WHL Roundup: Kootenay Ice beat Medicine Hat Tigers to take 3-1 series lead

CRANBROOK, B.C. - Jaedon Descheneau scored a hat trick as the Kootenay Ice beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 7-4 to take a 3-1 lead in their Western Hockey League playoff series Thursday.

Kyle O'Connor, Luke Philp, Zach Franko and Sam Reinhart also scored for the Ice, who benefited from three empty-net goals in the final minutes of the game after rallying from a 4-1 deficit.

Miles Koules, Curtis Valk, Chad Labelle and Dylan Bredo replied for the Tigers.

Kootenay started Mackenzie Skapski in net but he allowed four goals on 18 shots. Wyatt Hoflin took over and stopped 21 shots. In the Tigers' net, Marek Langhamer stopped 27-of-31 shots.

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WINTERHAWKS 5 ROYALS 1

PORTLAND, Ore. — Chase De Leo scored twice as the Winterhawks swept Victoria in four games.

Adam De Champlain, Taylor Leier and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored for Portland, which will play Kelowna in the Western Conference final.

Steven Hodges had the lone goal for the Royals.

Portland goaltender Brendan Burke stopped 31 shots, while Patrik Polivka allowed all five goals on 40 shots in Victoria's net.