SATURDAY'S WHL ROUND-UP
Mar 09, 2014 - 07:49 MDTHOLMBERG HITS 60 IN CHIEFS’ WIN OVER COUGARS – Mitch Holmberg scored three goals, including his 60th of the season, to lead the visiting Spokane Chiefs to an 8-0 thrashing of the Prince George Cougars in Western Hockey League action on Saturday night.
Holmberg becomes just the second WHL player to hit the 60-goal mark since the 2000-01 season, having accomplished the feat in 68 games for the Chiefs. The last WHL player to reach the 60-goal mark was Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2011-12.
Eric Williams made 28 saves to post his fourth shutout of the season and 10th of his WHL career while Mike Aviani netted a goal and three assists for the Chiefs. The Cougars, meanwhile, must win their final two regular-season games and hope the Tri-City Americans lose all four of their remaining games in regulation just to force a tiebreaker for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Game Summary • Chiefs Recap • Cougars Recap • Highlights
ROCKETS 7, AMERICANS 0
The Kelowna Rockets got goals from seven different players and Jordon Cooke made 20 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the Kelowna Rockets downed the visiting Tri-City Americans 7-0 on Saturday.
Game Summary • Rockets Recap • Americans Recap
SILVERTIPS 5, THUNDERBIRDS 2
Josh Winquist scored twice and Austin Lotz made 31 saves to pace the visiting Everett Silvertips to a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Silvertips have won eight of their last nine games while the Thunderbirds have dropped three in a row.
Game Summary • Silvertips Recap • Thunderbirds Recap • Highlights
ROYALS 3, BLAZERS 2
The Victoria Royals scored three times in the first period en route to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Saturday. The Royals have won five in a row while Kamloops loses its seventh straight game.
Game Summary • Royals Recap • Blazers Recap
WINTERHAWKS 4, GIANTS 1
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Brendan Leipsic each tallied a goal and an assist as the Portland Winterhawks skated to a 4-1 win over the visiting Vancouver Giants. Adin Hill made 28 saves to claim the win for the Hawks.
Game Summary • Winterhawks Recap • Giants Recap • Highlights
TIGERS 5, REBELS 3
Curtis Valk scored three goals as the Medicine Hat Tigers pulled off a 5-3 victory over the visiting Red Deer Rebels. The Rebels’ loss leaves them in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Game Summary • Tigers Recap • Rebels Recap • Highlights
BRONCOS 5, HURRICANES 3
Jay Merkley and Graham Black each scored twice as the visiting Swift Current Broncos skated to a 5-3 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The win clinches the Broncos a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference and leaves them three points back of Regina for top spot in the East Division.
Game Summary • Broncos Recap • Hurricanes Recap
ICE 3, PATS 1
Jaedon Descheneau scored and set up two more as the Kootenay Ice posted a 3-1 win over the visiting Regina Pats on Saturday. The Ice have won two straight.
Game Summary • Pats Recap • Highlights
HITMEN 2, BLADES 1
Chris Driedger made 43 saves to backstop the visiting Calgary Hitmen to a 2-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday. The win moves the Hitmen back into a tie for first place in the Central Division and Eastern Conference.
Game Summary • Hitmen Recap • Blades Recap
RAIDERS 3, WHEAT KINGS 2
Leon Draisaitl’s 35th goal of the season was the winner as the Prince Albert Raiders edged the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2 on Saturday. The victory pulls the Raiders into a three-way tie with the Wheat Kings and Rebels for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Game Summary • Raiders Recap • Wheat Kings Recap
WARRIORS 4, OIL KINGS 1
Sam Fioretti and Jack Rodewald each scored twice as the Moose Jaw Warriors posted a 4-1 win over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. Justin Paulic made 31 saves for the Warriors, who win their third game in a row.
Game Summary • Warriors Recap • Oil Kings Recap
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