Game 6 set for Sunday in Swift Current
 |
| Riley Sutter had three points for the Silvertips. |
The Broncos still lead the best-of-seven set 3-2, and they
will try to make good on their second chance to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup in
Game 6 on Sunday at the Credit Union i-Plex in Swift Current.
If the Silvertips win Game 6, they will force a series
deciding Game 7 on Monday at the i-Plex. The start time for both of those games
in 7 p.m. each night locally.
In Friday’s encounter, the Silvertips stormed out of the
gate in the first period with goals coming from the sticks of Wyatte Wylie on
the power play and captain Matt Fonteyne at even strength to go ahead 2-0.
With 2:10 remaining in the first period, Broncos captain
Glenn Gawdin completed a tick-tack-toe passing play from linemates Aleksi
Heponiemi and Giorgio Estephan for a power-play goal to cut Everett’s lead to
2-1.
 |
| Connor Dewar had three points for the Silvertips. |
The Silvertips surged out to a 4-2 lead at the 6:09 mark of
the third period with slot dives coming from the sticks of Sean Richards and
Riley Sutter.
The Broncos didn’t go away. With 7:09 to play in the third period, the Broncos were buzzing deep in the Everett zone. Swift Current centre Matteo Gennaro fed a pass from behind the Everett net to pinching defenceman Noah King in the right slot.
The Broncos didn’t go away. With 7:09 to play in the third period, the Broncos were buzzing deep in the Everett zone. Swift Current centre Matteo Gennaro fed a pass from behind the Everett net to pinching defenceman Noah King in the right slot.
Shortly after King’s goal, Gawdin had a chance to
potentially net the equalizer, but he placed a shot wide of the Everett goal.
Silvertips left-winger Connor Dewar sealed the win for the
host side with a pair of empty-net goals. He had an assist in the contest to go
with his two tallies for a three-point night.
Sutter had a pair of assists to go with his goal to also
finish with three points on the night for Everett.
 |
| Rookie defenceman Noah King scored for the Broncos. |
The Silvertips, who finished third overall in the WHL with a
47-20-2-3 record in the regular season, are 6-6 at home and 8-1 on the road
during the post-season.
The Broncos, who finished second overall in the WHL with a
48-17-5-2 mark in the regular season, are 8-4 at home and 7-6 on the road in
the playoffs.
The winner of the WHL Championship series advances to the
Memorial Cup tournament to play for the CHL title. The Memorial Cup runs May 18
to 27 in Regina.
At the moment, the host Regina Pats are the only club with a
spot in the four-team field.
In the OHL Championship series, the Hamilton Bulldogs hold a
3-2 lead on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Game 6 is set for Sunday in
Hamilton.
In the QMJHL Championship series, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan
hold a 3-2 lead on the Blainville-Boisbraind Armada. Game 6 is set for Sunday
in Acadie-Bathurst.
Hay says he retired from Blazers, left door
open to coach
 |
| Don Hay spoke to the media on Friday about retiring as Blazers head coach. |
Hay wasn’t at the Blazers press conference on Thursday, when
the team announced he had retired as the club’s head coach and would stay on
with the club in a newly created role of senior advisor of hockey operations. That
sparked speculation that Hay was pushed out as head coach.
The 64-year-old met with the media on Friday, where he read
a prepared before fielding questions. Hay said he decided to retire from the
Blazers, but he left the door open to return to coaching at any level, if the
opportunity presented itself. He said he would discuss future opportunities to
coach with his family.
The legendary bench boss said he wasn’t at the press conference on Thursday,
because he was laying down sandbags to protect his cabin from possible flooding.
He also went to watch his granddaughters compete in track and field.
Hay is the all-time leader in career regular season head
coaching victories in the WHL posting a 750-506-110 record with the Blazers,
Tri-City American and Vancouver Giants. The Blazers missed the playoffs with a
30-37-1-4 record this past season.
During his career, Hay was a Blazers assistant coach when
they won the Memorial Cup in 1992 and their head coach for their Memorial Cup
victories in 1994 and 1995. Hay guided the Vancouver Giants to a Memorial Cup
title in 2007.
The Blazers also announced general manager Stu MacGregor has
joined the amateur scouting department of the Dallas Stars and the contracts of
Matt Recchi, who was the team’s director of player personnel, and Mike Needham,
who was an assistant coach, will not be renewed.
The Blazers are bidding to host the 2020 Memorial Cup, so
this shake up wasn’t expected.
Gregg Drinnan, who is “The Dean” of sportswriters when it
comes to covering the WHL, is based in Kamloops, and he penned a column that is
telling about the situation in Kamloops. That piece can be found right here.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
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