WHL Roundup: Thrower extends Giants win streak to three with 3-2 OT victory

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - Captain Dalton Thrower kept the Vancouver Giants win streak alive on Wednesday.

Thrower scored 3:13 into overtime as Vancouver slipped past the Prince George Cougars 3-2 for the Giants third-straight win in the Western Hockey League.

Prince George's David Soltes forced the extra period with 24 seconds left in the third.

Jackson Houck and Trent Lofthouse scored for Vancouver (6-9-2) in regulation time, while Jared Rathjen made 34 saves for the win.

Sam Ruopp gave the Cougars (7-8-3) a 1-0 lead at the 7:27 mark of the first period. Brett Zarowny stopped 22 shots for Prince George.

Neither team could score on the power play. The Giants could not score on five man advantages, while the Cougars couldn't score on their six power-play opportunities.

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ICE 4 REBELS 3 (SO)

RED DEER, Alta. — Sam Reinhart was the only scorer in the shootout as Kootenay edged the Rebels 4-3.

Jaedon Descheneau had a pair of goals for the Ice (8-6-2), while Ryan Chynoweth also found the back of the net. Mackenzie Skapski made 25 saves in regulation and overtime play before turning away three skaters in the shootout for the win.

Matt Bellerive, Lukas Sutter and Brooks Maxwell replied for Red Deer (6-8-1). Patrik Bartosak stopped 30 shots.

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PATS 3 WARRIORS 0

REGINA — Dawson MacAuley stopped all 36 shots he faced as the Pats blanked Moose Jaw 3-0.

Boston Leier, Geordie Maguire and Morgan Klimchuk all scored in the third period for Regina (8-8-0).

Justin Paulic made 36 saves in net for the Warriors (6-9-3).

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TIGERS 4 BLADES 3

SASKATOON — Steven Owre's goal at the 10:20 mark of the second period was the eventual winner as Medicine Hat held on for a 4-3 win over the Blades.

Captain Curtis Valk and Tyler Lewington also scored in the second period as the Tigers (10-3-2) reeled off three unanswered goals. Blake Penner scored in the first. Daniel Wapple made 20 saves.

Nikita Scherbak struck twice for Saskatoon (7-8-2) and Ryan Coghlan also scored. Alex Moodie stopped 39 shots.

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BLAZERS 5 CHIEFS 4

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Aspen Sterzer had a pair of goals — including the winner — as the Blazers eked out a 5-4 win over Spokane.

Cole Ully scored and added two assists for Kamloops (5-10-1), while Tyson Ness and captain Matt Needham had goals as well. Bolton Pouliot made 31 stops for the win.

Adam Helewka scored twice for the Chiefs (11-5-0), while Carter Proft and Mitch Holmberg had singles. Garret Hughson started in the Spokane net, making eight saves on 11 shots in 22:36 of work. Eric Williams turned aside 18 of 20 shots in relief.

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WINTERHAWKS 5 WHEAT KINGS 2

PORTLAND, Ore. — Chase De Leo and Nicolas Petan both scored short-handed goals as the Winterhawks flew to a 5-2 win over Brandon.

Captain Taylor Leier had a power-play goal for Portland (12-3-1), while Brendan Leipsic and Keegan Iverson also scored. Goaltender Brendan Burke made 30 saves to earn the win.

Curtis Honey was solid in net for the Wheat Kings (7-9-0), stopping 48 shots. Rihards Bukarts and Ryley Lindgren scored for Brandon.