Taking Note

It's over. The look on goaltender Troy Trombley's face tells you the news is
all bad for the Tri-City Americans, after Spokane's Alessio Bertaggia added
some insurance for his Chiefs on Saturday night. The fan over Trombley's left
shoulder also knows that it's all over.
(John Allen / AridAcres.com)

Les MacPherson, a veteran columnist with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, thinks that he knows what is wrong with the Saskatoon Blades. It all has to do with the star theory. . . . Check it out right here.
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If you’re wondering how the Medicine Hat Tigers managed to take out the heavily favoured Saskatoon Blades, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has that story right here.
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The AHL’s Texas Stars have signed F Brock Montgomery to a PTO. Montgomery completed his junior eligibility with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice on Thursday night. A native of Moose Jaw, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Montgomery had 48 points, including 31 goals, in 58 games this season. Montgomery was never selected in the NHL draft.
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F Mike Hellyer, the Central League’s rookie of the year, has had his season ended by a knee injury. Terry Ruskowski, the head coach of the Quad City Mallards, said Hellyer may need surgery. Hellyer (Prince Albert, 2003-07), had 61 points in 63 regular-season games. . . . Hellyer was injured in the first five minutes of a series-opening playoff game with the Fort Worth Brahmas on Friday. . . . The Mallards trail the best-of-seven series 2-0 with the next three games at home. . . . Ruskowski, on a post-game radio show after Game 2, said of Hellyer’s injury: "It's real bad. He may have to have surgery. The fact there are no repercussions possible for the other team really sits sour with me.'' . . . Ruskowski also said he is working to add a forward from the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings for the remainder of his club’s playoffs.
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 The WHL’s first-round situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FIRST ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
(Edmonton wins 4-1)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
(Medicine Hat wins 4-0)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
(Calgary wins 4-1)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)
(Red Deer wins 4-0)
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SECOND ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Red Deer (4)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
(Portland leads series 3-2; Game 6 on Monday in Everett)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
(Seattle leads 3-2; Game 5 on Tuesday in Kent, Wash.)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
(Kamloops leads 3-2; Game 6 on Monday in Victoria)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
(Spokane wins 4-1)
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SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Kennewick, Wash., G Eric Williams stopped 36 shots as the Spokane Chiefs dropped the host Tri-City Americans, 3-1. . . . F Mike Aviani, at 14:04 of the first, and D Brenden Kichton, at 7:50 of the second, on the PP, gave Spokane a 2-0 lead. . . . F Malte Stromwall got Tri-City back in it at 10:38 of the third, but F Alessio Bertaggia iced it at 15:09. . . . Tri-City G Troy Trombley stopped 31 shots. G Luke Lee-Knight, who was injured in OT in Game 4, didn’t dress. . . . Bertaggia was unsuccessful on a penalty shot at 9:29 of the third. . . . A few notes from the Americans, on their captain, F Justin Feser, whose WHL career is over: “Feser will go down as one of the greatest players to ever put on an Americans jersey. He finishes his career with 351 regular-season games played, second on the Americans all-time list. That includes 321 consecutive games played, a WHL record. He tallied 155 goals, third on the Americans all-time list. He recorded 198 assists, which puts him at sixth on the Americans all-time list. Adding those two numbers together gives him 353 career points, fourth on the Americans all-time list. He is one of five Americans to achieve 350 career points. Feser ends his playoff career with 63 games played, third on the Americans all-time list. He finishes with 50 career playoff points (fifth all-time), 18 playoff goals (third all-time) and 32 playoff assists (fourth all-time). . . .

In Portland, G Austin Lotz stopped 43 shots and the Everett Silvertips surprised the Winterhawks, 3-2. . . . Lotz was pitching a shutout until the third period when Portland scored two PP goals. . . . F Josh Winquist, with his sixth goal of the series, F Logan Aasman, with his first, and F Reid Petryk, with his second, had Everett out front 3-0 by 13:26 of the second. . . . D Troy Rutkowski had two assists for Portland, while D Derrick Pouliot had a goal and an assist. . . . Everett D Ayrton Nikkel and Portland F Keegan Iverson, both of whom were in the middle of some late shenanigans in Portland’s 11-4 road victory on Friday, both were scratched from this one. . . .

In Kelowna, the Rockets scored the game’s first three goals and went on to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Seattle scored twice in the last minute of the third period to get to within one. . . . F Myles Bell’s third goal of the series, at 13:49 of the third, stood up as the winner. . . . Seattle mustered only 17 shots at Kelowna G Jordon Cooke. . . . The Rockets scratched F J.T. Barnett (ill), F Rourke Chartier (undisclosed), D MacKenzie Johnston (shoulder), F Carter Rigby (shoulder, foot), F Colton Sissons (shoulder) and D Mitchell Wheaton (shoulder). . . . Kelowna had D Nick Merkley, a first-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, in the lineup. . . . Seattle was without F Connor Honey, who has been suspended for a Game 4 hit on Johnston. . . . Here’s the scoop on Game 6, straight from the Thunderbirds: “The T-Birds will continue the popular 2-for-Tuesday promotion for Game 6. This means all tickets will be two-for-one and all beer, soda, popcorn and hot dogs will be $2. The 2-for-Tuesday group ticket special will also apply for Game 6. Fans that buy 20 tickets will get 20 tickets FREE for a total of 40 tickets.” . . .

In Kamloops, G Patrik Polivka stopped 47 shots to lead the Victoria Royals to a 4-2 victory over the Blazers. . . . Polivka stopped 36 of 37 shots over the last two periods. His save percentage in this series now is .920. . . . D Brett Cote scored twice for Victoria. He pulled Victoria into a 2-2 tie at 19:21 of the second period and then got the winner at 11:25 of the third period. . . . F Logan Nelson put it away with an empty-netter. . . . Victoria F Jamie Crooks had a goal and an assist, and was plus-4. . . . The Royals scratched six regulars — F Austin Carroll (ill), D Ryan Gagnon (concussion), F Alex Gogolev (leg) F Luke Harrison (concussion), F Brandon Magee (concussion) and D Tyler Stahl (undisclosed). . . . Magee was injured in a melee at the end of Game 3 in Victoria when Kamloops D Joel Edmundson drove him into the ice. . . . The Blazers lost F Tim Bozon (hand) in the same melee when he got into it with Victoria F Steven Hodges. Bozon has what the Blazers are calling a “long-term” injury.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (10):
F Logan Nelson, Victoria

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (4):
None


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