WHL roundup: Winnipeg whips Regina 7-4 in power showdown

By The Canadian Press on February 18, 2023.

REGINA – It was billed as the Number 1 team in the country versus the Number 1 player.

Thanks to a five-goal outburst in the third period, the Winnipeg ICE were able to beat Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats 7-4 in Western Hockey League action on Saturday.

Zack Ostapchuk scored twice and added an assist as the ICE (43-7-1-0) rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the final period to post the road win.

Matthew Savoie also scored twice for the ICE, while Connor McClennon, Evan Friesen and Conor Geekie netted singles.

Bedard had a goal and two assists for the Pats (25-24-2-1). He led all players with seven shots on goal.

Stanislav Svozil, Brayden Barnett and Sam Oremba also scored for the Pats.

Both teams went 1-for-3 on the power play.

Elsewhere in the WHL:

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RAIDERS 5 WARRIORS 2

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Niall Crocker scored twice as the Prince Albert Raiders upset the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 5-2.

Landon Kosior, Eric Johnston and Aiden Oiring also scored for the Raiders (22-28-3-0).

Josh Hoekstra and Brayden Yager scored for the Warriors (33-19-0-3).

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WHEAT KINGS 3 BRONCOS 1

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. – Calder Anderson scored a goal and added an assist as the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Swift Current Broncos 3-1.

Nolan Flamand and Nate Danielson also scored for the Wheat Kings (22-24-7-0).

Drew Englot scored for the Broncos (25-24-1-2).

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HITMEN 7 OIL KINGS 2

EDMONTON, Alta. – David Adaszynski and Carter Yakemchuk each scored twice as the visiting Calgary Hitmen rolled over the Edmonton Oil Kings 7-2.

Sean Tschigerl, Vojtech Husinecky and London Hoilett also scored for the Hitmen (24-23-5-2).

Gavin Hodnett and Loick Daigle scored for the Oil Kings (8-42-3-0).

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REBELS 5 TIGERS 4 (OT)

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – Kai Uchacz’s second goal of the game, at 3:34 of overtime, lifted the visiting Red Deer Rebels over the Medicine Hat Tigers 5-4.

Mats Lindgren, Frantisek Formanek and Hunter Mayo also scored for the Rebels (37-13-1-3).

Shane Smith scored twice for the Tigers (22-22-8-1), while Brendan Lee and Cayden Lindstrom netted singles.

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THUNDERBIRDS 8 ROYALS 1

SEATTLE, Wash. – Jared Davidson and Kyle Crnkovic each scored twice as the Seattle Thunderbirds squashed the visiting Victoria Royals 8-1.

Lucas Ciona, Mekai Sanders, Sawyer Mynio and Brad Lambert also scored for the Western Conference-leading T-Birds (41-9-1-1).

Marcus Almquist scored for the Royals (15-34-5-1).

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AMERICANS 3 CHIEFS 0

KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Tri-City Americans got a 39-save shutout performance from Tomas Suchanek and coasted to a 3-0 win over the visiting Spokane Chiefs.

Deagan McMillan, Marc Lajoie and Jordan Gavin (empty net) scored for the Americans (26-20-5-2).

The Chiefs (11-36-2-4) outshot the hosts 39-33.

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BLADES 2 GIANTS 1

LANGLEY, B.C. – Conner Roulette’s goal at 13:30 of the third period lifted the visiting Saskatoon Blades to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Vancouver Giants.

Ty Thorpe gave the Giants (20-26-4-2) a 1-0 lead at 13:31 of the second period, but Jayden Wiens scored at 9:43 of the third to tie the game 1-1 at Langley Events Centre and set up Roulette’s heroics for the Blades (37-13-3-1).

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ROCKETS 3 WINTERHAWKS 1

KELOWNA, B.C. – Marcus Pacheco, Turner McMillen and Adam Kydd each scored as the Kelowna Rockets upset the visiting Portland Winterhawks 3-1.

Gabe Klassen scored for the Winterhawks (36-13-2-2), who led 1-0 after the first. The teams were tied 1-1 heading into the third.

It was the 19th win of the seasons for the Rockets (19-30-3-0), who are second-last in the WHL’s Western Conference.