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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Come up with Big 6-5 Win over Kamloops Blazers

April 2, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Kamloops, B.C. - The Spokane Chiefs came up with a big 6-5 win over the Kamloops Blazers on the road Friday night to earn two points in their playoff push.

Rookie winger Yannick Proske got things going early for the Chiefs when he knocked in his 12th goal of the year just over five minutes into the first period to open the scoring.

Veteran forward and former Kamloops Blazer Nick McCarry added on at 12:06 with help from Logan Cunningham and Chase Bertholet. Two and a half minutes later, defenseman Graham Sward fired a missile to the back of the net from the center of the blue line in his first game back from injury to make it 3-0, Chiefs. McCarry and team captain Bear Hughes notched assists on the play.

Spokane managed to hold the Blazers to just one goal in the first period, coming from Dylan Sydor at 17:12.

Spokane kept the momentum rolling into the second period, as rookie defenseman Timafey Kovgoreniya blasted a one-timer from the left circle into the net for his fourth goal of the year six minutes into the frame. Reed Jacobson and Ty Cheveldayoff earned assists on the play.

The Chiefs kept Kamloops at bay for the rest of the second period and even tacked on their fifth goal of the game with just 13 seconds left, as Cheveldayoff swept down the boards and shoveled the puck to a waiting Blake Swetlikoff who tapped it in for his 11th of the season.

It was the Blazers who kicked off the scoring in the final frame, with back-to-back goals from Viktor Persson (1:28) and Logan Stankoven (6:19) to bring Kamloops within two.

But the Chiefs would not be deterred, as Las Vegas native Erik Atchison played clean-up on a Nick McCarry rebound for Spokane's sixth goal of the game at 7:40. It was also Atchison's first game back after injury. The assist marks McCarry's 97th career WHL point and his third of the game, earning him first star honors.

The Blazers made things interesting in the second half of the frame, with another pair of quick goals from Logan Bairos (11:16) and Dylan Kuefler (13:10), but the Chiefs held on to win it, 6-5.

Mason Beaupit was an absolute wall in net for the Chiefs, stopping 40 of 45 shots, while rookie Dylan Ernst turned aside 33 of 39 Spokane shots on the other side of the ice. Spokane outshot Kamloops, 45-39. Related Links

Spokane's special teams were strong, going 3-for-5 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Up next, the Chiefs will head to Vancouver to take on the sixth-place Giants as they continue their playoff push.

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The Spokane Chiefs are a member of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, the world's finest development league for junior hockey players. Since 1985 the Chiefs have been a pillar in the Spokane community, offering family-friendly entertainment and a winning tradition which includes: two Memorial Cup Championships in 1991 & 2008, two WHL Championships in 1991 & 2008 and four Western Conference Championships in 1991, 1996, 2000 & 2008. Over 60 alumni have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.

The Chiefs' next home game is Wednesday, April 6 versus the Everett Silvertips. It will be Coeur d'Alene Casino BINGO Night and Regular Season Finale at Spokane Arena. Fans can play along in the area's largest game of BINGO with a chance to win prizes courtesy of Coeur d'Alene Casino. Tickets are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2022


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