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WHL Spokane Chiefs

A Night of Firsts as Chiefs Slice Through Blades for 9-2 Win

January 14, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs scored six goals in the third period on their way to a decisive 9-2 win over the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday night at Spokane Arena. Hudson Elynuik led the way with 2 goals and an assist as the Chiefs scored their highest goal total in over a calendar year.

Spokane jumped out to a 1-0 lead with their fifth shorthanded goal of the season as Kailer Yamamoto tapped a shot in off a Dominic Zwerger feed at the 18:10 mark of the first period. Yamamoto and Zwerger teamed up to force a Saskatoon turnover behind the Blades' goal to create the chance.

Elynuik started the second period off with a bang, scoring on the power play just nine seconds in. Zwerger earned his second assist of the night with a centering feed from the left wing as Elynuik slipped the puck low on a backhand.

Saskatoon answered less than a minute later as Braylon Shmyr scored unassisted at the 57-second mark, but that was as close as they would get to taking back the lead.

Evan Fiala boomed a slap shot from the blue line to make it 3-1 at the 5:58 mark of the second, off assists from defenseman Tyson Helgesen and Elynuik. The Chiefs entered the second intermission with a 3-1 lead.

Just over five minutes into the third and final period, Wyatt Johnson fired a slap shot of his own from the high slot to beat Blades' goaltender Brock Hamm to the top-left corner. The goal, Johnson's second in as many games, was assisted by Presten Kopeck - in his first game as a Chief - and Markson Bechtold to give the Chiefs a 4-1 lead.

Chiefs' defenseman Ty Smith, a 15-year-old in his first WHL regular season game, earned his first career WHL point with an assist on a deflected power play goal by Jaret Anderson-Dolan at the 7:40 mark of the third. Smith ripped a shot through traffic from above the left circle that ricocheted off at least three players and sticks before finding the net.

Elynuik scored his second of the night and 10th of the season off assists from Kailer Yamamoto and Curtis Miske at the 9:35 mark to make it 6-1 and the rout was on. Miske scored a goal of his own under three minutes later off assists from Smith and Kailer Yamamoto.

The Blades scored their second goal at the 13:14 mark as Nolan Reid netted his third of the season to make it 7-2 in the Chiefs' favor.

Keanu Yamamoto got into the fun with an easy goal at the 14:07 mark, utilizing a two-on-one with Anderson-Dolan to match his career best 12th goal of the season and push the lead to 8-2.

Finally, to cap the scoring on a night of firsts, defenseman Dalton Hamaliuk scored his first career WHL goal at the 15:50 mark of the third period. Miske and Kailer Yamamoto partnered up for the assists on the milestone goal.

Spokane outshot Saskatoon 30-17 on the night. The Chiefs went 2-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Tyson Verhelst started in goal and made 15 saves on 17 shots. Hamm finished with 21 saves on 30 shots faced.

Nine goals marks the most scored by the Chiefs since New Year's Eve in 2014, when they scored 10 in a 10-2 win over the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Spokane.

The Chiefs remain home for Friday night's division matchup against the Portland Winterhawks. It will be Coeur d'Alene Casino BINGO Night at Spokane Arena as fans can play along during the game for a chance to win prizes from Coeur d'Alene Casino.

Tickets for Friday night's game and all Chiefs' home games are available via TicketsWest online at ticketswest.com and via the Chiefs' Ticket Office over the phone at 509-535-PUCK.

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