Western Hockey League Conference Semifinals Schedule

The Conference Quarterfinals of the Western Hockey League wrapped up last night as the Portland Winterhawks won a wild back & fourth affair where Winterhawks forward Ty Rattie scored the game winner to knockout the Spokane Chiefs to advance to play the B.C. Division Champion Vancouver Giants.

Even though Portland is only a 5 seed, the team finished with a higher point total then the Vancouver Giants who won the B.C. Division that for the most part wasn't that great this year with teams like the Chilliwack Bruins struggling in the 1st Round.

Calgary moved on to the 2nd Round, but not before Moose Jaw gave them a big scare by being up 3-1 in the best of 7 series. Jason Bast was on his way to having a monster series as the Warriors leading scorer was able to score 6 goals and just playing like a mad man in all situations during the series. Also Moose Jaw Goaltender Jeff Bosch also kept the Warriors in the series, including an amazing game in Game 1 where he made 48 saves in a 4-2 win to open the playoffs. However, Calgary outscored Moose Jaw 18-7 in the last 3 games to comeback and win the Best of 7 series.

The other Eastern Conference Semifinal between the Saskatoon Blades & Brandon Wheat Kings should be awesome as both teams are coming off sweeps. Saskatoon's defense was rock solid as the Blades gave up just 3 goals in the series sweep. Brandon took down Swift Current as Wheat King Forwards Brayden Schenn and Matt Calvert lead the way with 9 & 8 points and are looking to rev it up for the later rounds.

The Surprise upset of the 1st Round came as the defending Champion Kelowna Rockets knocked off the Everett Silvertips in 7 games as the home team won each of the first 6 games. Kelowna needed to win on the road when it mattered most with Geordie Wudrick who currently leading the WHL Playoffs in Goals with 8 in the 1st Round. Tri-City is next up for the defending Champions as the Kelowna Rockets & Tri-City Americans will face off in the post-season for the 2nd straight year. Last year, Kelowna knocked off Tri-City in 6 games in route to the WHL Championship last season.

One of the most interesting things to see is how will Vancouver respond as they will be the road team against Portland. Despite winning the B.C. Division and finishing 2nd, the Winterhawks had more wins and points then the Giants. Because of that, the Winterhawks will have home ice in the Conference Semifinals.

WHL Conference Semifinals


Eastern Conference

#1 Calgary Hitmen VS. #5 Medicine Hat Tigers

Calgary Hitmen's Road to the Memorial Cup

West QFS VS. Moose Jaw: Game 1 2-4 L, Game 2 1-4 L, Game 3 7-3 W, Game 4 3-4 L, Game 5 5-2 W, Game 6 7-3 W, Game 7 6-2 W

Calgary Leading Scorers
Brandon Kozun 7GP 12 PTS (3G 9A, +1)
Tyler Shattock 7GP 9 PTS (2G 7A, +6)
Del Cowan 7 GP 8 PTS (2G 6A, +9)

Calgary Goaltending
Martin Jones 7 GP 4-3 3.18 GAA .893 SV%


Medicine Hat Tigers Road to the Memorial Cup

East QFS VS. Kooteany: Game 1 2-6 L, Game 2 0-4 L, Game 3 4-1 W, Game 4 5-1 W, Game 5 5-2 W, Game 6 4-1 W

Medicine Hat Scoring Leaders
Emerson Etem 6 GP 7 PTS (4G 3A, +3)
Bretton Cameron 6 GP 6 PTS (1G 5A, +3)
Linden Vey 6 GP 6 PTS (1G 5A, E)

Medicine Hat Goaltending
Tyler Bunz 4-2 2.32 GAA .915 SV%
Deven Dubyk 0-0 2.96 GAA .875 SV%


All Calgary Hitmen Home Games are @ Pengrowth Saddledome

All Medicine Hat Tigers Home Games are @ Medicine Hat Arena

Game 1, 4/2: @ Calgary 8:00 PM

Game 2, 4/4: @ Calgary 6:00 PM

Game 3, 4/6: @ Medicine Hat 8:00 PM

Game 4, 4/7: @ Medicine Hat 8:00 PM

Game 5, 4/9: @ Calgary 8:00 PM*

Game 6, 4/11: @ Medicine Hat 7:00 PM*

Game 7, 4/13: @ Calgary 8:00 PM*

*If Necessary


#2 Brandon Wheat Kings VS. #3 Saskatoon Blades

Brandon Wheat Kings Road to the Memorial Cup

East QFS VS. Swift Current: Game 1 5-2 W, Game 2 5-3 W, Game 3 5-2 W, Game 4 3-2 OT

Brandon Scoring Leaders
Brayden Schenn 4 GP 9 PTS (5G 4A, +5)
Matt Calvert 4 GP 8 PTS (3G 5A, +5)
Colby Robak 4 GP 6 PTS (0G 6A, +5)

