Ice open WHL season with OT win
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/09/2022 (1184 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Zach Benson scored with 6.7 seconds left in overtime to lift the Winnipeg Ice to a 4-3 triumph over the Brandon Wheat Kings in WHL action before 4,017 fans at Westoba Place Saturday night.
It was the regular-season opener for both teams.
Overage centre Nolan Ritchie’s goal with 6:07 remaining in the regulation had given the hosts a 3-2 lead only to have Josh Medernach rally the visitors, forcing overtime with 94 seconds left.
It was Medernach’s second goal of the game and the second of his WHL career.
Medernach, acquired by the Ice in the off-season in a trade that sent 20-year-old defenceman Tanner Brown to the Red Deer Rebels, was one of the big heroes of the night, scoring even-strength marker 2:03 into the third period to give Winnipeg a 3-2 lead.
The 19-year-old from Lloydminster, Alta., had only one assist to show for 29 previous regular-season games with the Rebels.
Defenceman Mason Ward and forward Brett Hyland also scored for the Wheat Kings.
Evan Friesen had the other goal for the Ice.
Daniel Hauser made 27 stops in the Winnipeg net while Brandon goaltender Carson Bjarnason finished with 39 saves.
The Ice went 0-for-4 on the power play while the Wheat Kings were scoreless in two chances.
Next up for the Ice is a Wednesday night visit to the Prince Albert Raiders. It will be the second of 13 consecutive road games for Winnipeg while renovations are completed at Wayne Fleming Arena.
BLUE-LINES: Saturday’s three stars were: 1. Brett Hyland, Brandon (one goal, two assists); 2. Carson Bjarnason, Brandon (39 saves); 3. Josh Medernach, Winnipeg (two goals)… Former Ice blue-liner Nolan Orzeck has his first pro contract, agreeing to terms with the the ECHL’s Iowa Heartlanders. The Heartlanders, based in Coralville, are affiliated with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and AHL’s Iowa Wild. The 21-year-old Calgary product had six goals, 43 points and was a plus-62 in 67 regular-season games in 2021-22.
Winnipeg forward Mikey Milne and defenceman Carson Lambos remain in camp with the Minnedosa Wild. Forwards Conor Geekie (Arizona Coyotes) and Matt Savoie (Buffalo Sabres), a pair of 18-year-olds, also remain with their NHL teams.
— staff