 | |
| Tim Bozon (left) meets with Kootenay Ice athletic therapist Cory Cameron prior to Saturday night's game in Cranbrook. Bozon"s father, Philippe, credits Cameron with having saved Tim's life. (Photo from Cory Cameron's Twitter feed) |
 | |||
| Tim Bozon waves to the fans in Cranbrook as he takes part in a ceremonial faceoff prior to Saturday's WHL playoff game. (Photo from the WHL's Twitter feed) |
 |
| Players from the Calgary Hitmen come off their bench to shake hands with Tim Bozon during Saturday's night's ceremonial faceoff in Cranbrook. (Photo by Trevor Crawley / Cranbrook Daily Townsman) |
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area and want to donate, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9
---
According to Carlos Sosa of Turning Point Sports Management, F Mike Aviani of the Spokane Chiefs has signed an ATO with the Utica Comets, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. Aviani is a free agent. . . .
The Calgary Flames announced Saturday that D Brett Kulak of the Vancouver Giants has been assigned to the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. Kulak, a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NHL draft, has signed with the Flames. . . .
F Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats also has been assigned to Abbotsford. Klimchuk was a first-round selection by the Flames in the 2013 NHL draft. . . . Meanwhile, D Kyle Burroughs, the Pats’ captain, is to finish up with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He was a seventh-round selection by the New York Islanders in the 2013 NHL draft.
---
If you are a subscriber to Shaw-TV, you will be able to watch the second-round series between the Portland Winterhawks and Victoria Royals. In the first round, Shaw televised all six games of the series between the Calgary Hitmen and Kootenay Ice. . . . The Winterhawks and Royals will open with games in Portland on Friday and Saturday nights. During the regular season, these teams met four times -- Portland went 1-1-2; Victoria was 3-1-0. . . . The Winterhawks are the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed; the Royals are No. 3.
---
THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)(Edmonton wins, 4-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.
Saturday: Prince Albert 3 at Edmonton 5 (6,534)
Sunday: Prince Albert 1 at Edmonton 3 (6,584)
Tuesday: Edmonton 4 at Prince Albert 3 (2,881)
Wednesday: Edmonton 6 at Prince Albert 2 (2,727)
---
REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Brandon wins, 4-0)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.
Saturday: Brandon 6 at Regina 3 (6,200)
Sunday: Brandon 8 at Regina 4 (5,014)
Wednesday: Regina 4 at Brandon 5 (3,547)
Friday: Regina 1 at Brandon 5 (4,705)
---
CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Kootenay wins, 4-2)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.
Thursday: Kootenay 5 at Calgary 2 (6,649)
Saturday: Kootenay 0 at Calgary 5 (9,019)
Monday: Calgary 7 at Kootenay 6 (OT) (1,992)
Tuesday: Calgary 4 at Kootenay 5 (2,102)
Thursday: Kootenay 6 at Calgary 5 (6,826)
Saturday: Calgary 3 at Kootenay 5 (3,916)
INJURIES
Calgary: F Cal Babych, day-to-day; F Connor Rankin, day-to-day.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
---
MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
(Medicine Hat leads, 3-2)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.
Friday: Swift Current 1 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,512)
Saturday: Swift Current 2 at Medicine Hat 4 (3743)
Tuesday: Medicine Hat 1 at Swift Current 3 (2,840)
Wednesday: Medicine Hat 2 at Swift Current 3 (OT) (2,890)
Saturday: Swift Current 1 at Medicine Hat 4 (4,006)
Sunday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Swift Current: None.
---
WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. TRI-CITY (8)
(Kelowna wins, 4-1)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Tri-City, 0-3-1.
Saturday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,827)
Sunday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,041)
Tuesday: Kelowna 3 at Tri-City 4 (2,010)
Wednesday: Kelowna 5 at Tri-City 3 (2,189)
Friday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 4 (4,875)
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
---
PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
(Portland wins, 4-0)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.
