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Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Hang on for Win in Saturday Night Rematch

November 29, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs hung on late to preserve a 6-4 win over the rival Tri-City Americans on Saturday night at Spokane Arena in the second game of a quick home-and-home series. Five different players scored for Spokane while rookie forward Ethan McIndoe earned first star honors with a goal and an assist.

Tri-City stunned the Chiefs with a goal just 45 seconds into regulation as Parker Bowles chipped in a Jordan Topping cross-crease pass to beat starting goaltender Tyson Verhelst on the Ams' first shot of the game.

The Chiefs bounced right back with a goal of their own barely a minute later as defenseman Jake Toporowski took advantage of an ill-timed Tri-City line change and found a streaking Jaret Anderson-Dolan for a breakaway. The 16-year-old forward wristed a shot past goalie Evan Sarthou's blocker to even the game at 1-1.

McIndoe scored a hard-nosed power play goal with 3:52 remaining in the opening period, crashing the net to corral a rebound off a Markson Bechtold shot and beat Sarthou. The goal, which was McIndoe's third of the season, gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.

The Chiefs repeated the effort under a minute into the second period and appeared to grab control of the game as Curtis Miske scored his sixth of the year on a low backhand shot earned off a rebound from McIndoe.

Tri-City did not go down without a fight as Parker Wotherspoon beat Verhelst's glove side with a wrist shot from the left circle at the 11 minute mark of the second. The unassisted power play goal was Wotherspoon's fifth of the season.

Spokane appeared to gain control once again early in the third period as Zwerger scored the first of his two goals - again on a rebound opportunity - and team-leading scorer Kailer Yamamoto capped off a beautiful tic-tac-toe power play score for his ninth of the season. The goals, scored at 1:50 and 3:54 of the final frame, respectively, put the Chiefs up 5-2.

Again, Tri-City stormed back within one as Topping roofed a nifty backhand shot on the power play at the 8:22 mark and Michael Rasmussen scored his seventh of the season off a Beau McCue assist at 10:37.

A day after giving up a third period lead to the Americans in Kennewick, the Chiefs tightened up the lead this time, outshooting the Americans 15-11 in the third. Zwerger tapped in his second goal on an empty net to seal the game with six seconds remaining.

Both power plays were effective on Saturday night as the Americans were 2-for-2 and the Chiefs were 2-for-3. Verhelst made 25 saves on 29 shots while Sarthou turned aside 33 of 38 faced.

The Chiefs remain home to face the Everett Silvertips tomorrow night for an early 5:05 p.m. start. It will be Guns and Hoses Benefit Hockey Night at Spokane Arena; the annual Law Enforcement versus Firefighters charity game will begin at 3 p.m. at the Arena. Doors open at 2:30 for any fan with a ticket to the subsequent Chiefs game.

Tickets for Sunday evening and all Spokane Chiefs games are available via TicketsWest online at www.ticketswest.com or over the phone at 800-325-SEAT.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 29, 2015


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