Andy Devlin

WHL recap: seven-up in Prince Albert, Wheat Kings and Tigers also win

Kootenay @Prince Albert

The Kootenay ICE (18-19-3-0) were riding a two game losing skid heading into a Saskatchewan road trip. The Prince Albert Raiders (13-17-6-2) were fading from the playoff picture having gone 3-6-1-0 over the last ten games.

Jordy Stallard would get the scoring going early for the Raiders, his 27th of the season. The Ice would respond less than a minute later when Colton Veloso would score his 13th. This would be the last time the Ice would be in contention for this one as the Raiders would score four before the Ice would see the score sheet again. Brayden Pachal would score his third and four goals of the season with a short-handed goal by Brett Leason and the game winner by Parker Kelly sandwiched inbetween. With 17:23 to go in the third period it was 5-1 Prince Albert. The Kootenay Ice wanted to make a game of it, adding a power play marker with 16:42 to play. Veloso added his second of the night. Rookie sensation Peyton Krebs would collect his second assist of the night to extend his rookie scoring lead to six points (9G, 26A). Short-handed, the Ice would score another goal to make it 5-3. Jonathan Smart would steal the puck and make his way to the Raiders net and pot his fifth.

That would be as close as the Ice would come, the Raiders Regan Nagy would seal the game with goals at 14:59 and 19:57, his 19th and 20th goals of the year. Prince Albert takes this game by a final score of 7-3.

Swift Current @Brandon

The remarkable Swift Current Broncos (27-10-2-0) and Brandon Wheat Kings (25-12-0-1) would face off for the fourth time this season. The Wheat Kings would take a three wins to one lead in the season series, taking their third straight and second straight in overtime.

For Swift Current, it was the Matteo Gennaro show, he would score both Broncos goals. He opened the scoring in the game, his ninth as a Bronco and 23rd on the season. Max Patterson and Kole Gable would pick up the assists.

6’5″ behemoth Baron Thompson would pick up his 11th goal of the year almost six and half minutes into the second period to tie the game at one.

The tightly contested affair would continue into the third period tied at one, until Gennaro picked up his second of the game. Patterson would get his second assist and the Broncos would retake the lead.

41 seconds later, Gennaro would be the goat as he took a checking to the head penalty. With his team down a man, Evan Weinger scored his 19th of the season. The teams would head to overtime with the score tied at two.

St. Louis Blues prospect, Ty Lewis, would take the extra point for the Wheat Kings when he scored his 21st goal of the season. Brandon moved to within four points of the Broncos for second in the East Division with a game in hand. Brandon took only one penalty in this game, keeping the WHL’s top ranked power play off the ice and scoresheet.

Edmonton @Medicine Hat

The basement dwelling Edmonton Oil Kings (10-22-4-2) took on the Central Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers (21-15-3-0) in Medicine Hat.

The game would prove to go as expected, the Tigers being too much for the Oil Kings.

Despite being out shot eight to four, it was Medicine Hat who had a one to nothing lead after 20 minutes. Max Gerlach would score his 15th goal of the season.

Baxter Anderson would score his first WHL goal 5:05 into the second period to give the Tigers a two to zero lead. The Tigers handled the shots as well in the second, leading 13 to 10 and taking their two zero lead into the third period.

Before the second period would end, Colton Kehler of the Oil Kings would be assessed a five minute major for a match penalty for attempt to injure. The ref would assess the penalty when Kehler committed a slew-foot on a Tigers player.

The Tigers would have to wait until the third period to hit pay dirt. Defenseman David Quenneville would score his league leading 17th goal of the season by a defensemen. It was all the insurance the Tigers would need to put this game away.

The Oil Kings did score their only goal while killing the penalty off. David Kope got a pass from Tomas Soustal and he tucked it home to make it three to one for the Tigers.

That would be it for the Oil Kings though as the Tigers would add goals at 8:21 from Mark Rassell (34) and Max Gerlach (16). Medicine Hat would extend their Central Division lead to eight points with the five to one victory.