SEATTLE — Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke made 45 saves as Kelowna completed its four-game sweep over the Seattle Thunderbirds with a 5-2 victory in second-round Western Hockey League playoff action Wednesday.
Damon Severson, Nick Merkley and Marek Tvrdon had a goal and an assist apiece for the Rockets, who advance to the Western Conference final to take on either Portland or Victoria. Cole Linaker and Tyson Baillie also scored.
Seattle’s Ethan Bear opened the scoring on the power play at 14:22 of the first period. Sam McKechnie had the other Thunderbirds goal.
Taran Kozun stopped 42 shots in the losing effort.
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ICE 3 TIGERS 1
CRANBROOK, B.C. — Levi Cable scored a hat trick as Kootenay took a 2-1 series lead over Medicine Hat.
Sam Reinhart and Rinat Valiev had two assists apiece for the Ice, who were outshot 40-30.
Curtis Valk had the lone goal for the Tigers.
Kootenay’s Mackenzie Skapski made 39 saves for the win. Marek Langhammer stopped 27 shots for Medicine Hat.
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WHEAT KINGS 5 OIL KINGS 2
BRANDON, Man. — Richard Nejezchleb scored two goals and assisted on another, and Jordan Papirny made 49 saves as Brandon staved off elimination with a win over Edmonton.
John Quenneville had a goal and an assist, and Tim McGauley and Jens Meilleur also scored for the Wheat Kings, who trail the series 3-1.
Cody Corbett and Luke Bertolucci replied for the Oil Kings, who outshot the Wheat Kings 51-31.
Edmonton’s Tristan Jarry made 26 saves in the loss.
