Chiefs Start Hot and Finish Strong in 7-3 Win at Kelowna
Published on February 1, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release
Kelowna, B.C. - Adam Beckman recorded a goal and three assists on Friday night as the Spokane Chiefs' offense exploded in a 7-3 win over the Kelowna Rockets. The two teams will meet again Saturday night in Spokane for the second game of a quick home-and-home series.
It was local boy Jack Finley who got the scoring underway for Spokane just 1:25 into regulation, deflecting a Ty Smith point shot for his 11th goal of the season. Finley, a top prospect for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft this summer, calls Kelowna home.
The Chiefs added on with goals from Brad Ginnell at 2:44 and Luke Toporowski at 5:17 to take a 3-0 lead early. Toporowski's goal extended his point streak to six games and point streak to four as he continues his hot stretch since the mid-season holiday break (9G-10A in 15 games).
The Rockets bounced back with back-to-back power play goals midway through the opening frame (scored by Kyle Topping and Pavel Novak) to make it a one-goal game.
Beckman, a third-round pick by the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL draft, drove the net at 13:58 to lift in his WHL-leading 35th of the season to take a 4-2 advantage headed into the first intermission.
Kelowna cut the lead to one again at 12:26 of the middle frame before goals from Bear Hughes and Michael King pushed Spokane ahead 6-3 headed into the third. King's goal - his 10th of the season - was sparked by a highlight-reel play from Hughes, who corralled a loose puck through traffic before getting a shot partially deflected.
Finley added his second of the night on a power play in the third to close the scoring as Beckman picked up his fourth point of the night with a perfect centering feed from the left side.
Spokane's power play finished 3-for-6 on the night, breaking out of a 6-for-38 slump over their last 12 games. Kelowna went 2-for-6.
Lukas Parik started for Spokane in goal finished the night with 20 saves. Roman Basran started for the Rockets and made four saves on seven shots in 5:17 before Cole Schwebius came on in relief at went 19-for-23.
The two teams will meet in a rematch on Saturday night in Spokane to close out the season series. The Chiefs are 2-0-1-0 through three games versus Kelowna.
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February 1 is Numerica Boomer the Bear Piggy Bank Giveaway at Spokane Arena as the first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a Boomer the Bear piggy bank.
Tickets are available online and via the Chiefs' Ticket Office, over the phone at 509-535-PUCK and in-person at Spokane Arena.
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