-City Americans to an 8-3 win over the Spokane Chiefs in U.S. Division action Saturday night.
With goals from Olson, Coghlan and Parker Wotherspoon, the Ams cruised to a 3-0 lead before the game was five minutes old. They never looked back from there.
Coghlan (1G-3A), Olson (1G-3A), Jordan Topping (1G—1A), Vladislav Lukin (2G-1A), Morgan Geekie (1G-2A) and Wotherspoon (1G-1A) pitched in for Tri-City.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan (1G-1A) and Hudson Elynuik (1G-1A) replied for Spokane.
Rylan Parenteau made 35 saves for his 19th win of the season.
The Ams spread the scoring in their big time 8-3 win over the Chiefs! 7 goal scorers on the night. #GoAms
GALLERY | https://t.co/6fV1kYINVe pic.twitter.com/Cr1mUjJyoA— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) January 29, 2017
Vancouver Giants (1) at Victoria Royals (7)
Vancouver (17-29-1-3) // Victoria (28-19-4-0)
The Victoria Royals scored seven unanswered goals, rumbling to a 7-1 victory over the Vancouver Giants Saturday evening.
Jordan Bortsmayer opened the scoring with his fourth of the season, but after that, it was all Victoria.
Matthew Phillips’ 36th of the season tied the game late in the first period and Dante Hannoun gave his club a 2-1 edge early in the second period.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Scott Walford (1G-1A), Phillips (2G-1A), Hannoun (2G), Regan Nagy (2A) and Chaz Reddekopp (2A) all splashed ink on the scoresheet multiple times.
Griffen Outhouse made 25 saves for his WHL-leading 28th win of the season.
Congrats to Royals’ GM Cameron Hope & HC Dave Lowry, as the franchise recorded its 200th win since they were hired in the summer of 2012! pic.twitter.com/H1PWwPm7D9
— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) January 29, 2017
