Swift Current @Prince Albert
The Swift Current Broncos (29-10-3-0) made their way to Prince Albert (15-18-6-2) to take on the Raiders. Guaranteed win night for the Raiders did not get off to a good start as it was the powerful Broncos putting a couple of pucks past starting netminder Ian Scott just 44 seconds apart before the period was 10 minutes old.
After the midway point of the second period, Colby Sissons would score to give the Broncos a three goal lead. Stuart Skinner was making his Swift Current debut and was kept busy through 40 minutes, facing 19 shots and stopping all of them.
The Raiders would make a late push to get a goal on this guaranteed win night but it was thwarted by an empty net goal from Glenn Gawdin, his second of the night and 34th of the year. The final score Swift Current 4 Prince Albert 0. Skinner would pitch a 29 save shut-out in his debut.
Medicine Hat @Regina
The Central division leading Medicine Hat Tigers (23-16-3-0) visited the new look Regina Pats (21-19-4-0). Regina was looking to get back in the win column following an OT set back to the lowly Oil Kings on Wednesday. The Pats took an early 1-0 lead into the second period on a goal from Josh Mahura.
The Tigers would keep pressing the Pats for the game tying goal and Mark Rassell tipped in shot from Rubins with 6:37 gone in period two. After two periods the Tigers had out shot the Pats 33-17.
Medicine Hat would continue to pummel Ryan Kubic in his second game with the Pats, but in the third period it would be the recently acquired Cameron Hebig scoring to give the Pats a one goal lead. Hebig would pot his 31st goal of the season but first as a Pat in his first game with the club. With seven seconds left and Jorden Hollett pulled, the Pats would score again to make it a 3-1 final. Sam Steel collected his 15th goal of the year on the empty-netter. Final score Regina 3 Medicine Hat 1.
Calgary @Brandon
The Calgary Hitmen (13-23-5-1) made the long drive to Brandon (27-12-1-1) to take on the Wheat Kings. Despite trading two of their best players, the Brandon Wheat Kings were looking to maintain their 3rd place standing in the WHL’s East division. Two early goals from Zach Wytinck and Caiden Daley would put Brandon up 2-0 after 20 minutes. Daley’s goal would prove to be the game winner as the Hitmen would only muster one goal in this one.
That goal would come in the third period when the Hitmen were down 3-0. Vladislav Yeryomenko would collect his ninth goal on the power play. Goaltender Nick Schneider would pick up an assist on the play. Linden McCorrister would wrap up the scoring, with an assist going to newcomer Luka Burzan, on his 13th goal of the year. Final score Brandon 4 Calgary 1. The Wheat Kings remain 10 points clear of the Regina Pats for third in the East Division while the Calgary Hitmen remain seven back of the Kootenay Ice for third in the Central.
Prince George @Spokane
The struggling Prince George Cougars (16-19-4-3) visited the Spokane Chiefs (21-18-1-2) in Bailey Brkin’s Chiefs debut. It would be the home side jumping out to a three nothing lead before the game was ten minutes old. The goals came from Kailer Yamamoto (3), Jake McGrew (8) and Riley Woods (19). Before the period was done, the Cougars would get on the board and make the game more respectable. Liam Ryan would score his first WHL goal in his 25th game.
A late penalty to Ryan would result in an early short-handed goal for the Cougars. Aaron Boyd would collect his eighth goal of the season just 26 seconds into the second period and would cut the deficit to one goal. That would be as close as the Cougars would come though as the Chiefs would score a power play goal a little more than five minutes into the second period. Jake McGrew (9) scored his second of the night and the assists went to Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Kailer Yamamoto. With Tyson Helgesen sitting in the penalty box, it was time for the Chiefs to score a short-handed goal. Anderson-Dolan took a pass from Hudson Elynuik and put his team up 5-2.
A generally quiet third period would only see one goal scored, and it went to the Chiefs. Ethan McIndoe would score his eleventh goal of the year and seal it for Spokane. Final score Spokane 6 Prince George 2. Despite the score, it was the Cougars out shooting the Chiefs 38-28. With the win the Chiefs moved into fourth in the US Division, one point ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Kelowna @Seattle
The surging Kelowna Rockets (26-12-2-1) made the trek to Seattle (20-14-4-2) to take on the also surging Seattle Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds were not expected to be in a battle for a playoff spot this season but have played themselves into a wild card position and are not far off the top three teams in the US.
This game story was mainly about the special teams as the Thunderbirds gave the Rockets eight power play opportunities. The Rockets would make good on four of them. Carsen Twarynski would score two on the power play and singles from Leif Mattson and Jack Cowell. In between the four power play goals Colum McGauley would score his second Western Hockey League goal.
With a little less than six minutes to go in the game Dillon Hamaliuk would break James Porter’s shut out bid. It would be Hamaliuk’s eighth goal of the season. Austin Strand would then score his 14th goal of the year to make it 5-2.
The Rockets would then score a goal without putting it in the net. The T’Birds net was empty and Strand threw his stick at a player who was going to score. Mattson would get credit for his second of the night when the refs awarded the Rockets goal anyway. Final score Kelowna 6 Seattle 2. The Rockets move three points up on the idle Giants for the BC Division lead. The loss was the first in regulation for the T’Birds since December 9th, 2017.
