Fioretti scores winner as Warriors halt 10-game winless streak

Sam Fioretti scored two goals, including the winner, as the Moose Jaw Warriors edged the visiting Kootenay Ice 3-2 in overtime on Friday in Western Hockey League action.

The 19-year-old forward scored his second goal of the game with just one second remaining in extra time to give his club their first victory in 11 games.

"It was a good emotional win," said Fioretti. "I wasn’t sure how much time was on the clock. I heard every fan in the building yell ‘shoot’. So I decided it would probably be a good idea and luckily it went in."

Moose Jaw had gone 0-8-2 in its last 10 outings and lost four of those games by just a goal. Their last victory was a 4-3 win against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Dec. 28th.

"It’s been tough for them. I truly believe that in some of those games we played well enough to win and I think we deserved to win," said Warriors head coach Mike Stothers. "It was nice to see them battle the way they did and get rewarded. That’s huge for us."

Carter Hansen also scored for the Warriors (15-25-9) and Morgan Rielly chipped in with two assists.

"I think we still realize we’re behind the eight ball with the skid we’re on, but I think this helps us look at the game in a more positive way," said Fioretti. "The slump is over. We know we can win. If we keep playing like that we know we can have some success."

Sam Reinhart and Collin Shirley scored for the Ice (22-25-2), who lost for the first time in six outings.

Justin Paulic stopped 32-of-34 shots for the win as Mackenzie Skapski made 28 saves in a losing cause.

Moose Jaw went 1 for 3 on the power play while Kootenay scored once on six chances with the man-advantage.

Elsewhere in the WHL, it was: Moose Jaw 3, Kootenay 2 (OT); Swift Current 5, Regina 4 (OT); Lethbridge 6, Calgary 4; Brandon 2, Red Deer 1 (OT); Kamloops 4, Prince Albert 1; Everett 3, Prince George 2; Portland 3, Spokane 0; Medicine Hat 6, Tri-City 5; Victoria 6, Vancouver 4 and Kelowna 4, Seattle 3 (OT).

At Moose Jaw, Sask., after a scoreless first period, Hansen opened the scoring for Moose Jaw 2:41 into the second.

Shirley responded with a power-play goal at 15:40 and Reinhart made it 2-1 Kootenay before the second period was through.

Fioretti tied the game and eventually forced extra time with his 23rd goal oft he season 3:09 into the third period.

---

Broncos 5 Pats 4 (OT)

At Swift Current, Sask., Adam Lowry scored at 4:34 of overtime and Brycen Martin and Colby Cave both had a goal and two assists as the Broncos (24-20-5) beat Regina (18-26-5) to extend their win-streak to seven games.

---

Hurricanes 6 Hitmen 4

At Lethbridge, Alta., Macoy Erkamps scored once and added three assists and Ty Rimmer turned away 33-of-37 shots as the Hurricanes (22-21-7) downed Calgary (31-12-4) for their first win in three outings.

---

Wheat Kings 2 Rebels 1 (OT)

At Red Deer, Alta., Corbin Boes stopped 43-of-44 shots and Eric Roy scored 55 seconds into extra time as Brandon (18-27-4) defeated the Rebels (25-20-6), who have now lost three games in a row.

---

Blazers 4 Raiders 1

At Kamloops, B.C., Collin Smith had two goals and an assist and Cole Cheveldave made 28 saves as the Blazers (32-14-5) beat Prince Albert (28-16-4), which lost in regulation for the first time in five contests.

---

Silvertips 3 Cougars 2

At Prince George, B.C., Kohl Bauml scored twice as Everett (21-26-3) erased a 2-1 third-period deficit to come from behind and beat the Cougars (14-28-6), who have dropped three straight games.

---

Winterhawks 3 Chiefs 0

At Spokane, Wash., Mac Carruth stopped 36 shots and Ty Rattie and Nicolas Petan both had a goal and an assist as Portland (38-7-3) snapped its four-game slide by blanking the Chiefs (30-17-2).

---

Tigers 6 Americans 5

At Kennewick, Wash., Elgin Pearce had a goal and an assist while Cole Sanford, Ty Stanton and Chad Butcher chipped in with two assists each as Medicine Hat (24-23-3) slipped past Tri-City (28-18-3) after scoring four goals in the third period.

---

Royals 6 Giants 4

At Victoria, Brandon Magee scored four goals and linemate Alex Gogolev assisted on each of them as the Royals (26-17-3) beat Vancouver (12-37-0) to extend their win streak to six games.

---

Rockets 4 Thunderbirds 3 (OT)

At Kent, Wash., Tyson Baillie scored 3:38 into overtime and Jackson Whistle made 27 saves as Kelowna (35-10-3) erased a 3-1 deficit and came back to beat Seattle (18-28-3) for its 13th win in its last 14 games.