Chiefs Complete Comeback, Defeat Portland 5-4 on Road
WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Complete Comeback, Defeat Portland 5-4 on Road

Published on February 14, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Spokane Chiefs overcame a rocky start Friday night and ended up scoring five straight goals to complete a comeback victory against the Portland Winterhawks on the road.

The Winterhawks were strong out of the gate, skyrocketing to a quick three-goal lead less than ten minutes into play. It was Jordan Duguay who kicked things off only a minute and a half into the game, followed by Max Psenicka at 6:22 and Nathan Free on a power play at 7:28.

After that, the Chiefs found the gas pedal at 15:27 and didn't let off for the rest of the contest. Defenseman Rhett Sather scored his 10th goal of the season to put Spokane on the board late in the first. Logan Wormald was credited with the assist.

Under a minute later, at 16:06, Chase Harrington won a faceoff and got the puck out to overage forward Sam Oremba, who fired it to the twine to put the Chiefs within one.

Only nine seconds later, Nathan Mayes drove the puck up the ice after another faceoff win and sniped it to the back of the net to even things up at 3-3. Harrington logged his second assist of the night on the play.

Harrington turned goal-scorer in the second period on a beautiful tic-tac-toe play between him, Dominik Petr and Tyus Sparks. Sparks dropped a pass back to Petr in front of the net, who slid it across the slot to Harrington where it was slapped into the net for the Chiefs' fourth goal of the night and Harrington's first since January 19 due to injury.

Carter Esler stood tall in Spokane's net through the second period, stopping all ten of Portland's shots to send the Chiefs into the second break up 4-3.

Rookie defenseman Harry Mattern extended Spokane's lead to 5-3 at 4:34 in the third with his second goal of the year and what would end up being the game-winning goal.

Mayes took a boarding major later in the third, putting Portland on a five-minute power play. Nathan Brown capitalized on the opportunity and put the Winterhawks within one at 11:48. But that's as close as it'd get, as Esler made some huge saves down the stretch to help the Chiefs secure the 5-4 victory.

The Chiefs outshot the Winterhawks 45-29, but special teams struggled at 0-for-2 on the power play and the penalty kill.

Spokane is back in action Saturday when they host the Wenatchee Wild for the Numerica Western Conference Championship Trophy Piggy Bank Giveaway.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2026


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