WHL: Polivka, Royals edge the Americans

Royals goaltender Patrik Polivka. (WHL Images)

VICTORIA — Patrik Polivka stopped 33 shots as the Victoria Royals came from behind to defeat the visiting Tri-City Americans 2-1 on Sunday in Western Hockey League action.

Logan Nelson and Brandon Fushimi scored for the Royals (4-5-0), who trailed heading into the third period.

Beau McCue scored the lone goal for the Americans (2-5-1), who have dropped back-to-back contests.

In his first-career WHL start, Evan Sarthou made 23 saves in a losing cause.

Both clubs had chances to score in the first period, but the game remained scoreless after 20 minutes of action.

Tri-City dominated the second period at times, outshooting Victoria 17-4, and McCue put the Americans on the board with a power-play goal at 13:25.

Sarthou tried to hold off a Royals’ comeback, however Nelson finally put one past him while on the man advantage at 4:31 of the third.

Fushimi then put the Royals ahead with the eventual winner at 11:35.

Victoria scored on its only chance with the man advantage while Tri-City went 1-for-6 on the power play.

Thunderbirds 4 Ice 3

CRANBROOK, B.C., — Danny Mumaugh made 39 saves as Seattle slipped past Kootenay.

Justin Hickman scored the winner for the Thunderbirds late in the third period (5-2-0) while Mitch Elliot, Mathew Barzal and Roberts Lipsbergs scored the others.

Sam Reinhart and Jaedon Descheneau had a goal and an assist apiece for the Ice (3-2-1) and Jon Martin added a single goal.

Wyatt Hofflin stopped 34-of-38 shots in defeat.

Pats 5 Blades 4 (SO)

REGINA, — Boston Leier scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout as the Pats defeated Saskatoon.

Dyson Stevenson scored once and set up two more for Regina (2-5-0) as Chandler Stephenson had a goal and an assist.

Nathan Burns scored all four goals for the Blades (1-5-1) while Nikita Scherbak assisted on three of them.

Dawson MacAuley made 28 saves for the victory. Troy Trombley stopped 27 shots in a losing effort.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.