DUB ROUND-UP

CALGARY – The Brandon Wheat Kings gave extra thanks to netminder Carson Bjarnason on Monday after he stopped 41 of 43 shots to help his Manitoba squad defeat the host Calgary Hitmen 3-2 in Western Hockey League action.

Despite controlling puck possession, the shot clock and quality scoring chances, the Hitmen couldn’t solve Bjarnason, who faced 16 shots in the first period, 14 in the second and 13 in the final frame at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Nolan Ritchie’s power-play goal at 10:37 of the third period proved to be the winning goal. Rylen Roersma and Jake Chiasson also scored for the Wheat Kings, who improved their record to 2-2-1-0.

David Adaszynski and Zac Funk scored for the Hitmen, who slipped to 2-1-1-1.

The Wheat Kings went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Hitmen went 1-for-7. Brandon led 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 heading into the third.

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SASKATOON – Conner Roulette scored a natural hat trick and the Saskatoon Blades outshot the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 50-17 to post a 4-1 Western Hockey League victory on Sunday.

After Robert Baco gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead at 3:38 of the first period at SaskTel Centre, the Blades shifted gears and took over the battle of East Division powers.

Roulette scored three in a row, and Josh Pillar added a fourth for the Blades, who improved to 5-2 and moved into a share of first place with the Winnipeg ICE.

The Blades slipped to 4-3 and sit two points back of the division leaders.

WINTERHAWKS 5 CHIEFS 2

Robbie Fromm-Delorme scored two goals and added two assists as the powerful Portland Winterhawks won their fifth game in as many outings by beating the host Spokane Chiefs 5-2.

Dawson Pasternak, Kyle Chyzowski and Jack O’Brien also scored for the Winterhawks, who had four power-play goals in the game to move into first place in the U.S. Division, two points up on the Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds.

Berkly Catton and Ben Bonni scored third period goals for the Chiefs (2-3), who were outshot 28-26.

(CP)