HOCKEY: Whitefish Wolverines' playoff push heads to Idaho
WHITEFISH — The Whitefish Wolverines swept the Vancouver Rangers on the road last week in the first round of the Western States Hockey League playoffs.
Their reward? A date with the division’s best team.
Whitefish starts a best of three series Friday at 8 p.m. in McCall, Idaho against the Idaho Junior Steelheads, the regular season champions of the Northwest Division.
The Wolverines went 0-6 against the Steelheads during the regular season, losing those six games by a combined 45-3 score. Idaho went 44-7-0-1 during the year and totaled 89 points to easily lead the division and earn a bye through the first round of the playoffs.
Whitefish dispatched Vancouver in the postseason’s opening round with back-to-back wins last Friday and Saturday, 6-1 and 6-5, respectively. Silas Johnson, Ben Evans and Brett Fernandez each scored two goals in the series.
The Steelheads ended the Wolverines’ season a year ago in the same round of the playoffs, defeating Whitefish in McCall, 9-0 and 6-2.
WSHL Playoff Schedule
Today’s Games
Fresno at Long Beach, 7:30 p.m.
Ontario at Valencia, 8:15 p.m.
Friday’s Games
Wichita at Springfield, 6 p.m.
Colorado at Superior, 7 p.m.
Southern Oregon at Missoula, 7:30 p.m.
El Paso at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m.
Whitefish at Idaho, 8 p.m.
Ontario at Valencia, 8:15 p.m.
Casper at Ogden, 8:30 p.m.
Fresno at Long Beach, 8:35 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Fresno at Long Beach, 5:45 p.m.
Wichita at Springfield, 6 p.m.
Colorado at Superior, 7 p.m.
El Paso at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
Southern Oregon at Missoula, 7:30 p.m.
Whitefish at Idaho, 8 p.m.
Ontario at Valencia, 8:15 p.m.
Casper at Ogden, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday’s Games
Wichita at Springfield, 1 p.m.
Casper at Ogden, 1 p.m.
Colorado at Superior, 1 p.m.
Southern Oregon at Missoula, 2 p.m.
El Paso at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m.
Whitefish at Idaho, 5 p.m.