WHL roundup: Cougars pounce on Giants for 9-2 road win
By The Canadian Press on December 16, 2023.
LANGLEY, B.C. – What a difference 24 hours can make in the Western Hockey League. The visiting Vancouver Giants knocked off the powerful Seattle Thunderbirds 2-1 in overtime on Friday, then returned home Saturday and lost 9-2 to the visiting Prince George Cougars. Riley Heidt scored twice for the B.C. Division-leading Cougars (24-9-0-0), with singles added by Tyson Buczkowski, Zac Funk, Carlin Dezainde, Oren Shtrom, Hudson Thornton, Terik Parascak and Arjun Bawa. Funk also chipped in with three assists. Colton Roberts and Matthew Edwards scored for the Giants (12-18-2-0), who play their home games at Langley Events Centre. The Cougars led 4-0 after the first period and 7-2 heading into the third. The Cougars outshot the Giants 38-23. Elsewhere in the WHL on Saturday: — ROYALS 4 AMERICANS 3 VICTORIA, B.C. – Dawson Pasternak scored twice, including the game-winning goal at 13:54 of the second period, as the Victoria Royals edged the visiting Tri-City Americans 4-3. Cole Reschny and Logan Pickford also scored for the surging Royals (20-12-0-2). Alex Serraglio, Jordan Gavin and Carter MacAdams scored for the Americans (15-14-1-1). — ROCKETS 5 BLADES 4 (OT) SASKATOON, Sask. – Gabriel Szturc scored 1:18 into overtime to give the visiting Kelowna Rockets a 5-4 win over the Saskatoon Blades. Caden Price, Luke Schelter, Marek Rocak and Tij Iginla also scored for the Rockets (15-15-2-0). Egor Sidorov scored twice for the East Division-leading Blades (23-8-2-0), while Tyler Parr and Brandon Lisowsky netted singles. — WARRIORS 4 WHEAT KINGS 3 BRANDON, Man. – Brayden Schuurman scored the game-winning goal at 17:05 of the third period as the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors edged the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-3. Dakota MacIntosh scored twice for the Warriors (18-14-0-2), while Martin Rysavy netted a single. Carter Klippenstein, Brett Hyland and Rylen Roersma scored for the Wheat Kings (16-12-4-1). — SILVERTIPS 7 THUNDERBIRDS 1 EVERETT, Wash. – Teague Patton scored twice as the Everett Silvertips blitzed the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 7-1. Hayden Smith, Carter Bear, Brek Liske, Ty Gibson and Julius Miettinen also scored for the Silvertips (21-12-1-1). Sam Popowich scored for the Thunderbirds (12-14-2-0). — TIGERS 7 HURRICANES 2 MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – Kadon McCann scored twice as the Medicine Hat Tigers thumped the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 7-2. Tyler MacKenzie, Gavin McKenna, Hunter St. Martin, Shane Smith and Tomas Mrsic also scored for the Central Division-leading Tigers (21-9-2-0). Miguel Marques and Joe Arntsen scored for the Hurricanes (15-15-2-0). — REBELS 5 PATS 4 RED DEER, Alta. – The Red Deer Rebels prevailed in the shootout to defeat the visiting Regina Pats 5-4. Kalan Lind, Kai Uchacz, Jace Weir and Frantisek Formanek scored for the Rebels (17-12-0-3) in regulation time. Tanner Howe scored twice for the Pats (13-16-1-2), while Aaron Krestanowich and Borya Valis netted singles. — CHIEFS 3 WINTERHAWKS 1 PORTLAND, Ore. – Conner Roulette scored a goal and added an assist as the visiting Spokane Chiefs edged the Portland Winterhawks 3-1. Hayden Paupanekis and Chase Bertholet also scored for the Chiefs (11-16-3-0). Josh Davies scored for the Winterhawks (20-10-1-1). * This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2023. 44-43
