WINTERHAWKS BLANK SILVERTIPS – Ian Curtis turned aside all 23 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the season as the Portland Winterhawks skated to a 2-0 win over the visiting Everett Silvertips in Western Hockey League action on Sunday, December 14th.
Brad Ross notched a goal and an assist and Nino Niederreiter scored his 20th of the season for the Winterhawks (21-13-1-0), who outshot the visiting ‘Tips 35-23 in the contest. The win moves the Winterhawks back into second place in the U.S. Division.
Thomas Heemskerk turned aside 33 of 35 shots he faced in a losing cause for the Silvertips (17-12-2-1), who have dropped six of their last seven games and remain in fourth place in the U.S. Division.
Chase Schaber scored the shootout winner as the Calgary Hitmen claimed a 3-2 victory over the visiting Kootenay Ice on Sunday.
Ian Schultz and Del Cowan scored in regulation for the Hitmen (25-8-1-1), who improve to 6-0-1-1 in their last eight games and pad their Eastern Conference lead to four points over Brandon and Saskatoon. Michael Snider turned aside 29 of 31 shots in regulation and overtime, and wasn’t beaten in the shootout to earn his 10th win of the season and 20th of his WHL career.
Brayden McNabb and Matt Fraser scored for the Ice (16-15-1-2), who suffer their second defeat to the Hitmen in the last three days. Todd Mathews turned aside 28 of 30 shots in regulation, but was beaten once in the shootout to take the loss.
Joey Frazer’s fourth goal of the season at 12:30 of the third period turned out to be the winner as the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers edged the Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-4 on Sunday.
Wacey Hamilton tallied a goal and two assists while Thomas Carr – with his first WHL goal – Taylor Gal and Emerson Etem also scored for the Tigers (21-10-2-4), who have won five straight and improve to 10-1-1 over their last 12 outings. Deven Dubyk made 19 saves in the win.
Carter Bancks – with two goals – Cam Braes and Austin Fyten scored while Luca Sbisa chipped in three assists for the Hurricanes (10-18-3-1), who held q 3-1 lead early in the second period, but surrendered four unanswered goals en route to the loss. Brandon Anderson made 16 saves in the defeat.
Johnny Lazo and Patrick Holland each scored twice to lead the Tri-City Americans to a 6-2 win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Sunday.
Jordan Messier and Brendan Shinnimin – with his 20th of the season – also scored for the Americans (24-9-0-0), who earn their second straight victory and reclaim first place in the Western Conference. Drew Owsley made 27 saves to record his WHL-leading 23rd win of the season.
Michael Stickland and Adam Lowry scored for the Broncos (17-16-0-2), who trailed 4-0 by the end of the second period. Mark Friesen turned aside 35 of 40 shots in the defeat.
