Wenatchee Opens 2026 Quickly, Earns 6-2 Victory over Portland Friday

January 2, 2026 - WENATCHEE, Wash. - After flipping the calendar to 2026 on Wednesday night, the Wenatchee Wild didn't wait long on Friday to set the tone for the new calendar year. Caelan Joudrey jimmied a pair of power play goals into the Portland Winterhawks' net in the opening 10:26, and the Wild opened the new year with three straight goals in a 6-2 win at Town Toyota Center on Friday evening. The win was the fifth straight for the home team in the series, as the Wild dealt the Winterhawks their sixth straight loss on the road. Wenatc... Full Story

Chiefs Open the New Year with Giant Win, Preston Nets Game Winner over Vancouver

January 2, 2026 - Spokane, WA - The Spokane Chiefs opened the 2026 calendar year with a skate against the Vancouver Giants on Friday night for the annual Fred Meyer Wall Calendar Giveaway. The first period was a dominant showing from the Spokane Chiefs, firing 18 shots to only three for the visitors. Spokane got on the board halfway through the period after a shot from Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect Nathan Mayes found its way into the net for his first goal of the season. The Chiefs' defenseman carried the puck nearly the length of the i... Full Story

Scarecrows Avoid Break-Ing Down, Win, 5-3

January 2, 2026 - Topeka continued a five-game road trip down south in Biloxi with their first game at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. All four previous games took place in Topeka and resulted in a 2-2 series tie.Coming into 2026 both squads looked to climb in the standings. Breakers fans didn't have to wait long as Darius Davidson got the crowd revved up after an Aldyar Nurlan pickoff and put it behind Daniil Bryzgalov just 2:04 into the game for a 1-0 lead. Late in the first Lucas Piekarczyk took a pass from Xavier Charbonneau and fired ... Full Story

Morrison Nets a Pair in Firebirds' Win over Gulls, 5-2

January 2, 2026 - The Firebirds defeated the San Diego Gulls on Friday night at Pechanga Arena by the final score of 5-2. Logan Morrison netted a pair of goals in the Firebirds' win that snapped a two-game losing skid for Coachella Valley. Nikke Kokko appeared in his 54th game as a member of the Firebirds, setting a franchise record for the most games played by a goaltender in team history. With the win, Coachella Valley now holds a 16-10-4-0 record on the season. Coachella Valley got out to a 2-0 lead in the first 11:58 of the game. Logan... Full Story

• Late Goal from Preston Lifts Chiefs Past Giants - Vancouver Giants (WHL) January 2
• Bystedt Scores, But Barracuda Clipped by Condors - San Jose Barracuda (AHL) January 2
• Wenatchee Opens 2026 Quickly, Earns 6-2 Victory over Portland Friday - Wenatchee Wild (WHL) January 2
• Fighting Five: Saints Visit Steel to Begin Official Second Half - Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) January 2
• Chiefs Open the New Year with Giant Win, Preston Nets Game Winner over Vancouver - Spokane Chiefs (WHL) January 2
• Broncos Fall, 4-3, in Overtime to Hurricanes in 2026 Opener - Swift Current Broncos (WHL) January 2
• Rockets Fall, 3-2, in Shootout to Blazers - Kelowna Rockets (WHL) January 2
• Scarecrows Avoid Break-Ing Down, Win, 5-3 - Topeka Scarecrows (FPHL) January 2
• Morrison Nets a Pair in Firebirds' Win over Gulls, 5-2 - Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) January 2
• Americans Blanked, 5-0, by Tahoe - Allen Americans (ECHL) January 2
• Tahoe Rings in the New Year with 5-0 Dominating Performance Against Allen - Tahoe Knight Monsters (ECHL) January 2
• Gulls Taken Down by Firebirds, 5-2 - San Diego Gulls (AHL) January 2
• Jones' Return Lifts Condors to 4-1 Win over San Jose - Bakersfield Condors (AHL) January 2
• Hawks Come up Short in Wenatchee - Portland Winterhawks (WHL) January 2
• Logan Morrison Scores Twice in 5-2 Win over Gulls - Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) January 2
• All Today's Hockey News

Spokane Chiefs' Coco Armstrong versus Vancouver Giants' Burke Hood (Larry Brunt)
Hockey Photo Gallery

OurSports Central provides coverage of the following independent and minor league hockey organizations:

Minor League Hockey
American Hockey League (AHL)
ECHL (ECHL)
SPHL (SPHL)
Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)

Junior Hockey
Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
United States Hockey League (USHL)
Western Hockey League (WHL)
North American Hockey League (NAHL)

Women's Hockey
Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)

• KC's Randl scores in OT to hand Komets fourth straight loss - ECHL Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (January 3)
  
• Axel Lfgren extends point streak as Force beat Tri-City - USHL Fargo Forum (January 3)
  
• Battalion carry play but can't score enough in loss to Wolves - OHL North Bay Nugget (January 3)
  
• Decisions loom after Rangers get boost on the blue line - OHL Waterloo Record (January 3)
  
• Avalanche places Mackenzie Blackwood on injured reserve - AHL Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald (January 3)
  
• Seattle Kraken, Torrent players heading to Winter Olympics - PWHL KING (January 3)
  
• Ella Shelton and Renata Fast combo could push Sceptres - PWHL Toronto Sun (January 3)
  
• Red Deer Rebels trade Gard, McInnis, Vlooswyk - WHL Red Deer Advocate (January 3)
  
• Victoire falls to Sirens in Jade Downie-Landry's return to the team - PWHL Montreal Gazette (January 3)
  
• Atlanta Gladiators Forward Isak Walther Named ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL Gwinnett Daily Post (January 3)
  
• Jack LaFontaine strong in net again as Mavericks win first post-strike game - ECHL Independence Examiner (January 3)
  
• 3 takeaways: Eichel returns, but Knights drop 4th straight on late goal - AHL Las Vegas Review-Journal (January 3)
  
• All Today's hockey Headlines