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WHL roundup: Royals lean on power play to edge Giants 4-3

LANGLEY, B.C. — Markus Loponen's power-play goal at 4:33 of the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted the visiting Victoria Royals to a 4-3 Western Hockey League victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday at Langley Events Centre.

LANGLEY, B.C. — Markus Loponen's power-play goal at 4:33 of the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted the visiting Victoria Royals to a 4-3 Western Hockey League victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday at Langley Events Centre.

Teydon Trembecky scored twice for the Royals (37-17-3-7), who opened an early 3-0 lead but were tied 3-3 midway through the second period.

Kenta Isogai also scored for the Royals, who were outshot 33-32. Justin Kipkie chipped in with three assists.

Mazden Leslie, Cameron Schmidt and Ty Halaburda scored for the Giants (32-25-8-0). Schmidt had two assists as well.

The Royals went 3-for-3 on the power play, while the Giants were 1-for-4.

Elsewhere in the WHL on Saturday:

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TIGERS 7 REBELS 3

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Gavin McKenna had three goals and four assists, Osiz Wiesblatt had three goals and two assists, and the Medicine Hat Tigers whipped the visiting Red Deer Rebels 7-3.

Tanner Molendyk also scored for the Central Division-leading Tigers (45-17-3-1), who were outshot 31-26. Bryce Pickford added two assists.

Matthew Gard scored twice for the Rebels (26-31-6-2), while Ollie Josephson netted a single.

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BLAZERS 4 ROCKETS 1

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Captain Emmitt Finnie had a goal and assist, Matteo Koci and Harrison Brunicke each had two assists, and the Kamloops Blazers beat the visiting Kelowna Rockets 4-1.

Nathan Behm, Beau Courtney and John Szabo also scored for the Blazers (24-36-4-1), who outshot the visitors 46-23.

Kayden Longley scored for the Rockets (17-42-4-2), who were tied 1-1 after the first period but trailed 4-1 heading into the third. Netminder Jake Pilon made 42 saves for the Rockets.

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HITMEN 3 HURRICANES 1

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Ethan Moore scored twice as the visiting Calgary Hitmen knocked off the Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-1.

Tanner Howe had a goal and assist for the Hitmen (43-15-3-3), who outshot the hosts 26-25.

Miguel Marques scored a power-play goal for the Hurricanes (41-20-3-2).

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BRONCOS 7 PATS 5

REGINA, Sask. — Rylan Gould scored three goals and added an assist as the visiting Swift Current Broncos beat the Regina Pats 7-5.

Mayo Hunter had two goals and three assists for the Broncos (34-28-1-2), while Carlin Dezainde and Marek Rocak netted singles. Luke Mistelbacher chipped in with four assists, while Clarke Caswell added a pair.

Zach Pantelakis scored twice for the Pats (15-41-5-3), while Ashton Brown, Jace Egland and Caden Brown added singles. Cameron Kuzma, Sam Failler and Kolten Bridgeman each chipped in with two assists.

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WHEAT KINGS 5 WARRIORS 4 (OT)

MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Nolan Flamand scored 44 seconds into overtime to lift the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-4 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Roger McQueen, Marcus Nguyen, Matteo Michels and Luke Shipley also scored for the East Division-leading Wheat Kings (36-22-4-3), who were outshot 34-33. Shipley chipped in with three assists, while McQueen added a pair of helpers.

Lynden Lakovic, Casey Brown, Pavel McKenzie and Riley Thorpe scored for the Warriors (14-43-6-2).

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WINTERHAWKS 6 THUNDERBIRDS 1

PORTLAND, Ore. — Josh Zakreski scored twice, Kyle McDonough had three assists, and the Portland Winterhawks defeated the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 6-1.

Hudson Darby, David Hoy, Reed Brown and Alex Weiermair also scored for the Winterhawks (35-26-3-1), who outshot the visitors 44-30. Tyson Jugnauth chipped in with two assists.

Braeden Cootes scored for the Thunderbirds (26-33-4-1).

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COUGARS 5 WILD 3

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Koehn Ziemmer had a goal and assist, Riley Heidt chipped in with four assists, and the Prince George Cougars beat the visiting Wenatchee Wild 5-3.

Viliam Kmec, Aiden Foster, Borya Valis and Matteo Danis also scored for the Cougars (40-20-4-2), who outshot the visitors 34-30. Carson Carels chipped in with three assists.

Evan Friesen scored twice for the Wild (23-35-7-1), while Dawson Seitz netted a single. Shaun Rios chipped in with two helpers.

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RAIDERS 4 OIL KINGS 1

EDMONTON, Alta. — The visiting Prince Albert Raiders built a 3-0 lead and then hung on to beat the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-1.

Riley Boychuk, Brayden Dube, Daxon Rudolph and Niall Crocker scored for the Raiders (36-23-5-1), who were outshot 33-16. Netminder Max Hildebrand made 32 saves for the visitors.

Miroslav Holinka scored for the Oil Kings (35-26-2-2).

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CHIEFS 5 AMERICANS 1

SPOKANE, Wash. — Andrew Cristall had a goal and assist as the Spokane Chiefs rolled past the visiting Tri-City Americans 5-1.

Nathan Mayes, Rasmus Ekstrom, Assanali and Mathis Preston also scored for the Chiefs (44-19-1-1), who outshot the visitors 45-17.

Jackson Smith scored a power-play goal for the Americans (31-26-6-1).

* This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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