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The Coachella Valley Firebirds, top affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, beat the Hershey Bears 4-3 in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals on Friday in Pennsylvania.

John Hayden and Ryan Winterton, both of whom spent time in Seattle this season, provided two goals apiece in the win.

Coachella Valley enjoyed a five-day layoff after finishing the Milwaukee Admirals in five games. They had to wait on the Bears, who blew a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final before prevailing in Game 7 on Wednesday.

Hershey scored just 1:15 into Friday’s Game 1. Hayden evened the score with a shorthanded strike. Winterton, Seattle’s third-round pick in 2021, had the next two goals to give the Firebirds a 3-1 lead at the game’s midway point.

Hayden tallied his ninth of the postseason late in the second period. He’s tied for second in AHL playoff scoring.

Shane Wright, Seattle’s fourth overall pick in 2022, returned to the lineup after missing six games with a lower-body injury. He and teammate Max McCormick finished with a game-high four shots on goal.

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Rookie defenseman Ville Ottavainen, a 2021 fourth-round pick for the Kraken, had two assists, as did forward Cameron Hughes. Chris Driedger made 16 saves for the Firebirds.

Seven of the game’s nine power plays – including four straight for Coachella Valley – came in the third period. The Firebirds couldn’t convert during their many opportunities, but the Bears did, closing the gap to a single goal with 1:56 left in the game.

Game 2 is Sunday in Hershey. The series shifts to Acrisure Arena for Tuesday’s Game 3.

  • The Kraken announced they agreed to terms with 2023 second-round draft pick Oscar Fisker Molgaard on a three-year entry-level contract. Fisker Molgaard, a 6-foot, 168-pound center from Hjorring, Denmark, tallied nine goals and 12 assists for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League this season.

ROWING

  • Western Washington sophomore rower Mia Knipe was named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association’s NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year.
From sports-information reports.

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