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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Take Season Series against Royals with 6-3 Win Saturday Night

January 22, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Spokane, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs take three of four against the Victoria Royals this season after skating to a strong 6-3 victory at home Saturday night.

The Royals were the first on the board thanks to a Marcus Almquist goal at 5:48 in the first period, but the Chiefs weren't far behind as Ty Cheveldayoff knocked in a rebound right in front of the net to even the score at 9:05. Jake Gudelj and Tommaso De Luca earned assists on the play - De Luca's first of three assists on the night.

Jake Poole capitalized on the man advantage for Victoria just over the halfway mark of the frame to give the Royals a 2-1 lead heading into the first break.

Spokane was quick to tie things up again though, as Chase Bertholet scored a power play goal of his own just 13 seconds into the second period with help from Raegan Wiles and Berkly Catton.

Soon after, Grady Lane picked up the puck behind the Victoria net and swept it to Carter Streek, who fired a quick shot from the left circle for his 10th goal of the season, putting the Chiefs up 3-2 at 4:28. De Luca also earned an assist.

The Royals again evened it at three apiece just over three minutes later when Teydon Trembecky scored his third of the year. The teams went into the second intermission tied at three.

But the third period was all Spokane, starting at 1:41 when Cheveldayoff won a battle on the boards and got the puck to De Luca, who fired a shot that was saved by Nicholas Cristiano. Overage defenseman Mac Gross picked up the rebound and sniped it to the twine to put the Chiefs back on top.

Cade Hayes padded the lead at 9:36 when he charged the puck toward the net and chipped it past Cristiano to put Spokane up two. He added an empty netter at 16:18 to seal the Chiefs' 6-3 victory.

The Chiefs went 1-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill. They outshot the Royals 35-31.

Dawson Cowan got the start in net for Spokane, turning aside 28 shots throughout the night.

All three stars of the game were Chiefs: Tommaso De Luca (3A, +2), Cade Hayes (2G, +2) and Ty Cheveldayoff (1G-1A, +1).

Up next, the Chiefs will travel to Portland to take on the Winterhawks for a rare Monday afternoon game on January 23.

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The Chiefs' next home game is Saturday, January 27 versus the Seattle Thunderbirds. It's Princesses and Heroes Night, presented by Gold Seal Plumbing! Tickets for January 27 and all regular season games are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets.

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.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2023


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