Hunter rips into veteran forwards . . . Ex-WHL coach in hospital after crash . . . Rebels have 'Canes on ropes

The Spokane Chiefs weren’t going to re-sign Don Nachbaur as head coach after the 2017-18 season, so the decision was made to part company right now. According to the Spokane Spokesman-Review that’s how general manager Scott Carter explained the decision that was announced on Thursday morning. . . . “In my mind, we weren’t going to carry on beyond this year and this opened up a discussion,” Carter told the newspaper. “We both felt it was in both our interests to part ways now. Don is a good coach, but we were willing to move forward. There’s nothing negative about Don.” . . . In September, the Chiefs had signed Nachbaur to an extension through next season.

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If you’re a WHL team looking for a coach, where do you start? Well, how about with Kyle Gustafson or Enio Sacilotto? . . . Gustafson is the Portland Winterhawks’ associate coach and is in his 11th season on the coaching staff there. Travis Green, the last assistant coach in Portland under Mike Johnston, has worked out pretty well with the AHL’s Utica Comets. In fact, his name comes up every time there is an NHL head-coaching vacancy. So why not Gustafson? . . . Sacilotto, who has a terrific resume, is the Victoria Royals’ director of prospect development and WHL scout. He was moved into that position on Aug. 25, after six seasons as an assistant coach. Earlier this month, he was named head coach of Croatia’s entry in the 2017 IIHF World Championship tournament (Division 1, Group B) that runs in Belfast, Northern Ireland, April 23-29.

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So . . . you’re wondering: What’s up with Mathew Barzal? . . . The Seattle Thunderbirds forward, the Western Conference’s outstanding player, last played on March 7. He took a pregame warmup on March 10, but left the ice before the game began and has yet to return to game action. He was said to be showing mumps symptoms and was tested. However, the Thunderbirds have never commented publicly on the results. On Thursday, through a team spokesperson, general manager Russ Farwell told Taking Note: “He is recovering from illness and doing well, but as we (are in) the playoffs we do not have any further comment at this time.”

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Apparently, if someone is tested for mumps, the results are available about three days later. That being the case, it might be worth noting that the Thunderbirds have never said whether Barzal tested positive for mumps. Just spitballing here, but what if his “illness” isn’t mumps? Could he have an injury or some other ailment?

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Hey, Sportsnet, I didn’t comment on your abysmal CHL telecast schedule late in the regular season. But your decision to show us the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs beating the host Hamilton Bulldogs, 5-1, on Thursday night, while the London Knights and Windsor Spitfires were playing was a slap in the face. You set the table by showing two games earlier in the London/Windsor series, which is the most attractive matchup in the opening round of CHL playoffs, so why not continue with it?

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BTW, the host Spitfires won, 3-2, in OT last night to take a 3-1 lead in that series. They’re back in London for Game 5 tonight when there aren’t any games scheduled for TV. The Spitfires, don’t forget, will be the host team for the 2017 Memorial Cup tournament.

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Meanwhile, in Gary Bettman’s world, five Canadian NHL teams were playing on Thursday night and all five games — Florida at Montreal, San Jose at Edmonton, Ottawa at Minnesota, Toronto at Nashville, Anaheim at Winnipeg — were televised with regional restrictions. Thankfully, WGN Chicago was showing a baseball game between the Cubs and Houston Astros.

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The MLB season begins Sunday. Finally!

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The WHL’s department of discipline was busy whacking and disciplining on Thursday. Peter Anholt, the general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, contributed $1,000 to the WHL’s Easter egg fund for “actions following game at Red Deer on March 29.” That was Game 3, which the Hurricanes lost, 4-3, in OT to the Rebels on Wednesday night. . . . Meanwhile, D Dalton Yorke of the Tri-City Americans had his suspension set at two games. He sat out a 9-2 loss to the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday and will miss tonight’s Game 4 in Kennewick. If the Americans lose, their season will be over and so will Yorke’s career as he is in his 20-year-old season. He was suspended under supplemental discipline for a high hit on Seattle F Ryan Gropp in Game 2. Yorke was given a charging minor on the play. Gropp was scratched from Game 3 with an undisclosed injury.

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Parry Shockey, a former WHL coach who is well known in hockey circles, remains in a Calgary hospital after being involved in a serious accident on Highway 519 near Fort Macleod, Alta., on March 16.

According to Fort Macleod RCMP, a car travelling west pulled out to pass another vehicle when it collided head on with an SUV that was travelling east.

Shockey was driving the SUV. The driver of the car was declared dead at the scene.

Shockey, with non-life-threatening injuries, was taken by ambulance to hospital in Calgary.

Shockey, 63, was an assistant coach with the Spokane Chiefs for two seasons (1994-96). He was the head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 1996-97, then spent two seasons (1997-99) as head coach of the Regina Pats and one (2004-05) with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

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Would a WHL head coach make healthy scratches of two of his best forwards for Game 5 of a playoff series that is tied 2-2?

The Swift Current Broncos beat the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors, 5-2, on Wednesday night to even that series. They’ll play again Friday in Moose Jaw.

After Game 3, Moose Jaw head coach Tim Hunter unloaded on veteran forwards Noah Gregor and Jayden Halbgewachs.

As reported by Marc Smith of discovermoosejaw.com, Hunter said:

“When you have two of your best players – Noah Gregor and Jayden Halbgewachs – play like fourth liners for 60 minutes, we’re not going to win a hockey game ever/ We can’t have two of our top six forwards play like they’re disinterested, zero effort and zero commitment to the team effort, so we may just forge on without them.”

Hunter pointed out that he sat Brayden Burke in an earlier game in the series and the veteran forward responded.

“I sat out Burke for 20 minutes and he got the message, he’s played great since,” Hunter told Smith. “Maybe that’s what will happen to Halbgewachs and Gregor, they can sit out for a game and we’ll see what they can do in Game 6. . . .”

Burke was benched during Game 2 on Saturday night, then returned to scoring the game-winner in a 3-2 victory that evened the series, 1-1.

“You can’t start the game with two passengers,” Hunter continued, “and then have everyone else playing at the end of their stick, which is unacceptable. We knew they were going to compete harder tonight, this is a do-or-die game for them, and we came out like, ‘It’s all great, we won a game here, let’s just go home.’ ”

Meanwhile, Randy Palmer of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald quoted Hunter saying:

“We’re like a boat carrying a couple of anchors in Halbgewachs and Gregor, who haven’t played very well in the four games so far, and that’s going to end because they’re going to be candidates for being sat out.

“I’m not carrying around two guys that I’ve warned and hoped would play better at this point, so we’re going to take some measures to change the lineup.”

Here’s Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post:

“I have seen (and heard) coaches who are upset with their teams. I have been involved in off-the-record conversations with coaches who are privately livid over the performance, or lack thereof, of a particular player.

