WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Fall to Thunderbirds 6-2 After Two-Hour Delay

Published on April 10, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Kent, Wash. - After a two-hour delay due to driving conditions through Snoqualmie Pass, the Spokane Chiefs dropped Saturday's game against the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-2.

The loss, combined with a Prince George win over Victoria pushes the Chiefs into a tie for sixth with the Cougars, both sitting at 51 points. The Vancouver Giants and Victoria Royals are also tied at 50 points.

The first period was relatively quiet despite a combined total of 23 shots on goal (Spokane 11, Seattle 12). The frame's lone goal came from Jared Davidson at 11:00 to get the Thunderbirds on the board first.

Seattle controlled most of the second period as well, building onto their momentum with two more goals - first from Lukas Svejkovsky at 5:26, then Henrik Rybinski capitalized on a power play opportunity at 13:12 to bring the score to 3-0.

The Chiefs responded with just five seconds left in the frame with a power play goal of their own after Blake Swetlikoff tried to slap in a rebound off a Bear Hughes shot, but it was stopped by Seattle netminder Thomas Milic. Hughes made his way to the battle in the crease and shoveled the puck out from the defenders and into the net.

Spokane kept things rolling in the third when Berkly Catton picked up the puck off a face-off and sniped it into the top right corner from the left circle to bring the Chiefs within one at 1:38. It was the top overall pick's (2021 WHL Prospects Draft) first WHL goal and second career point.

That'd be as close as Spokane got, though, as the Thunderbirds went on to score three goals in less than three minutes in the second half of the period (Tyrel Bauer, Svejkovsky and Reid Schaefer) and cap the scoring at 6-2 for the night.

Mason Beaupit turned away 44 of 50 Seattle shots, while Milic stopped 23 of 25 faced.

Spokane's special teams struggled throughout the game, going 1-for-6 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Up next, the Chiefs will travel to Victoria for back-to-back contests next Friday and Saturday as they continue their playoff push.

-

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.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central