WHL Spokane Chiefs

Catton, Roulette Each Log Four-Point Nights in 8-5 Loss to Winterhawks

Published on December 9, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Portland, Ore. - Despite four-point nights from both Berkly Catton and Conner Roulette, the Spokane Chiefs dropped their fourth-straight Friday night on the road against the Portland Winterhawks, 8-5.

The Winterhawks were quick to draw blood, scoring the first of the game's 13 goals just 50 seconds into play. It was James Stefan's first of three goals on the night, on his way to his first career hat trick.

But the Chiefs were quick to answer, as rookie forward Hayden Paupanekis notched his fourth goal of the season when he capitalized on a breakaway chance at the 3:57 mark to tie the game 1-1. Conner Roulette earned an assist on the play.

Soon after, Portland logged a pair of goals in quick succession thanks to Stefan's second of the night at 4:14 and Josh Zakreski's sixth of the year at 4:43 to take a 3-1 lead in less than five total minutes of play.

A little over halfway through the opening frame, Chase Bertholet dug a puck out on the boards and got it to fellow overage winger Conner Roulette, who pushed it to Berkly Catton at the left circle. Catton sniped a one-timer to the top right corner of the net to bring Spokane within one heading into the first break.

The Winterhawks stayed hot to start off the second period, scoring at 4:14 (Alscher) and again at 8:24 (Stefan's third) to widen the gap to 5-2.

At 16:11, the Chiefs cashed in on the man advantage when defenseman Layton Feist pushed the puck from center over to a waiting Roulette in the left circle. Catton also earned an assist on the play, but this time it was Roulette who found the twine for his 19th goal of the season.

Spokane carried that momentum into the final frame when Chase Bertholet swung at an air-born puck that rebounded off the Portland netminder after a Catton shot and knocked it in to make it a 5-4 game just 33 seconds into play. Roulette also earned an assist on the play, his fourth point of the night and his seventh in the last three games.

Carter Sotheran again padded Portland's lead to 6-4 less than a minute later.

Almost halfway through the period, things seemed to be going the Winterhawks' way as they went on a power play, but Bertholet intercepted the puck from Josh Davies and slid it up to a rushing Berkly Catton who broke away and chipped it over the shoulder of Portland goalie Justen Maric for his second shorthanded goal of the season.

This narrowed the gap to 6-5 at 9:41, putting the Chiefs within reach with plenty of time left.

However, the Winterhawks sealed the deal with back-to-back empty net goals by Marcus Nguyen (18:48) and Davies (19:02) to close out the game at a final score of 8-5.

The Chiefs went 1-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

The top line of Roulette (1G-3A), Catton (2G-2A) and Bertholet (1G-2A) scored 11 of Spokane skaters' 13 points on the night.

Dawson Cowan put up some impressive saves down the stretch to keep Spokane in the game, stopping 34 of 40 total shots faced.

Up next, the Chiefs head home to take on the Wenatchee Wild Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2023


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