WINNIPEG — Carson Latimer scored the game-winning goal as the Winnipeg Ice beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Hockey League final.
Evan Friesen and Connor McClennon scored the other goals for Winnipeg, which took a 3-0 lead in the second period in front of a raucous crowd at Canada Life Centre, home of the NHL's Jets.
Reid Schaefer and Kevin Korchinski replied for Seattle to bring the deficit within one, but the Thunderbirds couldn't find the equalizer.
Ice goaltender Daniel Hauser made 27 saves to earn the win, while Thunderbirds netminder Thomas Milic stopped 25 of 28 shots in the loss.
Both teams return to the ice in Winnipeg on Saturday for Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2023.
The Canadian Press