Friday: Vancouver 3 at Portland 4 (9,756)
Saturday: Vancouver 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Tuesday: Portland 6 at Vancouver 3 (5,680)
Wednesday: Portland 6 at Vancouver 1 (5,142)
---
VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
(Victoria wins, 4-0)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.
Saturday: Spokane 1 at Victoria 2 (OT) (6,615)
Sunday: Spokane 3 at Victoria 4 (OT) (4,629)
Wednesday: Victoria 6 at Spokane 1 (3,412)
Thursday: Victoria 4 at Spokane 2 (3,711)
---
SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
(Seattle wins, 4-1)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett 1 at Seattle 2 (4,650)
Sunday: Seattle 3 at Everett 1 (4,150)
Tuesday: Everett 3 at Seattle 4 (OT) (5,176)
Friday: Seattle 1 at Everett 6 (4,908)
Saturday: Everett 0 at Seattle 4 (3,526)
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
Everett: F Kohl Baum, indefinite; D Noah Juulsen, day-to-day; D Cole MacDonald, day-to-day; F Tyler Sandhu, day-to-day.
---
THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Brandon at Edmonton, noon
Tuesday, April 8: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite; F Reid Petryk, day-to-day.
Brandon: None.
---
MEDICINE HAT (4)/SWIFT CURRENT (5) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Season series: Swift Current, 1-2-1; Kootenay, 3-1-0.
Dates to be announced.
INJURIES
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
---
WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA 1 vs. SEATTLE (4)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday, April 13: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 15: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, day-to-day; D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
---
PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
Saturday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7 p.m.
Monday, April 7: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Thursday, April 10: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday, April 12: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
---
SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Medicine Hat, F Chad Butcher scored his third goal of the series, and his third game-winner, as the Tigers dropped the Swift Current Broncos, 4-1. . . . The Tigers lead the series 3-2 -- yes, Butcher has all three of his club’s game-winners -- and can wrap it up tonight in Swift Current. . . . Butcher, who is from Kamloops, went into these playoffs with eight goals in 101 regular-season games, including six goals in 63 games this season. . . . Butcher and F Jaedon Descheneau of the Kootenay Ice lead the playoffs, each with three GWG. . . . After a scoreless first period, the Tigers got a second-period goal from F Trevor Cox, who finished with two goals and an assist. . . . Medicine Hat then took control with goals 64 seconds apart early in the third period by Butcher (2:26) and Cox (3:30). . . . F Nate Burns scored for the Broncos at 10:18, on the PP. . . . The Tigers got an empty-netter from Cole Sanford as time ran out. . . . Sanford also had two assists, as did teammate Dylan Bredo. . . . The battle of the European goaltenders continued, as Medicine Hat’s Marek Langhamer stopped 45 shots, five more than Eetu Laurikainen of the Broncos. . . . The Broncos were 1-for-2 on the PP; the Tigers were 0-for-2.
In Cranbrook, the Calgary Hitmen simply couldn’t contain the Kootenay forward duo of Jaedon Descheneau and Sam Reinhart again, as the Ice scored a 4-1 victory and won the first-round series in six games. . . . The Hitmen had finished the regular-season with 103 points, 20 more than the Ice. Calgary went in as the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed; the Ice were No. 6. . . . Descheneau and Reinhart each scored 17 points in the six games. They are tied for the lead in the WHL postseason scoring race. . . . Last night, Descheneau scored three times, giving him a WHL-leading seven goals, and added an assist, while Reinhart had three assists. . . . The Ice scored the game’s first three goals, before F Brady Brassart got Calgary on the board at 4:28 of the third period. . . . Descheneau got that one back, on the PP, at 11:02. . . . Calgary head coach Mike Williamson pulled G Chris Driedger for the extra attacker with about four minutes to play. Descheneau promptly hit a post, and the Hitmen went down the ice and got a goal from F Adam Tambellini, his fifth, to get to within two. . . . Just 1:12 later, Calgary F Radel Fazleev scored to cut the deficit to 4-3. . . . However, Descheneau got his third goal of the night into an empty net with 36.9 seconds left. . . . Ice G Wyatt Hoflin stopped 36 shots, five more than Driedger. . . . Kootenay was 1-for-5 on the PP; Calgary was 0-for-4. . . . Ice F Tim Bozon, who spent the last month in Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon battling meningitis, took part in a ceremonial faceoff. The Calgary players came off the bench to shake Bozon’s hand. . . . Attendance was announced at 3,917, the largest crowd in Cranbrook since April 4, 2007, when the Hitmen beat the Ice 3-2 in Game 7 of a first-round series. The attendance that night was 4,654.
