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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Return to Action, Shut out T-Birds 3-0

December 27, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs returned from the mid-season holiday break with a 3-0 shutout win over the division-leading Seattle Thunderbirds at Spokane Arena on Sunday night. Goaltender Tyson Verhelst made 19 saves to blank Seattle for his first shutout of the season while Dominic Zwerger led the offense with a goal and two assists.

Zwerger, in his first game back after missing six while competing with Team Austria at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship Division I Group A, broke the scoreless tie at the 18:55 mark of the first period. Thunderbirds' starting goaltender Logan Flodell kicked away the first shot attempt but Zwerger was there to punch the rebound inside the right post and make it 1-0.

Curtis Miske scored his 8th goal of the season on a power play in the second period to give Spokane a 2-0 lead. Keanu Yamamoto took the puck behind the net from the left corner before flipping a perfect pass to Miske in the slot, where the Fairview, Alta. native drilled it past Flodell's right side for the score. Zwerger earned his second point of the night with the secondary assist.

Forward Hudson Elynuik sealed the game with an empty net goal at the 18:48 mark of the third period, assisted by Kailer Yamamoto and Zwerger. The assist extended Yamamoto's point streak to five games.

Flodell finished with 25 saves on 27 shots faced. Spokane went 1-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

The win marked Head Coach Don Nachbaur's 650th in the WHL. He is four Chiefs wins behind Mike Babcock for the most in franchise history (223).

The Chiefs hit the road for a rematch with the Thunderbirds in Kent, Wash. on Tuesday, December 29. Mike Boyle will have the call on 1510 KGA SportsTalk NW with the pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Chiefs don't return to Spokane Arena for a game until January 9 when they'll take on the Regina Pats on Viva Las Vegas Trip Giveaway Night presented by Miller Lite. Online entry for the contest is available now on www.spokanechiefs.com.

Tickets for January 9 and all Chiefs home games are available via TicketsWest online at www.ticketswest.com and via the Chiefs' Ticket Office over the phone at 509-535-PUCK.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2015


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