THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mark Santorelli played the role of Giant-killer to perfection Sunday night.
Santorelli’s goal in the fourth round of a shootout led the Chilliwack Bruins to a thrilling 3-2 win over the Vancouver Giants in Western Hockey League action.
The Bruins (4-1-0-0) forced extra time on Colby Kulhanek’s second goal of the game with 2:54 left in regulation. After each team went scoreless in its first three shootout attempts, Bruins netminder Matt Esposito stopped Vancouver defenceman Brent Regner on the Giants’ fourth shot, setting the stage for Santorelli’s heroics.
Esposito finished with 27 saves in regulation and added four in the shootout as Chilliwack handed the defending Memorial Cup champions their first loss of the season.
Elsewhere in the WHL on Sunday, it was: Lethbridge 3, Edmonton 0; Kamloops 4, Portland 0; Kootenay 4, Saskatoon 3; and Regina 3, Calgary 2.
At Chilliwack, B.C., Chris Cloud and Spencer Machacek, while shorthanded, scored for the Giants (4-0-0-1), who squandered a pair of one-goal leads in defeat.
Tyson Sexsmith stopped 21 shots for Vancouver.
Hurricanes 3 Oil Kings 0
At Edmonton, Yashar Farmanara and Mitch Fadden had a goal and an assist apiece while Michael Maniago stopped 15 shots as Lethbridge (3-2-0-0) blanked the Oil Kings (2-1-0-1).
Blazers 4 Winter Hawks 0
At Kamloops, B.C., James Priestner stopped 13 shots to earn the shutout in his second career WHL start as the Blazers (2-1-0-0) stymied Portland (0-4-0-0).
Ice 4 Blades 3
At Cranbrook, B.C., Steele Boomer scored the game winner 3:39 into overtime and Dustin Sylvester added a pair of goals in regulation as Kootenay (2-4-0-0) shaded Saskatoon (1-4-1-0).
Pats 3 Hitmen 2
At Regina, Rudolf Cerveny had a goal and an assist and Linden Rowat made the lead stand with a 23-save performance as the Pats (3-2-0-0) held on to beat Calgary (5-1-0-0).
