Round 1 is in the books and we’ve officially made it to the Conference Semifinals. Before we look ahead to Round 2, here’s a look back at the results of Round 1.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:
1. Edmonton Oil Kings vs 8. Prince Albert Raiders
Game 1: Prince Albert 3, Edmonton 5 – Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Game 2: Prince Albert 1, Edmonton 3 – Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Game 3: Edmonton 4, Prince Albert 3 – Art Hauser Centre, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Game 4: Edmonton 6, Prince Albert 2 – Art Hauser Centre, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Edmonton wins series 4-0.
2. Regina Pats vs 7. Brandon Wheat Kings
Game 1: Brandon 6, Regina 3 – Brandt Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
Game 2: Brandon 8, Regina 4 – Brandt Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
Game 3: Regina 4, Brandon 5 – Westman Place, Brandon, Manitoba
Game 4: Regina 1, Brandon 5 – Westman Place, Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon wins series 4-1.
3. Calgary Hitmen vs 6. Kootenay Ice
Game 1: Kootenay 5, Calgary 2 – Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Game 2: Kootenay 0, Calgary 5 -Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Game 3: Calgary 7, Kootenay 6 (OT) – Western Financial Place, Cranbrook, British Columbia
Game 4: Calgary 4, Kootenay 5 – Western Financial Place, Cranbrook, British Columbia
Game 5: Kootenay 6, Calgary 5 – Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Game 6: Calgary 3, Kootenay 5 – Western Financial Place, Cranbrook, British Columbia
Kootenay wins series 4-2.
4. Medicine Hat Tigers vs 5. Swift Current Broncos
Game 1: Swift Current 1, Medicine Hat 2 – Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Game 2: Swift Current 2, Medicine Hat 4 – Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Game 3: Medicine Hat 1, Swift Current 3 – Credit Union iPlex, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Game 4: Medicine Hat 2, Swift Current 3 (OT) – Credit Union iPlex, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Game 5: Swift Current 1, Medicine Hat 4 – Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Game 6: Medicine Hat 2, Swift Current 1 – Credit Union iPlex, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Medicine Hat wins series 4-2.
Western Conference Quarterfinals:
1. Kelowna Rockets vs 8. Tri-City Americans
Game 1: Tri-City 1, Kelowna 3 – Prospera Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Game 2: Tri-City 1, Kelowna 3 – Prospera Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Game 3: Kelowna 3, Tri-City 4 – Toyota Center, Kennewick, Washington
Game 4: Kelowna 5, Tri-City 3 – Toyota Center, Kennewick, Washington
Game 5: Tri-City 1, Kelowna 4 – Prospera Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna wins series 4-1.
2. Portland Winterhawks vs 7. Vancouver Giants
Game 1: Vancouver 3, Portland 4 – Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Game 2: Vancouver 0, Portland 3 – Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Game 3: Portland 6, Vancouver 3 – Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
Game 4: Portland 6, Vancouver 1 – Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
Portland wins series 4-0.
3. Victoria Royals vs 6. Spokane Chiefs
Game 1: Spokane 1, Victoria 2 (OT) – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, British Columbia
Game 2: Spokane 3, Victoria 4 – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, British Columbia
Game 3: Victoria 6, Spokane 1 – Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington
Game 4: Victoria 4, Spokane 2 – Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington
Victoria wins series 4-0.
4. Seattle Thunderbirds vs 5. Everett Silvertips
Game 1: Everett 1, Seattle 2 – ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Game 2: Seattle 3, Everett 1 – Comcast Arena, Everett, Washington
Game 3: Everett 3, Seattle 4 (OT) – ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Game 4: Seattle 1, Everett 6 – Comcast Arena, Everett, Washington
Game 5: Everett 0, Seattle 5 – ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Seattle wins series 4-1.
And here is your schedule for the 2nd round of the playoffs:
1. Edmonton Oil Kings vs 7. Brandon Wheat Kings
The Oil Kings had little trouble putting the Prince Albert Raiders away and make another step closer to making a 3rd straight WHL Finals appearance. The Wheat Kings demolished the Regina Pats, piling on goals to send the No 2. seeded Pats home. C Jayce Hawryluk is the third leading scorer in the WHL Playoffs, and Edmonton should be cautious. Despite being the No. 7 seed, the Wheat Kings could make this series last longer than the Oil Kings would like.