“But rare is the day in which a head coach will publicly single out a skater — Hunter being a notable, quotable exception.

“Hunter is very good at what he does, as evidenced by his inclusion on Canada’s world junior coaching staff. Perhaps he will emerge from this series with an enhanced reputation, adding the unofficial title of ‘master psychologist’ to his resume.

“But if this ploy proves to be a failure, the fallout could last considerably longer than the Warriors’ 2016-17 season.”

 They’ll play Game 6 back in Swift Current on Saturday.

Smith’s complete story is right here.

Vanstone’s column is right here.

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F Garrett Pilon of the Kamloops Blazers has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Washington Capitals. They selected him in the third round of the NHL’s 2016 draft. . . . Pilon, who turns 19 on April 13, was born in Mineola, N.Y., but played minor hockey in Saskatoon. He is the son of former NHLer Rich Pilon. . . . Garrett had 47 points, including 15 goals, in 71 games as a WHL freshman in 2015-16. This season, he put up 20 goals and 45 assists in 67 games. . . . The Capitals said in a news release that Pilon will report to the AHL’s Hershey Bears when the Blazers’ season ends. They trail the Kelowna Rockets, 3-1, in a first-round series, with Game 5 in the Little Apple tonight (Friday). Pilon has one assist in the first four games of the series.

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JUST NOTES:

The junior B Pacific Junior Hockey League has expanded to 11 teams with the addition of the Langley Trappers, who will play out of the George Preston Recreation Centre. The Trappers are co-owned by Burt Henderson and Brad Bakken. Henderson will be the general manager and head coach, with Bakken as the assistant GM and associate head coach. Bakken, a defenceman in his playing days, got into 53 games over three seasons (2005-08) with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Interestingly, as Gary Ahuja of the Langley Times, points out, the Trappers arrive in Langley one season after the junior B Langley Knights moved to Surrey following the relocation of the Vancouver Giants from the Pacific Coliseum to the Langley Events Centre. . . . Ahuja’s story is right here.

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THE COACHING GAME:

The MJHL’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines issued a news release Thursday morning, stating that they are “accepting resumes for the position of head coach and for the position of assistant general manager.” . . . The Wolverines were 14-42-4 this season, finishing last in the 11-team MJHL, under general manager/head coach Barry Butler.

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The junior B Nanaimo Buccaneers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League have replaced general manager/head coach Dan Lemmon with Curtis Toneff, who had been an assistant GM/assistant coach with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters. . . . Toneff is a Nanaimo native. . . . The Buccaneers had a 31-16-1 regular-season record, the best in the franchise’s five-year history, then lost in five games to the Campbell River Storm in the North Division final. . . . Lemmon spent two seasons with the Buccaneers.

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Judd Lambert has resigned as head coach of the junior B Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific Junior Hockey League. This season, the Sockeyes were 22-13-3-5, good for third place in their division. The Sockeyes have yet to name a replacement. Lambert, a former Sockeyes goaltender, had been head coach for five seasons, before taking a year off. He returned for the 2013-14 season.

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The AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons have hired Kevin Hasselberg as their general manager and head coach. He replaces Brian Curran, whose contract wasn’t renewed after he finished his fifth season. Hasselberg, a native of Duchess, Alta., left the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars last summer for the SPHL’s Pensacola Ice Flyers. He had been GM and head coach of the North Stars for five seasons. Hasselberg took over from Rod Aldoff in Pensacola, but was fired and replaced by Aldoff on Feb. 13. . . . This season, the Dragons finished 22-33-5, good for sixth place in the eight-team Viterra South Division. . . . Hasselberg also spent six seasons as head coach of the AJHL’s Olds Grizzlies.

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Interesting how the pre-seasons for @MLB and @NBA are ending about the same time.

— Janice Hough (@leftcoastbabe) March 31, 2017

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THURSDAY GAMES:

Rebels were 2-23-2-1 when trailing through two periods in the regular season...they're 3-1 facing that scenario this week @Rebelshockey #WHL

— Troy Gillard (@Troy_Gillard) March 31, 2017

At Red Deer, F Evan Polei, who scored the OT winner in Game 3 on Wednesday night, broke a 3-3 tie on a wrap-around with 1:59 left in the third period as the Rebels beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 5-3. . . .

LANE ZABLOCKI

The Rebels will take a 3-1 series lead into Lethbridge for Game 5 on Saturday . . . The Hurricanes (44-21-7) finished second in the Central Division, 22 points ahead of the Rebels (30-29-13). . . . For the second straight game, the Hurricanes watched a two-goal lead disappear. . . . F Tyler Wong put Lethbridge ahead at 2:19 of the first period, with F Jordy Bellerive (1) making it 2-0 at 15:39. . . . Red Deer halved the deficit on F Lane Zablocki’s goal at 19:22. . . . The Rebels pulled even when F Brandon Hagel scored a shorthanded goal at 5:14 of the second period. . . . Wong’s fourth goal, on a PP, gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead at 17:58. . . . Zablocki’s fifth goal of the series, on a PP, got Red Deer back into a tie at 9:11. . . . Polei’s third goal snapped the tie and Hagel (4) added an empty-netter at 19:05. . . . Red Deer got four assists from F Michael Spacek and two from D Carson Sass. Polei added one to his goal. . . . D Igor Merezhko and F Egor Babenko each had two assists for Lethbridge. . . . The Rebels got 27 saves from G Riley Lamb, while Lethbridge G Stuart Skinner stopped 38 shots. . . . Lethbridge was 2-8 on the PP; Red Deer was 1-3. . . . The Hurricanes were without F Giorgio Estephan for a second straight game after he took a high-stick to the face from Spacek in the second period of Game 2. . . . Announced attendance: 5,213.

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We couldn't do it without YOU, the fans! Thank you for your support! See you next year! #PUREhockey pic.twitter.com/d2aTjIaO0T

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) March 31, 2017

At Calgary, the Regina Pats scored three second-period goals en route to a 5-1 victory over the Calgary

AUSTIN WAGNER

Hitmen. . . . The Pats, who finished atop the overall standings, swept the Hitmen from the first-round series. . . . Regina finished 42 points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, so a sweep wasn’t a surprise. . . . Going back to the regular season, the Pats now have won 12 straight games. . . . D Dallas Davidson broke open a goal-less game with his first goal at 2:51. . . . F Austin Wagner, who is from Calgary, made it 2-0 at 7:47 and then added more insurance at 19:25. Both goals came via the PP. . . . Wagner has three goals in these playoffs. . . . F Tristan Nielsen (1) got Calgary on the scoreboard, on a PP, at 7:03 of the third period. . . . Regina put it away on PP goals from D Connor Hobbs (1), an empty-netter at 17:53, and F Jeff de Wit (1), at 19:11. . . . Hobbs also had two assists. . . . G Tyler Brown stopped 20 shots to earn the victory over Cody Porter, who made 34 saves. . . . Regina was 4-6 on the PP; Calgary was 1-3. . . . Announced attendance: 7,246.