In Kent, Wash., F Branden Troock scored twice and G Taran Kozun stopped 24 shots to lead the host Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-0 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Thunderbirds, the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, next will meet the No. 1 Kelowna Rockets. Last season, these teams met in a first-round series that Kelowna won in seven games, with five of the games needing OT. The Rockets won the first three games of that series, only to have the Thunderbirds come back to win the next three. . . . F Scott Eansor scored the game’s first goal last night, his third of the series, at 12:59 of the second period. He scored three goals in 52 games in the regular season. . . . Kozun is seeing his first career playoff action in this series. This was his first shutout. He went 2.27, .927 in the five games. . . . The Thunderbirds hadn’t won a playoff series since the spring of 2008. They lost in the first round last season, missed the playoffs each of the three seasons before that, and were ousted in the first round in 2009. . . . Seattle F Mitch Eliot, 20, had a goal and an assist, his first career playoff points in 12 games. . . . Everett G Austin Lotz stopped 26 shots. . . . The Silvertips were without two of their top four defencemen, as Noah Juulsen and Cole MacDonald both were out with undisclosed injuries. Juulsen was injured in Game 3, while MacDonald went down in Game 4. . . . By the way, it’s worth listening to Seattle play-by-play man Thom Beuning, just to hear his line -- “You can’t handle the Troock!” -- on the occasions when Troock scores.
---
From Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon(@timbozon94): “Unforgettable night at the ice game tonite! Thank you so much everyone for great support was good to see everyone! Great win #goice”
---
From Kootenay Ice F Jaedon Descheneau (@jdescheneau14): “Unforgettable night watching Timmy walk onto the ice. Brought a tear to my eye knowing how far he came since that night Love ya @timbozon94”
---
From WHL Facts (@WHLFacts): “4 - In the 7 years since the WHL began the 1-8 format, the 7 has upset the 2 four times in the East. The 7s won a total of 4 games out West.”
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.
F Gal Koren (Kelowna, 2010-11) has signed with Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga) for the rest of this season. He had one goal in 23 games with Medvescak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL) and eight points, four of them goals, in 15 games with Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga) this season. . . .
F Richard Rapac (Moose Jaw, Prince George, 2006-07) has signed with Banska Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga) for the rest of this season. This season, with Litvonov (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had two points in 17 games. He also was on loan to Most (Czech Republic, 1.Liga) and had two goals in six games.
In Vancouver, the Giants scored three first-period goals, two of them via the PP, en route to a 7-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . The Giants ended a five-game losing streak. . . . D Tyler Morrison, with his sixth, D Mason Geertsen, with his third, and F Jackson Houck (28) got the Giants rolling in this one. . . . Houck hadn’t scored in 10 games. . . . Vancouver F ‘Citizen’ Cain Franson later got his 23rd, and then got No. 24. He also had two assists. . . . Vancouver F Joel Hamilton had a goal, his seventh, and three assists, while Houck also had two assists. . . . F Matt Bellerive, a former Vancouver skater, scored twice for Kamloops, giving him 13. . . . The Giants finished 3-for-4 on the PP. Kamloops was 0-for-3. . . . Vancouver held a 51-21 edge in shots. . . . Kamloops G Cole Kehler, 16, stopped 44 shots, 25 more than Vancouver’s Jared Rathjen. . . . F Johnny Wesley, who signed with the Giants earlier this month, made his WHL debut. . . . Kamloops had F Matt Needham, the team captain, on the bench in a coaching capacity. Injuries have limited Needham to 37 games, including just one since Dec. 29. He last played on Jan. 24. . . . Vancouver D Dalton Thrower (ankle) missed his 11th game. The Giants are 4-5-2 without him. . . . Vancouver (28-23-10) is in sole possession of sixth place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Blazers (12-43-5) are 2-18-1 in 2014. They are again tied with the Lethbridge Hurricanes (12-43-5) in the WHL’s cellar. . . . 
