WHL Roundup: Wheat Kings beat Rebels in OT to open Eastern Conference Final

BRANDON, Man. - John Quenneville's second goal of the game came 2:53 into overtime as the Brandon Wheat Kings edged the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 on Friday to open the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference Final.

Brandon was on the verge of victory in regulation time before Red Deer's Haydn Fleury scored at 19:55 of the third to force an extra period.

Ivan Provorov and Stelio Mattheos also scored for the Wheat Kings, who got a 34-save outing from Jordan Papirny. Tim McGauley tacked on three assists.

Evan Polei and Adam Helewka joined Fleury with regulation goals for the Rebels. Rylan Toth stopped 27-of-31 shots in a losing cause.

Brandon went 0 for 2 on the power play while Red Deer scored once on six chances with the man advantage.

The Wheat Kings host Game 2 of the best-of-seven set on Saturday.

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THUNDERBIRDS 2 ROCKETS 1

KELOWNA, B.C. — Landon Bow made 23 saves as Seattle held on to beat the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

Mathew Barzal and Scott Eansor supplied the offence for the Thunderbirds.

Rourke Chartier scored for Kelowna, which hosts Game 2 on Saturday. Michael Herringer turned away 27-of-29 shots in defeat.

Rockets winger Rodney Southam was handed a major and game misconduct for checking to the head midway through the third period.

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