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MATT REVEL FOR PRESIDENT

— Chad Balcom (@hawkeyblog) March 31, 2017

At Portland, F Matt Revel scored two third-period goals to give the Winterhawks a 5-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars. . . . The series is tied, 2-2, with Game 5 in Prince George on Saturday. Then

MATT REVEL

they’ll head back to Portland for Game 6 on Monday. . . . Someone mentioned to me that if the series goes seven games, the Winterhawks will spend 90 hours on their bus. . . . A seventh game, if needed, would be played Wednesday in Prince George. . . . Last night, the Cougars got out to a 2-0 lead on first-period goals from F Aaron Boyd (3), at 8:12, and F Jesse Gabrielle (1), at 11:17. . . . The Winterhawks pulled even before the period ended, though, as F Evan Weinger (1) counted at 17:01 and F Skyler McKenzie (3) scored on a PP at 18:33. . . . F Keegan Iverson (2) gave the Winterhawks the lead at 8:20. . . . The Cougars roared back to take a 4-3 lead late in the period on goals from F Nikita Popugaev (1), on a PP, at 15:46 and F Radovan Bondra (2), at 17:24. . . . Revel, a late-season waiver pickup, tied the score, 4-4, at 8:54 of the third period, then got the winner at 15:34. . . . Revel suffered a collarbone injury while with the Kamloops Blazers during a game against the host Edmonton Oil Kings on Dec. 10. He was on the shelf as the Jan. 10 trade deadline arrived and the Blazers added F Lane Bauer, 20, from the Oil Kings. In order to make room, Kamloops put Revel on waivers. He played 11 late-season games with Portland, scored twice and adding an assist. . . . He went into last night’s game with a goal and six assists in 14 career playoff games. . . . The Winterhawks got a big game out of D Caleb Jones, who drew four assists, while F Cody Glass had two. . . . D Brendan Guhle had two assists for the Cougars, with Bondra getting one. . . . The Winterhawks got 29 saves from G Cole Kehler. . . . At the other end, G ty Edmonds stopped 27 shots. . . . Portland was 2-4 on the PP; Prince George was 1-3. . . . Portland F Brad Ginnell, the grandson of the late Pat Ginnell, a WHL legend in his day, made is playoff debut. . . . The Cougars scratched F Brad Morrison, who returned from an ankle injury to score a goal in Game 2, but struggled in Game 3. . . . Announced attendance: 4,491.

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FRIDAY GAMES (all times local):

Seattle vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m. (Seattle leads, 3-0)

Swift Current at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m. (Series tied, 2-2)

Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m. (Kelowna leads, 3-1)

Victoria at Everett, 7:35 p.m. (Series tied, 2-2)

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CHL, teams file financials with court . . . Toigo into B.C. Hall . . . Outhouse with back-to-back shutouts

F Zdeněk Bahenský (Saskatoon, 2004-06) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Sterzing/Vipiteno (Italy, Alps HL). He was released last week released from a tryout contract with Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga) that was signed on Jan. 10. He didn’t appear in a game for Mladá Boleslav. Earlier this season, he had two goals and nine assists in 22 games with Nové Zámky (Slovakia, Extraliga). He was released on Dec. 31.

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The CHL, along with 22 WHL teams and 20 from the OHL have obeyed a court order and turned over tax and financial statements dating back to 2011 as a potential class-action lawsuit continues to make its way through the courts. Rick Westhead of TSN reports that “the CHL has asked a judge to seal those records, which will be used to establish the profitability of teams and major junior leagues.” . . . There now are “at least 351 current and former players” involved in the lawsuit that asks that major junior players be paid at least minimum wage. . . . What’s next? Arguments over the sealing of the financial records are to be heard in Calgary on Jan. 24. . . . Westhead’s complete story is right here.

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Major junior operators have stated that if they were to pay minimum wage to players, some of their franchises would be forced out of business. If that’s the case, why not simply make all the tax and financial information available? That’s what Ken Campbell of The Hockey News wonders right here.

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They call it ‘Welcome to the World’ and it’s one of the best annual promotions in major junior hockey.

For a second straight season, the Saskatoon Blades are staging a ‘Welcome to the World’ promotion, with this one set for Jan. 22 as they play host to the Swift Current Broncos at 2 p.m.

The Blades and Ecologik, with help from the Open Door Society, will welcome newcomers to Canada to the game and will help turn it into a real experience.

From a Blades news release:

“Prior to the game, they will go through a ‘Hockey 101’ to learn all things about hockey. Then they will take in the Blades and Swift Current Broncos game, and afterwards they will all hit the ice with the Blades and try it out for themselves for the first time. There also will also be a citizenship ceremony taking place for 20 newcomers. This will mark the first time a junior hockey team has staged a citizenship ceremony in Western Canada.”

Last season, there were 400 newcomers on hand to take part in the event.

The Blades and Ecologik will take care of tickets and transportation for the newcomers. Bob Behari, Ecologik’s founder, arrived in Canada from India in 1977.

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John Diefenbaker was the prime minister of Canada when he rose in the House of Commons in Ottawa on April 29, 1966 and said: “I mention the historic nature of Prince Albert. I am not here for the purpose of advertising my constituency, but we are the only constituency in Canada that has ever been represented by three Prime Ministers.”

With 2017 being Canada’s 150th birthday, the Raiders will wear commemorative sweaters bearing the likenesses of Diefenbaker, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King during a game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Jan. 27.

The backs of the sweaters are the really neat part, as they contain quotes from each of those men.

Diefenbaker: “I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I think wrong and free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”

Mackenzie King: “A true man does not only stand up for himself, he stands up for those that do not have the ability to.”

Laurier: “We do not anticipate, and we do not want, that any individuals should forget the land of their origins or their ancestors. Let them look to the past, but let them also look to the future; let them look to the land of their ancestors, but let them look also to the land of their children.”

From a Raiders news release:

“The jerseys will be available through silent auction, beginning Wednesday, January 18 at 10 a.m. CT. Bids open at $250, but a jersey can be bought outright for $450. Online bidding will continue until 5 p.m. CT on Jan. 27. Any jerseys left unsold will be available through silent auction during the game. The winners will be declared five minutes into the third period.”

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Mark Cheyne, the owner of the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors, is in talks with the junior A league’s board of governors as he hopes to get the OK to move his franchise to North Delta, B.C., where it would play out of the Sungod Arena.

The governors’ two-day meetings wrap up today (Wednesday) in Richmond, B.C.