In Kent, Wash., the Prince George Cougars erased an early 3-0 deficit and beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-4. . . . Seattle scored three times in the game’s first 6:48. . . . Prince George F Jansen Harkins broke a 3-3 tie at 5:48 of the second period and drove Seattle G Danny Mumaugh to the bench having allowed four goals on 23 shots. The Cougars promptly scored on their first two shots on G Taran Kozun, who relieved Mumaugh. . . . F Zach Pochiro scored twice, giving him 26, and added an assist for the Cougars, while F Troy Bourke got his 25th goal and had two helpers. . . . Prince George F Todd Fiddler had his 39th goal and an assist. . . . Cougars G Ty Edmonds came on in relief with his side down 3-0 and stopped 39 of 40 shots. . . . F Jaimen Yakubowski scored twice for Seattle, giving him nine goals. . . . Prince George D Wil Tomchuk missed the early part of the game with skate problems so wasn’t on the ice for any of Seattle’s early goals. At game’s end, he had one assist and was plus-4. . . . The Cougars (25-29-8) are two points behind the Tri-City Americans, who hold down the Western Conference’s last playoff spot. . . . Seattle (37-18-5) is fourth, five points behind the Victoria Royals and eight in front of the Spokane Chiefs. . . . 
In Spokane, Chiefs F Mitch Holmberg became the WHL’s first 50-goal man this season in a 5-3 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . Holmberg scored twice, giving him 51, and added an assist. The three points also moved him to 100 on the season and put him into a tie with Portland Winterhawks F Nic Petan for the lead in the points derby. . . . Spokane and Portland each has 13 regular-season games remaining. . . . Holmberg has 136 regular-season career goals, 10 behind F Pat Falloon (1988-91), who holds the franchise record. . . . F Mike Aviani helped the Chiefs with his 32nd goal and two assists, while F Adam Helewka had three assists. . . . Helewka, an 18-year-old sophomore from Burnaby, B.C., has 42 points, including 20 goals, in 49 games. Last season, he finished with 27 points, 10 of them goals, in 60 games. . . . Everett F Josh Winquist got his 38th goal of the season. . . . G Carter Hart, 15, made his WHL debut by starting for the Silvertips. He stopped 20 shots. A native of Sherwood Park, Alta., Hart is wearing No. 70. . . . Spokane G Eric Williams turned aside 34 shots. . . . This was Spokane’s 18th straight home-ice victory over Everett. . . . The Chiefs (33-20-5) are fifth in the Western Conference. . . . Everett (28-22-8) is seventh, two points behind Vancouver and four ahead of Tri-City.
D Joe Hicketts of the Victoria Royals, who hasn’t played since Oct. 26, will soon be back in action. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist reports that Hicketts needs medical clearance and then could return this weekend. Hicketts had surgery to repair a torn tendon in one arm. . . . The Vancouver Giants visit Victoria on Friday and Saturday. If Hicketts doesn’t play then, he could return Tuesday or Wednesday against the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
F Nikita Scherbak of the Saskatoon Blades isn’t likely to play tonight against the Pats in Regina. Scherbak was injured during a late-game scrum in a 10-6 loss to the visiting Prince George Cougars on Wednesday. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more 
The Kamloops Blazers are expected to have F Jake Kryski, who will turn 16 on March 8, in their lineup for a home-and-home set with the Kelowna Rockets this weekend. They’ll play tonight in Kamloops and Saturday in Kelowna. . . . Kryski was selected by the Prince Albert Raiders with the 12th overall pick in the 2013 WHL bantam draft. The Blazers acquired him in a deal that had G Cole Cheveldave, 20, move to the Raiders. . . . Kryski, who is from Vancouver, has 32 points in 28 games with the major midget Okanagan Rockets. He earlier played two games with the Blazers, picking up two assists.
battle with cancer. He was 50.
