WHL Recap: Tigers, Hurricanes and T-Birds all hit the win column

Medicine Hat 7  @ Prince George 3

The Prince George Cougars opened the scoring when newly named assistant captain Brogan O’Brien scored his ninth goal of the season. That would be the end of their luck as the Medicine Hat Tigers rattled off five-straight goals; James Hablin recorded a pair, while Max Gerlach, David Quenneville and Gary Haden supplied one each. Before the end of the second period, the Cougars added two goals and the Tigers notched a short-handed marker to make it 6-3 Medicine Hat after 40. The third period would be the quietest of the night and would see the Tigers seal the deal by notching their seventh goal on the night on Mark Rassel’s 23rd goal of the year. Tonight’s win would be the 10th in a row for the Medicine Hat Tigers in Prince George. Each team would end the night with one power play goal, Prince George going 1-for-1 and Medicine Hat going 1-for-3. Kody McDonald of the Cougars would finish the night with two goals.

Lethbridge 5 @ Vancouver 2

Coming off their first win in nine games, the Lethbridge Hurricanes would hop a ferry to Langley to take on the Vancouver Giants. The Hurricane would open the scoring when Giorgio Estephan netted his 12th goal of the season. The oft-injured Tyler Benson would tie the game at ones less than four minutes later with his fourth goal of the year. With just 28 seconds to go in the period, Ryan Bowen would get his first goal of the season in just his second game to give the ‘Canes a 2-1 lead after 20. 1:52 into the second period Ryan Vandervlis would score his 10th goal of the year to put Lethbridge up 3-1. With 3:02 left in the period Pittsburgh Penguins signee Jordy Bellerieve would score his 12th goal and put the game out of reach for the Giants. The teams would trade third period goals to end the game at 5-2, putting the Hurricanes in the win column for the second straight night. The Hurricanes out shot the Giants 40-23.

Regina 3 @ Seattle 6

In a sold out game between last year’s two WHL finalists, it would be Seattle once again coming out on top. Regina Captain Sam Steel scored the first goal for both teams at 10:15 of the first period. The goal would come on a 5-on-3 power play as both Austin Strand (interference) and Nolan Volcan (delay of game) would be in the box. Just over four minutes later Jaret Tyszka would even the score at one. Strand would pick up one of his two assists on the night. After 20 the score would be tied at one and the shots would also be knotted at 14. Zack Andruisiak would give the Thunderbirds their first lead of the night just 2:57 into period number two. It would be newcomer Cale Fleury’s turn to tie the game when he scored his seventh of the season. Less than five minutes later on the power play Andruisiak would score his 10th of the year to give the T-birds another lead. The period would end with the T-Birds up 3-2 on the Pats. Shortly after the puck was dropped for the third period, Sam Steel would knot the game up at threes. It would be the last the T-Birds would hear from the Pats as they would go on to score the games final three goals. Moilanen (12th), Neuls (5th) and Wedman (2nd) would give the Thunderbirds all they needed to put away the Memorial Cup Hosts.