The Portland Winterhawks are “Chasing the Dream” after picking up a pair at home and traveling to Victoria for up to three games. They didn’t need it. James Stefan owned the show in the first game as he netted a hat trick. Josh Mari, Gabe Klassen, and Josh Davies added to the total, with Victoria hot on their heels. With Braeden Holt out of the Victoria net, they did get one more past Jan Spunar but couldn’t add the equalizer in losing 6-5. Portland was outshot 35-32, with both teams 1-3 on the powerplay.
With Portland leading 3-0 in the series, it would be do or die the next night for Victoria.
Portland demolished the shot clock with 19 shots to 7 and came away with a pair of Josh Zakreski goals. Victoria got a late first-period goal, with former Winterhawk Dawson Pasternak assisting on the Cole Reschny marker.
Portland continued smothering Victoria with a 14-5 shot advantage and got one goal from Josh Davies in the second period.
The third-period early goal by Kyle Chyzowski put Portland in the driver’s seat. Despite Victoria’s attempts to find the back of the net, they never did. The third period saw the closest Victoria got in the shot department but saw Portland with a 45-21 shot advantage and Portland 0-1 on the powerplay with the Royals at 1-4
After scoring big at home, the Prince George Cougars traveled to Spokane to face the Chiefs, with Spokane holding three games there. Prince George picked up a 4-2 win after a pair by top scorer Zac Funk.
A pair by Connor Roulette of the Chiefs wasn’t enough as Prince George hung on for a 3-2 win and a sweep of that series in 4 straight.
The other two series saw Kelowna with back-to-back wins in Wenatchee, 5-1 and 3-1, and takes a 3-1 series lead back to their city this weekend.
Everett and Vancouver are having a long lull between games. Game three took place on the other team’s game 4, and Everett captured a 3-1 win there, which put them up 2-1 in the series.
Out East, after a loss in game one, Saskatoon Blades won 4-1 to take a formidable 3-1 lead in that series, heading back to Saskatoon, where Prince Albert split the series before,
Swift Current Broncos, who held a commanding 3-0 series lead, ran into trouble in Game 4. They gave up the first three markers to Lethbridge Hurricanes but clawed back with the final three in regulation to force overtime. Unlike the regular season, overtime periods are 20 minutes and go as long as the teams remain deadlocked. After the first overtime period ended, the teams would be tired for period 5. Just over 30 seconds into the period, Connor Geekie daggered the heart of the Canes, and the Broncos swept the series in 4 games.
Moose Jaw Warriors have a strong 3-0 lead against Brandon, with Game 4 taking place close to the weekend.
The Red Deer Rebels have won at home 4-3 in overtime and 3-2 in regulation to tie the series 3-1.
The next round will start by Friday of next week, with Portland and Prince George resting up and possibly a couple of others before the weekend ends.
Portland also announced news that they are finalists for two trophies. Mike Johnston is the US Division recipient of Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year and competes with Mark Lamb in Prince George’s, representing the BC Division, Willie DeJardins of the Medicine Hat Tigers, and Brennan Sonne of the Saskatoon Blades, along with Johnson who will compete for Dunc McCallum trophy. Executives competing with Mike Johnston of the US Division are Mark Lamb in Prince George, Chad Leslie with Swift Current, and Jason Ripplinger of Moose Jaw Warriors.