It was a wild night in Saskatoon where the Prince George Cougars scored five goals in the first 12 minutes and went on to beat the Blades, 10-6. . . . It ended with Saskatoon D MacKenzie Johnston having to be restrained at the Cougars’ dressing room. . . . F Brad Morrison, 16, had a goal and three assists for the Cougars, who got two goals from each of F Jansen Harkins and F Zach Pochiro. . . . The Cougars scored their first five goals on seven shots. . . . Saskatoon G Nathan Alalouf, in from the junior B Osoyoos, B.C., Coyotes, made his WHL debut in relief of G Troy Trombley after Prince George’s fifth goal. Alalouf, who is replacing the injured Alex Moodie, gave up two goals on eight shots and Tremblay was back to start the second. . . . Saskatoon F Cameron Hebig came up empty on a second-period penalty shot with his side trailing 7-3. . . . Johnston was upset after Cougars F Aaron Macklin roughed up Saskatoon F Nikita Scherbak at 19:18 of the third period. . . . The Cougars (20-26-7) remain eight points out of the Western Conference’s final playoff spot. . . . The Blades (14-34-4) are 11th in the Eastern Conference. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix was there and his report is 
In Calgary, the Tri-City Americans scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Hitmen, 4-1. . . . F Greg Chase got Calgary on the board with his 28th goal at 1:24 of the third period. . . . Tri-City F Brian Williams, with his 30th, got his side even at 3:04 and F Braden Purtill got his eighth at 11:34. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie stopped 39 shots, while his younger brother, Ty, scored his third goal of the season, giving the Americans a 3-1 lead at 16:46 of the third period. . . . Williams later added an empty-netter. . . . Tri-City F Phil Tot, 20, who is from Calgary, had two assists as he played in his hometown for the final time. . . . The Americans (25-21-5) are 5-0-1 in their last six games; they are eighth in the Western Conference, three points behind the Everett Silvertips and Vancouver Giants. . . . The Hitmen (31-13-6) are second in the Central Division, three points behind the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . 
In Medicine Hat, the Tigers opened up a 5-0 lead in the second period and went on to a 6-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Tigers were 3-for-4 on the PP. . . . F Trevor Cox had a goal, his 15th, and two assists for Medicine Hat, while D Tyler Lewington drew three assists. . . . Among the Ice’s scratches was F Jaeden Descheneau, who has an undisclosed injury. . . . Tigers F Curtis Valk picked up a goal to run his goal-scoring streak to eight games. That’s two games longer than anyone else in the WHL this season. . . . Ice F Luke Philp scored once as he ran his point streak to 11 games, the longest ongoing streak in the WHL. . . . The Tigers (29-17-3) are fourth in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Calgary Hitmen and three ahead of the Swift Current Broncos. . . . The Ice (25-21-4) is eighth in the conference, five points ahead of Prince Albert and one behind the Regina Pats. . . . 
F Brooks Maxwell of the Red Deer Rebels ended a seven-round shootout and gave his guys a 4-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Brandon F Peter Quenneville had forced OT with his 16th goal at 18:18 of the third period. . . . Brandon is 0-1-1 as it plays four games in five nights on an Alberta tour. . . . Brandon F Rihards Bukarts was tossed with a kneeing major at 13:13 of the first period. He had scored his 19th goal of the season at 6:43. . . . Red Deer G Patrik Bartosak stopped 39 shots. . . . Brandon F Kord Pankewicz didn’t play again after a first-period scrap with Red Deer F Evan Polei. . . . The Rebels (27-21-2) have won five in a row and are sixth in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Swift Current and one ahead of Regina. . . . The Wheat Kings (26-18-6) used the loser point to pull into a tie with the Broncos atop the East Division. . . . 