What makes Cheyne’s request so interesting is that the Warriors are the defending national champions.

“It’s about a chance to break even there because we just can’t break even here, you know,” Cheyne told Tom Zillich of Surrey Now. “It’s just a better move financially. With the Rockets here and everything, it’s just a case of (people) don’t support it here as well as they need to, that’s for sure, even with a national championship, a really good team last (season). I was told all along, for 10 years, that once we get over that hump, win the division, win something, things will change here drastically, but that’s just not the case.”

The Lower Mainland already is home to three other BCHL franchises -- the Coquitlam Express, Langley Rivermen and Surrey Eagles.

BCHL commissioner John Grisdale told Zillich before the meetings that “there may or may not be a decision on that. The league will look where it’s at, where its existing franchises are, to see what’s best for the league. We have 17 franchises, and we have to consider what’s best for them.”

It’s believed that the governors also would be talking about the possibility of a WHL franchise landing in Nanaimo in time for next season. Nanaimo has been home to a BCHL franchise, the Clippers, since 1972.

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The future of a new $86.6-million arena in Nanaimo will hinge on the outcome of a referendum that is likely to be held on March 11.

On Monday, Nanaimo city council approved a $130,000 budget for a referendum that it recommended be held on March 11.

Tamara Cunningham of the Nanaimo News Bulletin reports that the next steps are “for council to give the initial readings of a loan authorization bylaw, set the question for the vote, and for the chief election officer to formally give the election date.”

Cunningham’s story is right here.

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Ron Toigo, the majority owner and president of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, is among those who will be inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame on July 28 in Penticton.

Thomas Gradin and Tony Tanti, a pair of former Vancouver Canucks forwards, also will be inducted, while Dave Nonis, a former Canucks general manager, Brad Lazarowich, a one-time WHL on-ice official who went on to a lengthy career as an NHL linesman, and John Shannon of Rogers Sportsnet will join Toigo in the builders’ category.

Toigo was first involved in the WHL as the owner of the Tri-City Americans, a franchise he sold in 2000 when he purchased the Giants as an expansion franchise. He has been instrumental in bringing numerous events to Vancouver, including two World Junior Championships and a Memorial Cup tournament.

Also being inducted will be the Powell River Regals, who captured the 1997 Allan Cup title as Canada’s senior men’s champions.

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Former WHL star Joe Sakic will be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on May 21 in Cologne, Germany. That is the final day of the 2017 IIHF World Championship.

During his playing career, Sakic helped Team Canada win the 1988 World Junior Championship, 1994 World championship and 2002 Winter Olympic Games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.

Sakic, 47, played two seasons (1986-88) with the Swift Current Broncos. He was the Eastern Division’s most valuable player in 1986-87 and the league’s MVP for 1987-88. In 139 regular-season games, Sakic put up 293 points, including 138 goals.

Sakic now is the executive vice-president of hockey operations and general manager with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

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JUST NOTES:

Ryan Flaherty of Global TV in Saskatoon reports that Blades F Mason McCarty has “had a setback in his rehab” and will be out 3-4 more weeks. . . . McCarty last played on Nov. 25. He has 23 points, including 14 goals, in 26 games. . . . 

The Kootenay Ice has brought in F Peyton Krebs, who will turn 16 on Jan. 26, from the midget AAA UBA Bisons. From Okotoks, Alta., Krebs has 29 points, including 12 goals, in 23 games with the Bisons. He was the first-overall pick in the 2016 WHL bantam draft. He has two assists in three earlier games with Kootenay. . . . 

The Ice has named D Cale Fleury as team captain. F Vince Loschiavo, F Austin Wellsby and D Kurtis Rutledge are the alternate captains. The Ice played the first half of the season without a captain. 

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PM @JustinTrudeau took some time to meet with @ThomasChabot1 & @ju_gauth12 today #prettycool #WJC2017 #qmjhl #Qnation @SJSeaDogs pic.twitter.com/7fPZLbaF6J

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 18, 2017

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TUESDAY’S GAMES:

At Kamloops, G Connor Ingram made his first start for the Blazers since Dec. 4 and they beat the Moose Jaw Warriors, 4-1. . . . Ingram stopped 24 shots, losing his shutout bid at 11:24 of the third period when F

CONNOR INGRAM

Thomas Foster (12) scored on a PP. . . . Ingram spent the better part of a month with Canada’s national junior team and then got to spent a few days relaxing at his family’s home in Imperial, Sask. In his absence, G Dylan Ferguson made 15 straight starts. . . . F Garrett Pilon gave the Blazers a 1-0 lead with his 10th goal, at 9:50 of the first period. . . . D Joe Gatenby’s sixth goal, on a PP, 45 seconds into the second period would prove to be the winner. That was Gatenby's sixth goal in 45 games with Kamloops. He played his first 174 games with the Kelowna Rockets and have five goals. . . . F Deven Sideroff added his 26th goal, on another PP, at 1:31 of the third period, and F Rudolfs Balzers got his 24th goal at 10:09. . . . F Lane Bauer had two assists for Kamloops, with Pilon, Gatenby and Sideroff adding one apiece. . . . The Warriors got 32 saves from G Zach Sawchenko. . . . Kamloops was 2-4 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 1-3. . . . It was the 705th regular-season victory of Don Hay’s WHL head-coaching career. . . . With Ingram back, the Blazers returned G Max Palaga to the Kamloops-based Thompson Blazers of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. . . . Kamloops (27-16-3) has won two in a row and is second in the B.C. Division, two points ahead of the Kelowna Rockets, who are at home to the Warriors tonight. . . . Moose Jaw (26-12-7) has lost two in a row and is 1-2-0 on a B.C. Division swing. The Warriors are second in the East Division, a point ahead of the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Announced attendance: 3,295.

