Kamloops 4 @Edmonton 2
With that win… Don Hay is now at career total 741. One win shy of tying all-time win mark in the WHL. #Kamloops
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) January 22, 2018
Quinn Benjafield and Joe Gatenby have their head coach one win away from history. The former scored twice and added an assist and the latter had three assists as the Kamloops Blazers (21-23-1-2) double up the Edmonton Oil Kings (13-27-4-2) 4-2.
Benjafield opened the scoring 11:35 in as as found the rebound of a Nolan Kneen shot and beat Todd Scott.
Brendan Semchuk tied the game with his third goal in two games in the second period. The recent acquisition from the Vancouver Giants found a loose puck that had eluded Kamloops goalie Max Palaga and punched it home.
Nolan Kneen answered with his second point in the game and fourth goal this year. He took a feed from Gatenby on the left wing on the power play and when Edmonton did not rush him, he fired a wrist shot by Scott,
Benjafield added the eventual game winner with 8:03 left in the middle frame. In a scramble in tight on Scott, Benjafield found a loose puck and got just enough of it over the goal line.
Colton Kehler made it 3-2 as he beat Palaga on a one-timer off a feed from Trey Fix-Wolansky.
Jermaine Loewen then added some insurance on a two-on-one rush with Luc Smith in the third period.
Palaga stopped 32 of 34, while Scott turned away 24 of 28.
Edmonton hosts Medicine Hat Wednesday while the Blazers head back home to host the Portland Winterhawks. The Blazers finished their Central Division road trip 3-0.
Everett 4 Swift Current 1
The matchup on Sunday between the Swift Current Broncos (33-11-3-1) and Everett Silvertips (30-16-1-1) was one fans of the U.S. Division had to have circled on their calendar.
Both teams have been rolling recently with the Silvertips coming in winning six straight and the Broncos collecting points in eight straight.
It was the ‘Tips taking this one though and running their win streak to seven games.
Riley Sutter, Matt Fonteyne and Wyatte Wylie each led the way with two points apiece.
Carter Hart stopped 23 of 24 in the win.
Garrett Pilon opened the scoring 3:33 into the game. He finished off a great pass from Connor Dewar for his 23rd this year.
Then under a minute later Sean Richards scored his 18th this year to make it 2-0.
The Broncos finally got their high-powered offense going to cut the ‘Tips lead to one. Andrew Fyten netted his first marker with the team that acquired him from the Calgary Hitmen. On the goal, Aleksi Heponiemi had an assist and extended his point streak to 28 games. He now has 89 points this year, good for third in the WHL.
Riley Sutter and Matt Fonteyne added markers to give Everett the 4-1 win.
Stuart Skinner stopped 30 of 34 in the loss, Swift Current’s second straight.
The Broncos finish off their U.S. Division road trip with a game in Spokane on Tuesday. They are 3-1-0-1 so far.
Everett takes on Seattle at home Friday.