Brandon Goaltending
Jacob De Serres 4 GP 4-0 2.11 GAA .920 SV%


Saskatoon Blades Road to the Memorial Cup

East QFS VS. Red Deer: Game 1 3-0 W, Game 2 4-0 W, Game 3 2-1 OTW, 5-2 W


Saskatoon Scoring Leaders
Stefan Elliott 4GP 5 PTS (2G 3A, +3)
Walker Wintoneak 4 GP 4 PTS (1G 3A, +3)
Gaaelan Peterson 4 GP 3 PTS (3G 0A, +3)

Saskatoon Goaltending
Steven Stanford 4 GP 4-0 0.73 GAA .977 SV%


All Brandon Wheat Kings Home Games are @ Westman Place

All Saskatoon Blades Home Games are @ Credit Union Center

Game 1, 4/2: @ Saskatoon 8:05 PM

Game 2, 4/3: @ Saskatoon 8:05 PM

Game 3, 4/7: @ Brandon 7:00 PM

Game 4, 4/9: @ Brandon 7:30 PM

Game 5, 4/10: @ Brandon 7:30 PM*

Game 6, 4/12: @ Saskatoon 8:05 PM*

Game 7, 4/14: @ Brandon 8:00 PM*

*If Necessary


Western Conference


#1 Tri-City Americans VS. #6 Kelwona Rockets

Tri-City Americans Road to the Memorial Cup

West QFS VS. Chilliwack: Game 1 4-2 W, Game 2 8-1 W, Game 3 1-5 L, Game 4 4-3 OTW, Game 5 3-4 OTL, Game 6 4-1 W

Tri-City Scoring Leaders
Brooks Macek 6 GP 8 PTS (4G 4A, +7)
Kruise Reddick 6 GP 8 PTS (4G 4A, +3)
Brendan Shinnimin 6 GP 7 PTS (5G 2A, E)

Tri-City Goaltending
Drew Owsley 6 GP 4-2 2.46 GAA .922 SV%
Alexander Pechurskiy 0-0 2.93 GAA .920 SV%


Kelowna Rockets Road to the Memorial Cup

West QFS VS. Everett: Game 1 4-5 OTL, Game 2 2-5 L, Game 3 5-3 W, Game 4 5-4 OTW, Game 5 0-4 L, Game 6 5-4 W, Game 7 2-1 W

Kelowna Scoring Leaders
Tyson Barrie 7 GP 9 PTS (2G 7A, +2)
Geordie Wudrick 7 GP 8 PTS (8G 0A, -2)
Brandon Mcmillan 7 GP 7 PTS (0G 7A, +6)

Kelowna Goaltending
Mark Guggenberger 5 GP 4-1 2.72 GAA .910 SV%
Adam Brown 3 GP 0-2 5.26 GAA .868 SV%


All Tri-City Americans Home Games are @ Toyota Center

All Kelowna Rockets Home Games are @ Prospera Place

Game 1, 4/2: @ Tri-City 9:05 PM

Game 2, 4/3: @ Tri-City 9:05 PM

Game 3, 4/6: @ Kelowna 9:00 PM

Game 4, 4/7: @ Kelowna 9:00 PM

Game 5, 4/9: @ Tri-City 9:05 PM*

Game 6, 4/11: @ Kelowna 7:00 PM*

Game 7, 4/13: @ Tri-City 9:05 PM*

*If Necessary


#2 Vancouver Giants VS. #5 Portland Winterhawks

Vancouver Giants Road to the Memorial Cup

West QFS VS. Kamloops: Game 1 4-3 OTW, Game 2 6-3 W, Game 3 5-4 OTW, Game 4 5-4 W

Vancouver Scoring Leaders
Craig Cunningham 4 GP 10 PTS (5G 5A, +7)
Brendan Gallagher 4 GP 10 PTS (4G 6A, +5)
Lance Bouma 4 GP 6 PTS (1G 5A, +5)

Vancouver Goaltending
Mark Segal 4 GP 4-0 3.46 GAA .857 SV%


Portland Winterhawks Road to the Memorial Cup

West QFS VS. Spokane: Game 1 4-5 L, Game 2 2-4 L, Game 3 2-1 W, Game 4 4-2 W, Game 5 4-3 W, Game 6 3-4 L, Game 7 5-4 OTW

Portland Scoring Leaders
Ryan Johansen 7 GP 9 PTS (3G 6A, +4)
Nino Niederretier 7 GP 8 PTS (4G 4A, +3)
Luke Walker 7 GP 5 PTS (4G 1A, -3)

Portland Goaltending
Mac Carruth 7 GP 4-3 3.03 GAA .905 SV%


All Vancouver Giants Home Games are @ Pacific Coliseum

All Portland Winterhawks Home Games are @ Portland Memorial Coliseum

Despite Vancouver Winning the B.C. Division, the Portland Winterhawks had the better record and will have home ice advantage for the Conference Semifinals.

Game 1, 4/3: @ Portland 9:00 PM

Game 2, 4/4: @ Portland 7:00 PM

Game 3, 4/7: @ Vancouver 9:00 PM

Game 4, 4/9: @ Vancouver 9:30 PM

Game 5, 4/10: @ Vancouver 9:00 PM*

Game 6, 4/13: @ Portland 9:00 PM*

Game 7, 4/14: @ Portland 9:00 PM*

*If Necessary