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At Prince George, the Cougars erased a 3-1 third-period deficit and beat the Portland Winterhawks, 4-3. . . . The teams are scheduled to meet again tonight in Prince George. . . . F Radovan Bondra got the

BRAD MORRISON

comeback started just 22 seconds into the third period with his 22nd goal. . . . F Kody McDonald tied the score with No. 10 at 9:15. . . . F Brad Morrison (18) broke the tie at 11:45. . . . F Jansen Harkins had given the home team a 1-0 lead with his 13th goal, at 9:07 of the first period. . . . Portland scored the next three goals. . . . F Ryan Hughes ran his goal streak to four games with No. 17, at 13:21 of the first. . . . F Skyler McKenzie got his 29th, shorthanded, at 4:03 of the second. . . . F Alex Overhardt made it 3-1 with a PP goal at 6:37. He’s got seven goals. . . . Harkins and McDonald added an assist. . . . D Henri Jokiharju had two assists for Portland. . . . G Ty Edmonds stopped 33 shots for the Cougars. . . . G Shane Farkas, making his first WHL start for the Winterhawks, made 34 saves. . . . Portland was 1-2 on the PP; Prince George was 0-3. . . . D Sam Ruopp and F Jesse Gabrielle were among the Cougars’ scratches. Ruopp has an undisclosed injury. Gabrielle sat out Game 1 of a three-game suspension. That was for a cross-checking major and game misconduct he incurred at the final buzzer of a game in Calgary on Jan. 14. . . . The Winterhawks are without F Keegan Iverson, their 20-year-old captain, who was hurt on Friday in a game against the visiting Spokane Chiefs and didn’t play Saturday in the rematch. Iverson isn’t on this four-game road trip. . . . Portland also scratched D Shaun Dosanjh, their other active 20-year-old. . . . Portland had F Ty Westgard in their lineup. Westgard, who turned 19 on Jan. 1, has been playing with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles. The Winterhawks acquired his rights from the Victoria Royals earlier this season. . . . The Cougars (32-12-2) have won four in a row. They are back atop the overall standings, one point ahead of the Regina Pats, who do hold five games in hand. . . . The Winterhawks (22-20-1) have lost two straight. They hold down the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. . . . Announced attendance: 2,555.

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Going back to last season, the @SeattleTbirds have won 4 straight regular season home games vs Everett. First time since 3/08-1/09.

— TBird Tidbits (@TBirdTidbits) January 18, 2017

At Kent, Wash., Seattle’s big line accounted for six points as the Thunderbirds beat the Everett Silvertips, 3-1. . . . Seattle F Ryan Gropp, playing on a line with Mathew Barzal and Keegan Kolesar, had two

RYAN GROPP

assists, giving him 200 career points. He has 93 goals and 107 assists in 228 games. . . . Barzal (4) scored the game’s first goal, at 12:42 of the first period. . . . Everett F Matt Fonteyne tied it with his 14th goal, on a PP, at 15:59. . . . Kolesar’s eighth goal, at 12:28 of the second period, would prove to be the winner. . . . Seattle F Alexander True put his 13th goal into an empty net at 19:29 of the third period. . . . Barzal and Kolesar each had an assist. . . . G Rylan Toth turned aside 23 shots for the Thunderbirds. . . . The Silvertips got 30 saves from G Carter Hart. . . . Everett was 1-4 on the PP; Seattle was 0-2. . . . The Silvertips were playing their fourth game (3-0-1) in five nights and their fifth in seven. They now get two days off before going into a three-game weekend. When that’s over, they will have played eight games in 12 days. . . . The Thunderbirds had beaten the host Silvertips, 4-3 in OT, on Saturday night. . . . Everett was without F Devon Skoleski, who didn’t finish Monday’s 5-4 victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets. . . . Linesmen Zach Brooks left in first period with an undisclosed injury. . . . Seattle (24-14-5) has won six straight and is a comfortable third in the U.S. Division, seven points behind the Tri-City Americans and seven ahead of the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Everett (28-6-8) had points in each of its previous five games (3-0-2). The Silvertips are third in the overall standings, one point behind the Regina Pats and two in arrears of the Prince George Cougars. . . . Announced attendance: 5,019.

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At Langley, B.C., G Griffen Outhouse stopped 25 shots to lead the Victoria Royals to a 3-0 victory over

GRIFFEN OUTHOUSE

the Vancouver Giants. . . . Outhouse has four shutouts this season and eight in his two-season career. He has posted back-to-back shutouts, stopping 61 combined shots, since giving up seven goals in a 9-2 loss to the visiting Kelowna Rockets on Friday. . . . D Ryan Gagnon gave the Royals a 1-0 lead at 6:35 of the first period and that was the only goal Outhouse would need to post his 24th victory this season. . . . The Royals got insurance from F Tyler Soy (19), at 4:32 of the second period, and F Matt Phillips (29), on a PP, at 11:45 of the third. . . . Vancouver G Ryan Kubic stopped 39 shots. . . . Victoria was 1-3 on the PP; Vancouver was 0-2. . . . These teams will meet again later this month when they clash on Jan. 27, 28 and 29. The first of those is scheduled for Langley, with the last two in Victoria. . . . Including this game, eight of Victoria’s final 27 games will be against Vancouver. . . . Vancouver F Tyler Benson missed his seventh straight game with an undisclosed injury. . . . Victoria (24-18-4) has won two in a row. The Royals are fourth in the B.C. Division, three points behind the Kelowna Rockets. Victoria is in possession of the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot. . . . Vancouver (16-26-3) has suffered six straight losses and is 10 points out of a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 3,675.

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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Red Deer at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Prince Albert vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.

Swift Current at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Portland at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Seattle at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Kamloops mourns loss of legend . . . Blades hold off Pats . . . Halbgewachs continues tear

ANDY CLOVECHOK

Andy Clovechok, who was Mr. Hockey in Kamloops, died on Saturday night at the age of 93.

In his latter years, Clovechok was part of induction ceremonies held by the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in Red Deer, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in Vancouver, the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame and the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame in Red Deer. Back in the day, he was a dynamite player with the Edmonton Flyers, who won the 1948 Allan Cup, and the Vancouver Canucks when they won the 1945-46 Pacific Coast Hockey League championship.

Clovechok won the PCHL scoring title that season, with 103 points, including 56 goals.

His name also is on a Blazers Legend banner that hangs from the rafters in the Sandman Centre in Kamloops. He served for 24 years on the Blazers’ board of directors when the franchise was owned and operated by the non-profit Kamloops Blazers Sports Society.

Clovechok and his lovely wife, Molly, were married for more than 69 years.

If you click right here you will find a story I wrote on Clovechok as he was about to be inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame with the Canucks.

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D Jason Fram, who played five seasons (2011-16) with the Spokane Chiefs, has chosen to end his professional career and return to school. From Delta, B.C., Fram, 21, will attend the U of Alberta and play for the Golden Bears when the Christmas break is over. . . . In 308 regular-season games with Spokane, he had 187 points, including 155 assists. He was an eighth-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2010 bantam draft. . . . This season, he was pointless in two games with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda and had two goals in six games with the ECHL’s Allen Americans.

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Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province has a column right here that explains how consumers are getting hosed in the world of new media. The sad thing is that he is hammering the nail right on the head, but it won’t matter. . . . How else to explain the fact that the folks at Rogers, who are mentioned here by Willes, assign Cassie Campbell-Pascall to provide analysis on a Saturday night NHL game involving Calgary when she is married to one of the Flames’ assistant general managers? It seems that neither optics nor perception matter to the pooh-bahs these days.  

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If you’ve got a comment, some information you would like to pass along, or if you just want to say hello, feel free to contact me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to the cause, please visit the bottom of this post and go right ahead.

