PHOTO COURTESY MARK PETERSON/PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS
Prince Albert Raiders forward Riley Boychuk scores on a wide-open net past Red Deer net minder Matthew Kondro in the second period of a Raiders' 6-0 Game 2 win Saturday over the Rebels in Prince Albert.
sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews
Through the opening weekend of the WHL Playoffs, the Prince Albert Raiders have known nothing but leads.
The regular season Eastern Conference champions opened their first-round series with the No. 8 seed Red Deer Rebels with a pair of wins, taking a 4-1 victory Friday before blanking the Rebels 6-0 on Saturday.
Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes scored twice in Friday’s win, adding an assist for a three-point effort. Brock Cripps, a 2027 NHL Draft eligible defenceman, had a goal and a pair of assists as Prince Albert led 2-0 through 40 minutes. Michael Orsulak making 22 saves in his WHL Playoffs debut.
Orsulak found perfection in his second playoff appearance, stopping all 13 shots he faced for a shutout. Brayden Dube scored twice and 2026 NHL Draft eligible blue liner Daxon Rudolph had a goal and two assists.
Prince Albert has outshot Red Deer 79-36 through two games. Special teams has been an early factor for the Raiders, their power play running at 4-for-10 and Red Deer’s at 1-for-6. The two teams combined for 85 penalty minutes, 63 coming in Saturday’s game.
The series heads to Alberta with Game 3 tonight in Red Deer and Game 4 is Wednesday back in Red Deer. If needed, Game 5 would be Friday in P.A.
Edmonton (3) vs. Saskatoon (6)
Game 1: SAS 3, EDM 2
Game 2: EDM 4, SAS 3 OT
The Edmonton Oil Kings and Saskatoon Blades are setting up for a back-and-forth first-round series.
The No. 6 seed Blades took Game 1 Friday 3-2, holding off a late push from the Oil Kings who drew within one with 2:59 left in the contest. Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Laing opened the scoring for Saskatoon with a penalty shot goal.
The two teams traded goals in Game 2, with the Blades rattling off a pair in the last five minutes Saturday to force overtime. Edmonton defenceman Ethan MacKenzie scored on a power play with 3:06 left in the frame to tie the series.
Former Medicine Hat Tigers Hayden Harsanyi has three goals in the series.
The series shifts to Saskatchewan with Game 3 tonight and Game 4 Wednesday in Saskatoon. Game 5 is Friday back in Edmonton.
Calgary (4) vs. Brandon (5)
Game 1: CGY 1, BDN 0 3OT
Game 2: CGY 6, BDN 5 OT
There has been a lot of hockey played between the Calgary Hitmen and Brandon Wheat Kings to start the series.
The two teams needed triple overtime Friday to decide Game 1 and another overtime Saturday to finish Game 2, the Hitmen winning 1-0 and 6-5 respectively.
Calgary net minder Eric Tu and Brandon’s Filip Ruzicka were unbeatable in Game 1, as the two teams combined for 115 shots. Ethan Moore called game Friday, scoring after 105:11 minutes of play. It’s the longest 1-0 playoff game in the WHL Internet Era.
The two teams made up for the lack of offence in Game 2. Calgary led 2-0 after 20 and 3-2 through 40 minutes. A wild third period saw Brandon score three straight goals, Luke Mistelbacher with a pair, to lead 5-3. Calgary responded with a pair of their own, Axel Hurtig scoring with 1:11 left in the game to force another overtime.
On a power play, Moore, who scored in the third, tallied his second overtime winner of the series. Tu made 26 saves in the win, Ruzicka made 38 saves.
Both teams were held scoreless on three power plays Friday, Calgary was 2-for-4 on Saturday and Brandon 0-for-3.
Games 3 and 4 are in Virden, Man. due to arena availability tonight and Thursday.
Western Conference
Everett (1) vs. Portland (8)
Game 1: EVT 8, POR 1
Game 2: EVT 4, POR 1
The Everett Silvertips’ regular season dominance has continued into the playoffs.
The back-to-back Scotty Munro Champions kicked off their first-round series with the Portland Winterhawks in winning fashion, beating the No. 8 seed Winterhawks 8-1 Friday and 4-1 Saturday.
Everett outshot Portland 108-46 in the first two games, Silvertips starter Anders Miller made 44 saves over the weekend.
The Silvertips had six multi-point efforts Friday, Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen tallying two goals and an assist. The two teams combined for 67 PIMs in the game, Silvertips defenceman Kayd Ruedig received a five-minute charging major and a game misconduct in the third period, suspended for Saturday’s game.
Everett forward Matias Vanhanen had a goal and an assist Saturday.
The series heads to Portland for Games 3 and 4 tonight and Wednesday.
Penticton (2) vs. Seattle (7)
Game 1: PEN 3, SEA 2 OT
Game 2: PEN 4, SEA 1
The Penticton Vees picked up a pair of wins in their first look at the WHL Playoffs.
It took overtime Friday for the B.C. Divison champions to beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 before a 4-1 win Saturday gave them a 2-0 series lead.
Vees defenceman Charlie Michaud scored the OT winner Friday after a scoreless third period forced the extra time. Marek Sklenicka made 42 saves in the Seattle net.
Jacob Kvasnicka and Tristan Petersen each had a goal and an assist, Andrew Reyelts picked up his second win of the series.
Penticton’s power play has run at 30 per cent, capitalizing on three of nine chances. Seattle was scoreless on eight power plays.
Game 3 is tonight in Seattle, while Game 4 is Wednesday, also in Seattle.
Prince George (3)
vs. Spokane (6)
Game 1: P.G. 6, SPO 3
Game 2: P.G. 3, SPO 2
The Prince George Cougars took advantage of home ice to start the WHL Playoffs.
The Cougars beat the Spokane Chiefs twice, 6-3 Friday and 3-2 Saturday, for an early 2-0 series lead.
Nineteen-year-old rookie forward Brock Souch had a pair of goals and four assists Friday, Washington Capitals prospect Terik Parascak had a goal and two assists.
Chiefs forward Assanali Sarkenov received a checking to the head major and a game misconduct penalty Friday, receiving a two-game suspension.
The Cougars had a pair of multi-point efforts in Saturday’s win, with Souch and former Lethbridge Hurricanes Kooper Gizowski tallying a goal and an assist. Medicine Hat product Dawson Seitz had an assist.
Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Joshua Revensbergen picked up both Prince George wins, making a combined 62 saves.
Game 3 was Monday in Spokane, not complete by press time. Game 4 is Wednesday and if needed, Game 5 is Thursday, both in Spokane.
Kelowna (4)
vs. Kamloops (5)
Game 1: KEL 3, KAM 1
Game 2: KEL 5, KAM 1
The 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets started their playoffs win winning fashion.
They beat the Kamloops Blazers 3-1 Friday and 5-1 Saturday for a 2-0 series lead.
Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla had a goal and an assist Friday, tallying a pair of goals and an assist Saturday.
Kelowna scored three straight goals to take Game 1, Kamloops’ lone goal coming with five seconds left in the game.
A two-goal first and two-goal third period propelled Kelowna to a Game 2 win.
Harrison Boettiger combined for 50 saves for a pair of wins over the weekend.
Game 3 is tonight and Game 4 is Wednesday, both in Kamloops.
