WHL Roundup: Colin Smith leads Blazers over Hitmen 3-2 in a shootout

Colin Smith nearly beat the Calgary Hitmen all by himself.

The 19-year-old centre scored his league-leading 24th and 25th goals of the season and added another in the shootout Tuesday as the Kamloops Blazers beat the Calgary Hitmen 3-2 in the Western Hockey League.

Smith and Brendan Ranford both beat Hitmen goalie Chris Driedger on dekes in the shootout for Kamloops (25-7-3). Victor Rask got Calgary's shootout goal. Cole Cheveldave stopped Greg Chase to end the game.

Despite leading the WHL in goals, assists and points, Smith was not invited to try out for Canada's entry at the world junior hockey championships.

Elsewhere in the WHL it was: Saskatoon 7, Brandon 5; Kelowna 3, Kootenay 1; Swift Current 2, Prince George 0; Everett 2, Seattle 1 (SO); and Victoria 6, Seattle 2.

At Calgary, Zane Jones and Brady Brassart scored for the Hitmen (20-7-3) in regulation. Smith's power-play goal 19 seconds into the third period tied the game 2-2.

Cheveldave made 24 saves to get the win, while Driedger stopped 18 shots in taking the loss.

The Blazers were 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Hitmen finished the night 1-of-4.

Blades 7, Wheat Kings 5

At Brandon, Man., Logan Harland scored twice as Saskatoon (16-14-1) topped the Wheat Kings (11-18-4).

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Rockets 3, Ice 1

At Cranbrook, B.C., Colten Martin scored the winner at 14:17 of the third period as Kelowna (20-9-2) got past Kootenay (9-20-1).

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Broncos 2, Cougars 0

At Prince George, B.C., Steven Myland made 17 saves as Swift Current (14-16-5) shut out the Cougars (10-17-4).

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Silvertips 2, Americans 1 (SO)

At Kennewick, Wash., Josh Winquist scored the only goal in the shootout and Austin Lotz finished with 45 saves as Everett (13-20-2) rallied to beat Tri-City (18-12-3).

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Royals 6, Thunderbirds 2

At Kent, Wash., Alexander Gogolev scored two goals and added an assist as Victoria (17-13-1) thumped Seattle (16-15-1).