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SATURDAY’S GAMES:

Nick Bowman gets the coveted #TeddyBearToss goal! Congrats Nick!🎉👍🐻 pic.twitter.com/9rsnG0LweS

— Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings) December 11, 2016

At Edmonton, the Kamloops Blazers opened a six-game tour of the Central Division with a 3-2 victory

DYLAN FERGUSON

over the Oil Kings. . . . F Collin Shirley, the team captain, led Kamloops with two goals, giving him 13 this season. . . . F Erik Miller, who is from Sherwood Park, Alta., gave Kamloops a 1-0 lead at 3:24 of the first period. . . . Shirley upped the lead to 2-0 at 1:56 of the second period, on a PP. . . . Edmonton F Nick Bowman scored his first goal, at 13:38, and it was the Teddy Bear Goal. . . . Shirley added insurance at 18:41 of the second. . . . F Colton Kehler (8) scored 56 seconds into the third period to get the Oil Kings to within a goal. . . . Kamloops F Garrett Pilon drew three assists. . . . With G Connor Ingram in the Canadian junior team’s selection camp, the Blazers have turned to Dylan Ferguson. He made 36 saves to record the victory. . . . The Oil Kings got 34 stops from Patrick Dea. . . . Edmonton was 1-4 on the PP; Kamloops was 1-5. . . . The Blazers (18-12-1) have won four in a row. They are third in the B.C. Division, two points behind the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Oil Kings (14-15-2) have lost two straight. They hold down one of the Eastern Conference’s two wild-card playoff spots. . . . Kamloops lost F Matt Revel with an undisclosed injury in this one. . . . Announced attendance: 18,102.

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At Cranbrook, B.C., F Jake Kryski and F Calvin Thurkauf each had two goals and two assists to help the

CALVIN THURKAUF

Kelowna Rockets to a 7-3 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . Thurkauf, who has 15 goals, scored twice in the first period as the visitors took a 3-0 lead. . . . Kelowna F Rod Southam (8) scored a shorthanded goal between Thurkauf’s goals. . . . Ice D Troy Murray scored the Teddy Bear Goal at 1:51 of the second period. . . . Kelowna F Leif Mattson (2) got that one back at 3:37 for a 4-1 lead. . . . Ice F Vince Loschiavo (10) made it 4-2 at 4:15, but Kelowna scored the next three goals, with F Kole Lind getting No. 17 and Kryski scoring twice. He’s got nine. . . . F Max Patterson, the son of former NHLer Ed Patterson, completed the scoring with his third goal, on a PP, at 10:37 of the third. . . . Kelowna G Brodan Salmond stopped 15 shots. . . . Kootenay starter Payton Lee allowed five goals on 17 shots through two periods. Jakob Walter came on in relief and stopped six of eight shots in the third period. . . . The Rockets got two assists from F Tomas Soustal, while Southam added one to his goal. . . . Ice F Zak Zborosky had two assists. . . . Kootenay was 2-5 on the PP; Kelowna was 0-5. . . . The Rockets (19-11-1) are 6-0-1 in their last seven games. They are second in the B.C. Division, seven points behind the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Ice (6-19-8) has lost three in a row (0-2-1). . . . Announced attendance: 1,739.

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At Medicine Hat, F Chad Butcher and F Mason Shaw each had two goals and an assist as the Tigers dumped the Calgary Hitmen, 7-4. . . . Medicine Hat took control of this one with four first-period goals. . . . F Max Gerlach (20) scored the Teddy Bear Goal, on a PP, at 5:26. Butcher got No. 13 at 6:21. F Ryan Chyzowski (4) followed at 9:58. Shaw got his seventh at 16:09. . . . Calgary F Andrew Fyten (3) cut into the lead at 1:22 of the second period, but the Tigers scored twice before the period ended. F John Dahlstrom (16) struck at 3:57 and Butcher got his 14th at 18:30. . . . The Hitmen made things interesting with three third-period goals, to get to within 6-4. F Justyn Gurney (1) scored at 2:33, followed by F Jakob Stukel (8) at 9:37 and F Matteo Gennaro (10) at 12:05. . . . Shaw finished it with an empty-netter at 19:50. . . . D Clayton Kirichenko, F Ryan Jevne and D David Quenneville each had two assists for the Tigers. . . . Medicine Hat G Nick Schneider stopped 34 shots in earning his WHL-leading 20th victory. . . . The Hitmen got 33 stops from Cody Porter. . . . The Tigers were 1-6 on the PP; the Hitmen were 0-2. . . . Medicine Hat (22-10-1) snapped a five-game losing streak. The lead the Central Division by seven points over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Calgary (11-15-2) had won its previous three games and is six points out of a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 3,629.

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Just a reminder #mjwarriors vs #paraiders #thewhl #unfinishedbusiness pic.twitter.com/XCueG23DEv

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 11, 2016

At Moose Jaw, F Jayden Halbgewachs, the WHL’s leading sniper, scored the only goal of a shootout to give the Warriors a 5-4 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Halbgewachs scored his 25th goal and

JAYDEN HALBGEWACHS

added two assists in regulation time. . . . F Carson Miller’s first goal put the Raiders out front at 7:46 of the first period. . . . The Warriors then scored three in a row. . . . D Josh Thrower got the Teddy Bear Goal, his second, at 12:13. . . . F Noah Gregor (16) put the Warriors out front 42 seconds into the second period. . . . F Tanner Jeannot’s ninth goal put Moose Jaw ahead 3-1 at 1:13. . . . The Raiders tied it on second-period goals from F Spencer Moe (2), at 7:22, and F Cavin Leth (7), at 16:24. . . . Halbgewachs gave the Warriors a 4-3 lead with his 25th goal, at 1:11 of the third period. He’s got goals in eight straight games. . . . Moe forced OT with his second goal of the game at 12:03. . . . Jeannot also had an assist. . . . Moe added an assist to his brace of goals, while D Zack Hayes drew two helpers for the Raiders. . . . G Zach Sawchenko stopped 37 shots for the victory, five more than Prince Albert’s Nic Sanders. . . . The Raiders were 0-2 on the PP; the Warriors were 0-4. . . . The Warriors (18-6-5) have points in four straight (3-0-1). They are second in the East Division, seven points behind the Regina Pats . . . The Raiders (6-23-2) have lost four in a row (0-3-1) and are 16 points out of a playoff spot. . . . The Warriors dressed only 16 skaters. D Matt Sozanski (shoulder) and F Brett Howden (Team Canada selection camp) were among the scratches. . . . Announced attendance: 3,305.

