KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Riley Heidt scored twice, including once into an empty net, as the visiting Prince George Cougars bounced the Kamloops Blazers 4-1.
Carlin Dezainde and Jett Lajoie also scored for the B.C. Division-leading Cougars (26-10-0-0), who outshot the Blazers 40-34.
Kai Matthew scored for the Blazers (9-22-3-2). Cougars goalie Ty Young was named the game's first start, stopping 33 shots.
The Cougars start the new year south of the border with games Jan. 3 against Wenatchee, Jan. 5 at Seattle, Jan. 6 at Portland and then Jan. 7 at Everett before a pair of weekend series against the Kelowna Rockets (Jan. 12 and 13) and the Portland Winterhawks (Jan. 19 and 20).
Elsewhere in the WHL on Saturday:
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REBELS 5 BRONCOS 4 (OT)
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Kai Uchacz's second goal of the game, scored 11 seconds into overtime, gave the visiting Red Deer Rebels a 5-4 win over the Swift Current Broncos.
Frantisek Formanek, Ollie Josephson and Carson Birnie also scored for the Rebels (18-13-0-4), who outshot the Broncos 48-26.
Josh Filmon scored twice for the Broncos (18-14-2-2), while Caleb Wyrostok and Brady Birnie netted singles.
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WARRIORS 2 RAIDERS 1
PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Pavel McKenzie and Brayden Schuurman scored second-period goals as the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors edged the Prince Albert Raiders 2-1.
The Warriors (20-14-0-2) trailed 1-0 after the first period, but took a 2-1 lead into the third.
Easton Kovacs scored for the Raiders (17-17-0-2), who outshot the visitors 26-25.
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WHEAT KINGS 5 PATS 3
REGINA — Roger McQueen's power-play goal early in the third period stood up as the winner as the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Regina Pats 5-3 in Western Hockey League action on Saturday.
Brett Hyland had a goal and two assists for the Wheat Kings, who led 3-2 after the first period. The second period was scoreless.
Matteo Michels, Rylen Rersma and Carter Klippenstein also scored for the Wheat Kings (19-12-4-1), who were outshot 28-27.
Tanner Howe, Borya Valis and Jaxsin Vaughan scored for the Pats (13-18-3-2).
Both teams went 2-for-4 on the power play.
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HURRICANES 4 TIGERS 2
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Miguel Marques had a goal and assist as the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes edged the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-2.
Tyson Zimmer, Trae Wilke and Joe Arntsen also scored for the Hurricanes (17-15-3-0). Logan Wormald chipped in with two assists.
Tyler MacKenzie and Brett Calhoon scored for the Central Division-leading Tigers (22-11-2-0), who outshot the visitors 36-25.
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ROYALS 4 OIL KINGS 3 (OT)
VICTORIA, B.C. — Justin Kipkie's second goal of the night, scored at 3:50 of overtime, lifted the Victoria Royals to a 4-3 win over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings.
Tanner Scott and Cole Reschny also scored for the Royals (22-13-0-2), who outshot the visitors 34-29.
Ty Nash, Skyler Bruce and Smyth Rebman scored for the Oil Kings (11-20-1-1).
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SILVERTIPS 5 THUNDERBIRDS 4
SEATTLE, Wash. — Teague Patton scored twice and added an assist as the visiting Everett Silvertips clipped the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-4.
Rylan Pearce, Lukas Kaplan and Ben Hemmerling also scored for the Silvertips (22-13-1-1), who jumped out to an early 3-0 lead but needed Patton's goal at 10:57 of the third period to snap a 3-3 tie.
Simon Lovsin scored twice for the Thunderbirds (12-17-2-0), with singles netted by Sawyer Mynio and Coster Dunn.
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CHIEFS 6 AMERICANS 2
SPOKANE, Wash. — Chase Bertholet scored twice and added two assists as the Spokane Chiefs beat the visiting Tri-City Americans 6-2.
Rasmus Ekstrom, Ben Bonni, Conner Roulette and Saige Weinstein also scored for the Chiefs (13-16-3-0). Berkly Catton chipped in with four assists.
Cash Koch and Lukas Dragicevic scored for the Americans (15-15-2-1), who were outshot 38-33.
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ROCKETS 7 HITMEN 6
KELOWNA, B.C. — Andrew Cristall scored three goals and added an assist as the Kelowna Rockets edged the visiting Calgary Hitmen 7-6.
Gabriel Szturc had two goals and two assists for the Rockets (17-16-2-0), while Michael Cicek and Hiroki Gojsic netted singles.
Sean Tschigerl, Tyson Galloway, Chase Valliant, Aleksey Chichkin, Ethan Moore and Oliver Tulk scored for the Hitmen (13-17-3-1), who were outshot 40-37.
* This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2023.
The Canadian Press