Game 1:
Brandon at Edmonton
Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Thursday, April 3rd
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (MDT), 6:00 PM (PST)
Game 2:
Brandon at Edmonton
Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Saturday, April 5th
Puck drops at 12:00 PM (MDT), 11:00 AM (PST)
Game 3:
Edmonton at Brandon
Westman Place, Brandon, Manitoba
Tuesday, April 8th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (CDT), 5:00 PM (PST)
Game 4:
Edmonton at Brandon
Westman Place, Brandon, Manitoba
Wednesday, April 9th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (CDT), 5:00 PM (PST)
Game 5 (if necessary):
Brandon at Edmonton
Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Friday, April 11th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (MDT), 6:00 PM (PST)
Game 6 (if necessary):
Edmonton at Brandon
Westman Place, Brandon, Manitoba
Monday, April 14th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (CDT), 5:00 PM (PST)
Game 7 (if necessary):
Brandon at Edmonton
Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Wednesday, April 16th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (MDT), 6:00 PM (PST)
4. Medicine Hat Tigers vs 6. Kootenay Ice
Medicine Hat found itself in a dogfight with Swift Current, but managed to dismiss the Broncos and move onto the 2nd round. The Kootenay Ice stunned fans around the league as they sent the heavily favored Calgary Hitmen home after 6 games. Charged by LW Tim Bozon’s release from the hospital, the Ice knocked Calgary out of the playoffs. With league leading scorers Jaedon Descheneau and Sam Reinhart, the Ice look to end Medicine Hat’s dreams winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The only question for the Ice is, who gets the starting goaltender nod? Starter Mackenzie Skapski struggled mightily against the Hitmen and was yanked in favor of youngster Wyatt Hoflin. This looks to be a repeat of the Mac Engel/Eric Williams switch for the Spokane Chiefs in the 2012 playoffs.The Ice may stick with the hot glove in Hoflin, but that remains to be seen.
Game 1:
Kootenay at Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Saturday, April 5th
Puck drops at 7:35 PM (MDT), 6:35 PM (PST)
Game 2:
Kootenay at Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Sunday, April 6th
Puck drops at 6:00 PM (MDT), 5:00 PM (PST)
Game 3:
Medicine Hat at Kootenay
Western Financial Place, Cranbrook, British Columbia
Wednesday, April 9th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (MDT), 6:00 PM (PST)
Game 4:
Medicine Hat at Kootenay
Western Financial Place, Cranbrook, British Columbia
Thursday, April 10th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (MDT), 6:00 PM (PST)
Game 5 (if necessary):
Kootenay at Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Saturday, April 12th
Puck drops at 7:30 PM (MDT), 6:30 PM (PST)
Game 6 (if necessary):
Medicine Hat at Kootenay
Western Financial Place, Cranbrook, British Columbia
Monday, April 14th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (MDT), 6:00 PM (PST)
Game 7 (if necessary):
Kootenay at Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Wednesday, April 16th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (MDT), 6:00 PM (PST)
1. Kelowna Rockets vs 4. Seattle Thunderbirds
Despite dropping a game against the Tri-City Americans, the Rockets took care business and were rewarded with a series match up with the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds come in after handling the Everett Silvertips in 5 games. They would have had a sweep, but the T-Birds underestimated the ‘Tips in Game 4. This team is built for a deep playoff run, and Kelowna may be in for a dogfight.
Game 1:
Seattle at Kelowna
Prospera Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Thursday, April 3rd
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 2:
Seattle at Kelowna
Prospera Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Saturday, April 5th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 3:
Kelowna at Seattle
ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Tuesday, April 8th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 4:
Kelowna at Seattle
ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Wednesday, April 9th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 5 (if necessary):
Seattle at Kelowna
Prospera Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Friday, April 11th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 6 (if necessary):
Kelowna at Seattle
ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Sunday, April 13th
Puck drops at 5:05 PM (PST)
Game 7 (if necessary):
Seattle at Kelowna
Prospera Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Tuesday, April 15th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
2. Portland Winterhawks vs 3. Victoria Royals
In a predictably boring fashion, the Winterhawks swept the young Vancouver Giants to face off the Victoria Royals. The Royals are having their best season in franchise history (including its 5 years as the Chilliwack Bruins) and made it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time ever with a sweep of the Spokane Chiefs. It’s highly likely that Portland will assume they’ll beat the Royals in 4 or 5 games, but the Royals won 3 of the 4 match ups against Portland during the regular season.
Game 1:
Victoria at Portland
Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon
Friday, April 4th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (PST)
Game 2:
Victoria at Portland
Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Saturday, April 5th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (PST)
Game 3:
Portland at Victoria
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, British Columbia
Monday, April 7th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 4:
Portland at Victoria
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, British Columbia
Tuesday, April 8th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 5 (if necessary):
Victoria at Portland
Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Thursday, April 10th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (PST)
Game 6 (if necessary):
Portland at Victoria
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Saturday, April 12th
Puck drops at 7:05 PM (PST)
Game 7 (if necessary):
Victoria at Portland
Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon
Monday, April 14th
Puck drops at 7:00 PM (PST)
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