SATURDAY SPORTS PAGE: TBIRDS CLINCH DUB TITLE

KENT, Wash. – The Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Winnipeg ICE 3-1 on Friday to claim the Western Hockey League title in five games.

The game-winning goal came courtesy of Nico Myatovic, who bagged a penalty shot against ICE netminder Daniel Hauser at 2:27 of the third period.

Seattle also won the title back in 2017.

The Thunderbirds have now booked their place in the Memorial Cup in Kamloops later this month.

QUEBEC – Halifax struck twice in the second period Friday night as they put the Quebec Remparts hope of clinching the QMJHL championship on ice.

Zachary L’Heureux had a goal and an assist as the Mooseheads beat the Remparts 3-2, taking the series to 3-2 in Quebec’s favour. It’s only the second loss in the post-season for Quebec.

LONDON – Easton Cowan scored a goal and an assist as the London Knights defeated the Peterborough Petes 4-1 Friday night, forced a Game 6 in the OHL championship series. The Petes now lead the series 3-2.

Denver Barkey, Ryan Humphrey and Logan Mailloux all scored once for London. Knights goaltender Owen Willmore kicked out 32 of 33 shots.

Connor Lockhart scored once for Peterborough. Petes goaltender Michael Simpson kicked out 30 of 33 shots.

The attendance was a sellout of 9,036 at Budweiser Gardens.

CENTENNIAL CUP QUARTERFINAL FRIDAY

Ottawa Jr. Senators 4 Collingwood Blues 2
Portage Terriers 2 Yarmouth Mariners 1

SATURDAY SEMIFINALS

Battlefords North Stars vs Portage Terriers
Brooks Bandits vs Ottawa Jr. Senators

The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Dallas Stars 4-3 on Friday to claim the first game in their Western Conference final series. Brett Howden scored in OT to lift Vegas to the win. Game 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas.

On Saturday night at 8 pm ET the Florida Panthers take a 1-0 lead into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final at the Carolina Hurricanes.

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The Toronto Blue Jays’ high powered offence sputtered once again in a 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Despite management calling for patience, Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run homer as the Blue Jays lost its second straight. The loss leaves Toronto in fourth in the AL East.

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CFL NOTES: Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros was excused from the team’s training camp for family reasons, as was reported on Friday. No return date nor reason for the absence was given. … The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Australian punter Adam Korsak. The six-foot, 185-pound Korsak was Saskatchewan’s first pick, third overall, of the 2023 CFL global draft. The Australian joins the Riders after attending rookie minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers. … The Riders hold their annual Green & White scrimmage on Saturday in Saskatoon. … The CFL’s preseason kicks off on Monday afternoon with Edmonton at Calgary at 2 pm MT. … The CFL will live stream both exhibition and regular-season games starting in 2023. The league announced Friday that fans in Canada will have free access to exhibition contests not being carried by both TSN and RDS. American and international viewers will be able to watch regular-season games not carried by the CBS Sports Network.

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Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, hitting a pair of buckets to give the Heat the lead after they erased a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit and Miami beat Boston 111-105 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 3 is Sunday.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are down a few people in their front office. After firing general manager Kyle Dubas, the Leafs also announced that former NHL-er Jason Spezza had resigned as well. Spezza had been working as a special assistant to Dubas. He resigned the same day that Dubas’ firing was announced.

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Canada’s Corey Conners is in the thick of a major title chase heading into the weekend at the PGA Championship in Rochester, New York. Conners carded a second round of 68 today to enter the clubhouse tied with Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland for the lead at 5 under with a few golfers still on the course. Canada’s Taylor Pendrith is also in the mix, sitting at 1 under after a round of 69.

(Canadian Press)