THURSDAY’S WHL PLAYOFF ROUND-UP, WHL STATEMENT

ICE 6 HITMEN 5

CALGARY – Jaedon Descheneau scored two goals, including the winner, and added an assist as the Kootenay Ice edged the Calgary Hitmen 6-5 to grab a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

Sam Reinhart scored a goal and assisted on four more, and Luke Philp, Matt Alfaro and Levi Cable also scored for the Ice, who lead the series 3-2. Wyatt Hoflin stopped 26 shots for the win.

Calgary scored twice in the third period – off shots from Greg Chase and Adam Tambellini, his second of the game – to pull within one with less than two minutes to go. Elliott Peterson and Kenton Helgeson also scored, and Chase added two assists for a three-point night.

Chris Driedger started in net for the Hitmen, giving up four goals on 14 shots. Mack Shields stopped 8-of-10 shots in relief.

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CALGARY, AB – The Western Hockey League’s Hockey Operations department issued the following statement regarding the goal awarded to the Kootenay Ice at the end of the second period during their game against the Calgary Hitmen.

“The video evidence in the Video Goal Judge booth clearly showed the puck had crossed the line with 0.1 seconds remaining on the clock. The Video Goal Judge booth is considered the official time clock when reviewing goals and is the same system utilized by the NHL. “

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ROYALS 4 CHIEFS 2

SPOKANE, Wash. – Patrik Polivka made 32 saves as the Royals ended Spokane’s playoff run in four straight games.

Jordan Fransoo, Logan Nelson, and Austin Carroll had a goal and an assist apiece, and Ben Walker also scored for Victoria.  Tyson Helgesen had a goal and an assist for the Chiefs, and Connor Chartier rounded the Spokane offence.  Eric Williams shouldered the loss after stopping 17-of-21 shots.