KELOWNA, B.C. — Rourke Chartier and Nick Merkley continued their dominance of the Western Hockey League as the Kelowna Rockets toppled the visiting Saskatoon Blades 5-1 on Wednesday.
Chartier scored twice to give him a league-best 31 goals in 28 games while Merkley had a goal and extended his league-leading assist total to 40 with two more helpers. Chartier leads the WHL in points with 50 while Merkley is second with 49 points in 29 contests.
Tyrell Goulbourne and Dillon Dube also scored for the Rockets (23-3-3) while Madison Bowey tacked on three assists.
Brett Stovin supplied the lone goal for the Blades (7-20-2), who have dropped five straight outings.
With Kelowna leading 4-1 in the third period, the game started to get chippy — which eventually led to both team's starting goaltenders meeting at centre to fight and a combined 84 minutes of penalties handed out.
Before going toe-to-toe at 8:40 of the third, Jake Morrissey made 20 saves for the Rockets and Nik Amundrud turned away 36-of-40 shots for Saskatoon.
Kelowna went 2 for 5 on the power play while the Blades scored once on three chances with the man advantage.
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PATS 4 WHEAT KINGS 2
REGINA — Sam Steel had a pair of goals and Daniel Wapple made 26 saves as the Pats doubled up Brandon for their fourth win in a row.
Rykr Cole and Pavel Padakin also scored for Regina (17-10-1).
Peter Quenneville scored both goals for the Wheat Kings (21-6-2), who got a 37-save performance from Jordan Papirny.
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RAIDERS 5 COUGARS 2
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Josh Morrissey had a three-point night with a goal and two helpers to lead Prince Albert over the Cougars.
Craig Leverton and Reid Gardiner had a goal and an assist apiece for the Raiders (15-14-0), and Jordan Tkatch and Gage Quinney also scored.
Brad Morrison and David Soltes supplied the offence for Prince George (13-16-0).
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SILVERTIPS 4 CHIEFS 2
EVERETT, Wash. — Nikita Scherbak scored two goals and assisted on another as the Silvertips topped Spokane.
Ivan Nikolishin and Kohl Bauml also had goals for Everett (17-5-4).
Adam Helewka and Dominic Zwerger scored for the Chiefs (14-9-3).
