WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Smash Winterhawks, Win 6-2 Behind Balanced Attack

Published on February 16, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Spokane, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs were firing on all cylinders on a rare Wednesday night to win 6-2 in another high scoring matchup against the Portland Winterhawks. A rowdy 4500 Spokane faithful were in the stands to witness one of the best performances of the season from the home team.

The party got started early, with the Chiefs jumping out to a 1-0 lead at 7:48 of the first. A scrappy play out in front of the Portland net sent the puck to the corner, but Mac Gross jumped at the chance and fired home from a tight angle to catch the Winterhawks' netminder off guard. For Gross it was his 7th goal of the season with Jake Gudelj snagging an assist. After a late scoring update it was Michael Cicek credited with the secondary assist on Gross' goal.

Portland was able to get on the board later in the period as Marcus Nguyen scored his 18th goal of the season at 14:43 of the first. The Calgary native racked up his 18th of the season with helpers from Marek Alscher and Aidan Litke.

The game stayed knotted up at one apiece for the remainder of the period but the second was a different story entirely. The Chiefs erupted for four goals, kicked off by rookie Berkly Catton at just 35 seconds into the period. Hayes found Bertholet driving down the right side and the Chiefs' leading scorer made the unselfish play to feed across to Catton who slotted home from close range. For Catton it was goal number 15 on the year as he climbs the charts for Spokane 16-year-olds. Bertholet ended a slight pointless streak with the first of his two assists on the night and Cade Hayes added his 18th assist of the season on the play.

The Chiefs were certainly not done there as almost exactly four minutes later it was Grady Lane who found the net. Spokane's third on the night was Lane's fourth of the season and the blowout was on. The puck was worked around the blue line to the left wing as a power play expired, and Lane was on hand it front of the net to tip in the effort from Gizowski. It was Gizowski's second point of the night with captain Raegan Wiles also grabbing an assist.

It was only about a minute later before Spokane scored yet again. Ty Cheveldayoff was credited on this one as the Chiefs would go up 4-1 at 5:37 in the second. Gross carried the puck along the blue line from right to left before switching the puck over to Catton. The rookie fired it towards the net forcing a save and a scramble out front. Cheveldayoff snatched up the rebound and put it home before any Winterhawks could move him off the spot. It was the Chiefs lone powerplay goal of the night as they went 1/6 on their man advantages.

The scoring would continue just a few minutes later as Cade Hayes found the net. A slick 4-on-2 break into the Portland end opened up another chance for Catton down the right. He fed across to Bertholet, who found Wiles who passed back to Catton on the right wing. He fired it at net for Spokane's 5th of the night. After another late scoring update, it was Cade Hayes who was credited with deflecting Catton's shot in at 7:09 of the second, earning his first of two goals on the night. With the change in scoring it was Berkly Catton and Raegan Wiles on the helpers.

The second period was stop and start as Spokane racked up the goals, and a total of five minor penalties were called, three on the Winterhawks and two on the Chiefs. After the four-goal flurry, Portland made a change in goal, and the teams would eventually head into the locker room at 5-1.

Portland's James Stefan finally broke through the Chiefs penalty kill, which stood strong most of the night. It was his 21st of the season with Gabe Klassen and Luca Cagnoni adding assists to their season tallies. Portland would then throw caution to the wind as they pulled their goalie with over five minutes to go in the game.

Chance after chance ensued as Portland's extra man caused chaos in Spokane's defensive zone. The Chiefs fired pucks down the ice, hoping for a long-range goal to no avail. Carter Streek raced down the ice, beating everyone and the icing call at one point. He laid a big hit on an onrushing Winterhawks to get the crowd energized, before narrowly missing his wraparound attempt. It was Cade Hayes who finally made Portland pay, sending a backhand into the empty net with just 48 seconds to go. The unassisted goal was his 14th of the season and finished off a stellar all-around performance from the Chiefs.

Dawson Cowan was staunch in goal throughout the night, repelling 25 of the Winterhawks 27 shots, and was deservedly mobbed by his teammates on the ice after the game. The rookie goalie has amassed a save percentage of 0.926 or higher in each of his last three games. Up next the Chiefs will hit the road to play Everett, Tri-City, and Vancouver before returning home next weekend.

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The Chiefs' next home game is Friday, February 24 against these same Portland Winterhawks. It is Shriners Children's Spokane School Night and Jersey Pillow Giveaway. Tickets for February 24 and all regular season games are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets.

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