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Squad goals. #Hawks pic.twitter.com/mG0cF6Bo8A

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) December 11, 2016

At Portland, F Skyler McKenzie scored three goals, including the Teddy Bear Goal, as the Winterhawks

SKYLER McKENZIE

beat the Everett Silvertips, 5-2. . . . McKenzie, who has 20 goals, opened the scoring with the Teddy Bear Goal at 2:31 of the first period. . . . The Silvertips then took a 2-1 lead on goals from F Patrick Bajkov (16), at 5:35 of the first period, and F Matt Fonteyne (7), on a PP, 30 seconds into the second period. . . . F Dominic Zwerger had two assists for Everett. . . . Portland F Keegan Iverson (13) tied the score at 6:20 of the second period and F Joachim Blichfeld (11) broke the deadlock at 8:17. . . . McKenzie, who also had an assist, completed his hat trick with a shorthanded goal, at 16:54 of the second, and a PP goal 50 seconds into the third. . . . According to Todd Vrooman, the Winterhawks’ radio voice, the last Portland player to score three times, including the Teddy Bear Goal, in the same game was F Joe Balej. He did it on Dec. 11, 1999, in a 5-4 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . McKenzie has 20 goals and 20 assists in 32 games this season. He went into this season with 12 goals and 29 assists in 138 regular-season games. . . . Iverson added three assists to his goal, while Blichfeld had one. . . . Portland G Cole Kehler made 39 saves, while Everett’s Mario Petit blocked 33. . . . Everett was without G Carter Hart and D Noah Juulsen, both of whom are at the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp. . . . The Silvertips were 1-3 on the PP; the Winterhawks were 1-6. . . . The Winterhawks had lost nine straight games to Everett. . . . Portland (18-13-1) has won three in a row; it is 10-1-1 in its last 12 games. It is third in the U.S. Division, four points out of second. . . . Everett (21-4-5) had been 6-0-1 in its previous seven games. It leads the U.S. Division by six points over the Tri-City Americans. . . . Announced attendance: 10,095.

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So how's this for awesome:

JOSH Maser's first ever WHL goal from JOSH Curtis + JOSH Anderson. Has that ever happened b4? @TheWHL  @WHLFacts

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) December 11, 2016

At Prince George, D Brendan Guhle broke a 4-4 tie at 19:48 of the third period and the Cougars went on

BRENDAN GUHLE

to beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-4. . . . Guhle, in his first game since returning from playing three games with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, had two goals. He has seven goals this season, five of them in five games with the Cougars since he was acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . F Josh Curtis (4) and F Josh Maser (1) gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead with goals at 11:27 and 11:39 of the second period. . . . Seattle F Sami Moilanen got one of those back at 11:39, but Guhle scored his first goal at 14:15 for a 3-1 edge. . . . Moilanen, who has 10 goals, came right back, at 14:42. . . . Prince George F Brad Morrison’s 13th goal gave the Cougars a 4-2 lead at 15:18. . . . The visitors tied it on goals from F Scott Eansor 915), at 7:49 of the third period, and F Keegan Kolesar (3), at 18:36. . . . Curtis, who also had an assist, added an empty-netter at 19:56. . . . F Jansen Harkins had two assists for Prince George. . . . Eansor had two assists for Seattle and Moilanen had one. . . . The Cougars got 37 saves from G Nick McBride, while Rylan Toth stopped 24 for Seattle. . . . Prince George was 0-4 on the PP; Seattle was 0-6. . . . The Cougars (22-8-2) had lost 3-2 to Seattle on Friday night. Prince George is two points out of top spot in the overall standings. . . . The Thunderbirds now are 16-11-3. They are in possession of a wild-card playoff spot and are just two points out of third place in the U.S. Division. . . . Announced attendance: 5,775.

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5k - If you're a fan of numbers divisible by 1,000, then you'll like that @bdnwheatkings Jordan Papirny just made career save number 5,000

— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) December 11, 2016

At Red Deer, F Brandon Hagel scored twice and F Michael Spacek had a goal and two assists to help the

BRANDON HAGEL

Rebels to a 6-1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The Rebels scored the game’s first three and last three goals. . . . Hagel now has 16 goals, as does Spacek. . . . The Rebels grabbed a 3-0 first-period lead on goals from F Evan Polei (13), Hagel and Spacek. . . . Brandon F Caiden Daley scored his first goal, on a PP, at 17:10 of the first period, but Red Deer D Jared Freadrich scored his third goal just 1:23 later. . . . Hagel scored his second goal, on a PP, in the second period. . . . Red Deer F Brandon Cutler scored his first goal at 15:07 of the third period. . . . The Rebels got two assists from each of D Colton Bobyk, F Austin Pratt and F Adam Musil, while Freadrich added one to his goal. . . . G Lasse Petersen stopped 22 shots for Red Deer, four fewer than Brandon’s Jordan Papirny. . . . The Rebels were 2-8 on the PP; the Wheat Kings were 1-8. . . . Red Deer (16-12-5) is 3-0-1 in its last four games. The Rebels are third in the Central Division, one point behind the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . The Wheat Kings (13-14-4) are 0-5-1 in their last six games. They went 1-6-1 on the road trip that ended last night, but remain in possession of a wild-card playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 4,471.

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Overage centre @jesseshynkaruk9 goes skyward to celebrate his OT winner for @BladesHockey. #WHL. pic.twitter.com/LkeVVL2gr6

— Darren Steinke (@StanksSports) December 11, 2016

At Regina, F Jesse Shynkaruk scored 35 seconds into OT to give the Saskatoon Blades a 2-1 victory

LOGAN FLODELL

over the Pats. . . . It was the first time this season that the Pats were held to fewer than two goals. . . . Shynkaruk has 10 goals this season. . . . F Robbie Holmes scored his first goal of the season to give Regina a 1-0 lead at 1:32 of the first period. . . . Saskatoon tied it on F Gage Ramsay’s fourth goal, at 17:44 of the second period. . . . Regina F Adam Brooks had his point streak snapped at 22 games. He put up 48 points, including 34 assists, in those 22 games. . . . Holmes has three career WHL goals, all against the Blades. . . . Saskatoon G Logan Flodell, who is from Regina, was sharp in making 39 saves. . . . G Tyler Brown stopped 29 shots for the Pats. . . . The Pats were 0-2 on the PP; the Blades were 0-4. . . . D Chase Harrison (concussion), F Sam Steel and F Austin Wagner were among Regina’s scratches. The latter two are in the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp. . . . The Blades improved to 12-18-2. They now are four points away from a playoff spot. . . . Regina (21-2-6) has points in eight straight (5-0-3). The loser point allowed the Pats to stay atop the overall standings, one point ahead of the Everett Silvertips. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484.

