WHL Roundup: Bjorkstrand scores four as Winterhawks rout Thunderbirds

PORTLAND, Ore. - Despite playing 12 fewer games, Oliver Bjorkstrand is just five points away from overtaking the Western Hockey League scoring lead.

Bjorkstrand scored four times on Friday night as the Portland Winterhawks routed the Seattle Thunderbirds 7-1.

He now has 95 points in 50 games this season and trails Trevor Cox of the Medicine Hat Tigers, who leads the league with 99 points in 62 games.

Anton Cederholm, Chase De Leo and Keegan Iverson also chipped in for Portland (38-20-5). Winnipeg Jets prospect Nicolas Petan added four assists while Adin Hill kicked out 24 shots.

Cory Millette answered with a goal in the third period for the Thunderbirds (32-24-9). Taran Kozun turned away 12-of-16 shots in 32:49 while Logan Flodell made 10 saves in 27:11.

The Winterhawks scored once on three power plays while Seattle went 0 for 3 with the man advantage.

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RAIDERS 5 WHEAT KINGS 2

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Austin Glover scored twice as the Raiders downed Brandon.

Craig Leverton, Jordan Tkatch and Sean Montgomery also had goals for Prince Albert (26-35-3).

Peter Quenneville and Tim McGauley chipped in for the Wheat Kings (47-11-7).

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WARRIORS 3 BRONCOS 2

MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Brett Howden's power-play goal in the second period stood as the winner as the Warriors held on to beat Swift Current.

Blake Bargar and Brayden Point also scored for Moose Jaw (28-32-5).

Colby Cave and Carter Rigby answered for the Broncos (30-30-5), who lost their fifth straight.

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HURRICANES 2 BLADES 1

SASKATOON — Carter Folk had the winner as Lethbridge edged the Blades.

Tyler Wong tied the game in the second with a short-handed goal for the Hurricanes (20-36-8).

Wyatt Sloboshan opened the scoring on the power play for Saskatoon (19-42-4).

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REBELS 2 ICE 1 (SO)

CRANBROOK, B.C. — Riley Sheen scored the winner in a shootout as Red Deer slipped past the Ice.

Brooks Maxwell found the back of the net in regulation, as well as the shootout for the Rebels (34-21-10).

Levi Cable tied the game at 15:57 of the third period for Kootenay (33-28-4).

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PATS 6 OIL KINGS 4

EDMONTON — Braden Christoffer struck twice as Regina got past the Oil Kings.

Taylor Cooper had a goal and two assists to lead the Pats (35-20-9) offensively. Colby Williams, Adam Brooks and Sam Steel added the other goals.

Cole Benson, Brandon Baddock, Edgars Kulda and Brett Pollock supplied the offence for Edmonton (30-29-7).

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COUGARS 4 ROYALS 3

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Kody McDonald had the winner as the Cougars struck three times in the third period to beat Victoria.

Brad Morrison and Jari Erricson also scored in the third for Prince George (28-33-4), as it won its fifth straight. Josh Connolly added the other.

Travis Brown, Greg Chase and Alex Forsberg chipped in for the Royals (34-27-4).

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BLAZERS 4 CHIEFS 2

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Cole Ully struck twice as the Blazers snapped Spokane's four-game winning streak.

Collin Shirley and Jake Kryski added the other goals for Kamloops (25-33-7).

Keanu Yamamoto and Blair Oneschuk scored for the Chiefs (31-28-4).

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SILVERTIPS 1 AMERICANS 0

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Carter Hart stopped all 21 shots he faced as Everett shut out the Americans.

Remi Laurencelle scored the game's only goal in the first period for the Silvertips (39-19-7).

Eric Comrie kicked out 30 shots for Tri-City (28-34-3).

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ROCKETS 5 GIANTS 2

VANCOUVER — Tyrell Goulbourne had a hat trick in a five-goal third period as Kelowna topped the Giants.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Leon Draisaitl and Riley Stadel also scored for the Rockets (49-11-5).

Thomas Foster and Jackson Houck had goals in the third for Vancouver (26-36-3), which dropped its fifth straight.

Zane Jones of the Giants was ejected at 4:01 of the third after receiving a major for boarding.