F Paul Bittner had two goals and two assists to help the host Portland Winterhawks to an 8-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . It was the third meeting between these teams in the last six days, with Portland going 3-0-0 (5-1 and 8-1 at home; 6-2 in Everett). . . . Bittner, who has 14 points in his last seven games, scored his side’s first two goals, breaking a 1-1 tie at 13:20 of the first period with his 16th goal. . . . Portland D Garrett Haar and D Mathew Dumba each had two assists and was plus-4. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic scored his 30th goal of the season. . . . The Winterhawks have won eight straight games. . . . Everett, which was 1-for-9 on the PP, has lost a season-high five in a row. . . . The Winter hawks (34-12-5) are 9-0-1 in their last 10; they are atop the U.S. Division, six points ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Everett (25-18-8) is tied with the Vancouver Giants for sixth in the Western Conference, eight points behind the Spokane Chiefs. . . . 
At Vancouver, F Dalton Sward had two goals and an assist as the Giants beat the Kamloops Blazers, 4-3. . . . Sward has 15 goals. . . . The Giants, who are 6-0-0 versus Kamloops this season, opened up a 3-0 lead in the first period, only to have the Blazers get two goals from F Cole Ully, who has 22. . . . Sward then restored the two-goal lead, only to have Kamloops F Collin Shirley get his eighth at 13:40 of the third. . . . Vancouver F Cain Franson iced it with his 18th goal at 14:49. . . . Vancouver F Travis McEvoy came up empty on a first-period penalty shot. . . . Kamloops G Cole Kehler, 16, stopped 26 shots, 10 more than Vancouver’s Payton Lee. . . . Vancouver was without D Dalton Thrower (ankle) and F Trent Lofthouse (undisclosed). As well, a flu bug has been making its way through the room and it kept D Brett Kulak, F Luca Leone and F Ty Ronning out of the lineup. . . . The Giants had F Tyler Benson, the first pick in the 2013 bantam draft, in the lineup for his third game this season. He has 72 points in 37 games at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. . . . Vancouver also dressed D Ryely McKinstry, who was the 23rd overall selection in the 2014 draft. McKinstry, who has 20 points in 28 games with the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes, made his WHL debut. . . . The Blazers, who lost D Sam Grist and D Connor Clouston to undisclosed injuries on Tuesday, had D Cameron Reagan, 16, and F Quinn Benjafield, who turns 16 on Feb. 2, make their WHL debuts. Also added to the roster was F Deven Sideroff, 16, who played his third game this season. . . . The Giants (25-19-8) are tied with Everett for sixth in the Western Conference. . . . The Blazers (11-35-5) have lost four in a row as they prepare to go home and home with the Kelowna Rockets this weekend. . . .
In Kelowna, the Spokane Chiefs scored the last three goals of regulation time and then scored the lone goal of a six-round shootout to beat the Rockets, 6-5. . . . Kelowna had one nine in a row at home. . . . Spokane D Reid Gow scored the first and last goals of regulation time, his fourth goal of the season, on the PP at 15:24 of the third period, forcing OT. . . . Chiefs D Jason Fram scored the only goal of the skills competition. . . . Spokane F Mitch Holmberg, who leads the WHL points derby, had a goal and two assists. He leads the WHL in goals (46) and points (90). . . . Spokane F Adam Helewka had three assists. . . . F Ryan Olsen and D Damon Severson each had a goal and two assists for Kelowna. . . . Attendance was 4,628. . . . The Rockets (40-7-3) are atop the overall standings, 12 points ahead of the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . The Chiefs (31-15-4) are fifth in the Western Conference, one point behind the Seattle Thunderbirds and two behind the Victoria Royals.
Posts