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2 - If your name's Brennan Menell & you play for the @WHLHurricanes, then you've scored 2 OT Winners in the past 4 days

— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) December 11, 2016

At Swift Current, D Brennan Menell scored 43 seconds into OT to give the Lethbridge Hurricanes a 5-4

BRENNAN MENELL

victory over the Broncos. . . . Menell has five goals this season. . . . The Hurricanes led the one 4-1 early in the third period, only to have the Broncos force extra time. . . . F Jordy Bellerive (12), who also had an assist, gave the Hurricanes a 1-1 lead at 1:32 of the first period. His 12 goals came in 30 games. Last season, he finished with 11 in 65 games. . . . The Broncos tied it on F Ryan Graham’s ninth goal, just 26 seconds later. . . . The Hurricanes scored the next three goals, with F Tanner Nagel getting No. 5 at 10:57, F Colton Kroeker notching his fourth at 17:38 and F Brett Davis getting his first at 7:43 of the second. . . . F Aleksi Heponiemi (7) got the comeback started 30 seconds into the third period. . . . D Colby Sissons cut the deficit to one with his fourth goal, at 11:10. . . . F Lane Pederson (14) tied it at 13:42. . . . The Broncos got two assists from D Max Lajoie, with Graham and Heponiemi each getting one. . . . G Ryan Gilchrist earned the victory with 38 saves, 12 more than Taz Burman of the Broncos. . . . Swift Current was 1-4 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-3. . . . The Hurricanes (17-11-4) have points in 11 straight (10-0-1) and are second in the Central Division. . . . The Broncos (15-10-7) have lost three in a row (0-2-1). They are third in the East Division, four points behind the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . Announced attendance: 1,828.

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It's nice when the visiting broadcasters are not biased. #WHLHockey pic.twitter.com/5oqSOENZ04

— Robert (Bob) Tory (@BTORY) December 9, 2016

At Kennewick, Wash., F Tyler Sandhu scored the game’s first and last goals and added two assists to l

TYLER SANDHU

ead the Tri-City Americans to a 4-3 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . Sandhu, who has eight goals, scored the Teddy Bear Goal just 36 seconds into the first period. . . . F Morgan Geekie upped the lead to 2-0 at 6:34. . . . The Royals tied it as F Matt Phillips scored his 23rd goal, on a penalty shot, at 16:50 of the first, and F Regan Nagy got his 10th, at 2:57 of the second period. . . . Geekie broke the tie with his 16th goal, on a PP, at 8:05. . . . Royals F Jack Walker (14), who also had an assist, tied it 3-3 just 21 seconds into the third period. . . . Sandhu scored the game-winner on a PP at 2:24 of the third. . . . The Americans got two assists from each of F Vladislav Lukin and D Juuso Valimaki. . . . The Americans got 29 stops from G Rylan Parenteau. . . . At the other end, Griffen Outhouse stopped 30 shots. . . . Tri-City was 3-5 on the PP; the Royals were 0-4. . . . The Americans (19-11-3) are 3-0-1 in their last four games. They are second in the U.S. Division, six points behind the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Royals (16-14-3) were 2-0-1 in their previous three games. They hold down a wild-card spot, but are just two points behind third-place Kamloops in the B.C. Division. . . . Announced attendance: 5,096.

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At Langley, B.C., F Hudson Elynuik broke a 2-2 tie at 18:54 of the second period and the Spokane Chiefs

HUDSON ELYNUIK

sent on to a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . F Taylor Ross (4) and D Tysen Helgesen (3) gave Spokane a 2-0 lead with goals at 15:24 of the first period and 4:09 of the second. . . . The Giants tied the score with two second-period PP goals, as F Johnny Wesley (6) scored at 8:50 and D Dylan Plouffe (3) counted at 17:14. . . . Elynuik got his 12th goal on a PP. . . . F Eli Zummack (2) added insurance at 9:26 and F Kailer Yamamoto, who also had an assist, got his 19th goal at 15:21. . . . Helgesen’s third goal came in his 30th game this season. He started the season with four goals in 119 regular-season games. . . . Spokane F Keanu Yamamoto drew an assist on Elynuik’s goal and now has the WHL’s longest active point streak — 11 games. . . . F Tyler Benson had two assists for the Giants. . . . F Ondrej Najman had two assists for Spokane, while Ross added one. . . . G Jayden Sittler stopped 31 shots for the Chiefs. . . . G Ryan Kubic turned aside 21 shots at the other end. . . . Vancouver was 2-7 on the PP; Spokane was 1-3. . . . The Chiefs (13-11-6) are 2-0-1 in their last three games and now are just three points out of a playoff spot. . . . The Giants (11-18-3) have lost three in a row (0-2-1) and are 10 points off the playoff pace. . . . Announced attendance: 2,972.

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SUNDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Kamloops at Calgary, 4 p.m.

Spokane at Everett, 4 p.m.

Kelowna at Lethbridge, 6 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Saskatoon, 4:05 p.m.

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TEDDY BEAR, TOQUE AND MITTEN TOSS GAMES:

Dec. 10: D Josh Thrower, 12:13 1st period, Prince Albert 4 at Moose Jaw 5 (SO).

Dec. 10: F Nick Bowman, 13:38 2nd period, Kamloops 3 at Edmonton 2.

Dec. 10: D Troy Murray, 1:51 2nd, Kelowna 7 at Kootenay 3.

Dec. 10: F Max Gerlach, 5:26 1st period, Calgary 4 at Medicine Hat 7.

Dec. 10: F Skyler McKenzie 2:21 1st, Everett 2 at Portland 5.

Dec. 10: F Josh Curtis, 6:02 2nd period, Seattle 4 at Prince George 6.

Dec. 10: F Tyler Sandhu, 0:36 1st period, Victoria 3 at Tri-City 4.

Friday, Dec. 16: Saskatoon at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 16: Portland vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Brandon at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Portland at Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Vancouver at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 21: Vancouver vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 26: D Micheal Zipp, 19:47 1st period, Lethbridge 4 at Calgary 2.

Dec. 2: D Artyom Minulin, 13:24 1st period, Calgary 1 at Swift Current 5.

Dec. 2: F Jordy Bellerive, 14:00 1st period, Red Deer 3 at Lethbridge 5.

Dec. 3: F Adam Musil, 14:27 1st period, Lethbridge 2 at Red Deer 3 (OT).

Dec. 3: D Ondrej Vala, 10:38 1st period, Vancouver 2 at Kamloops 5.

Dec. 3: F Nick Merkley, 6:54 2nd period, Brandon 1 at Kelowna 3.

Dec. 9: F Austin Glover, 0:32 2nd period, Moose Jaw 7 at Prince Albert 3. 

Dec. 9: F Riley Woods, 11:45 1st period, Swift Current 1 at Regina 8.
Dec. 9: F Keanu Yamamoto, 4:01 1st period, Kootenay 3 at Spokane 4.

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