WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Return Favor, Spoil Ams' Home Opener with 7-1 Win

Published on October 6, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Kennewick, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs came out flying and didn't let up on Saturday night in Kennewick, defeating Tri-City 7-1 to spoil the Americans' first home game of the season. Six different skaters scored for Spokane in the full-team effort.

Team captain Ty Smith - in his second game back from New Jersey Devils camp - got the scoring underway eight minutes into regulation, snapping the puck in on the power play to make it 1-0. The goal, which was Smith's third this season after scoring seven during the 2018-19 campaign, came off assists from Eli Zummack and Filip Kral.

Spokane built on the early spark with another power play tally just 1:33 later as Jake McGrew made a highlight-worthy no-look pass to Zummack, who was waiting on the right post to slam home his first of the year.

Second-year forward Jack Finley used all 6-foot-5 of his frame to win a puck battle down low and turn to the net with seven minutes left in the opening stanza, scoring his first goal with assists to Post Falls, Idaho native Bear Hughes and Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Beckman.

The Chiefs capped their dynamic first period with under 18 seconds remaining as Connor Gabruch capitalized on a 3-on-1 opportunity to rip one home and make it a 4-0 game. Assists went to the Kings - Michael and Noah - as Spokane headed into the first intermission ahead on the shots chart, 14-4.

After a scoreless second, Spokane got back on the board at 4:04 of the third as Beckman cleaned up a rebound for his first goal to make it 5-0. Beckman led the Chiefs with 32 goals last season. Spokane's sixth goal was credited to Bobby Russell initially as his point shot on the power play eventually found the net. Finley, posted up netfront appeared to get a stick on shot, deflecting it low-to-high to earn his second of the night. Hughes closed out the scoring for Spokane at 10:12 before a Marc Lajoie goal for Tri-City spoiled the shutout bid for Chiefs netminder Lukas Parik.

Spokane outshot Tri-City 33-19 overall, finishing 3-for-8 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. Parik made 18 saves while Tri-City's Beck Warm made 26.

The Chiefs will have little time to rest as they host the Everett Silvertips on Sunday at Spokane Arena (5:05 p.m).

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The Chiefs return home for Boomer's Birthday Bash on Sunday as they take on the Everett Silvertips. The first 500 kids in attendance will receive free birthday cake in celebration of Boomer's birthday! Puck drop is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

Tickets for next Friday and all Chiefs home games are available online at spokanechiefs.com and via the Chiefs' Ticket Office, over the phone at 509-535-PUCK or in-person at Spokane Arena.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 6, 2019


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