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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Wrap Roadie with Point, Lose 4-3 in OT to Giants

February 20, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Langley, B.C. - The Spokane Chiefs wrap up their three-game road trip with an intense battle in Langley, ultimately falling to the Vancouver Giants 4-3 in overtime.

It was a fairly evenly-matched battle through the first period after Grady Lane and Damian Palmieri each took five-minute majors after dropping the gloves at 7:27. Vancouver opened the scoring at 13:04 with a goal by Ethan Semeniuk.

The Chiefs were unable to capitalize on two power play opportunities in the second half of the period and went into the first break down one.

It was Chase Bertholet who got Spokane on the board at 5:36 in the second period after picking up a cross-ice feed from Berkly Catton and sniping it into the top right corner of the net to even the score at 1-1. Cade Hayes also earned an assist on the play after forcing a turnover in the neutral zone.

Vancouver regained the lead at 17:39 with a power play goal from Samuel Honzek, but the Chiefs were quick to answer as Tommaso De Luca found Ty Cheveldayoff at the blue line, who fired a one-timer to the twine at 18:59 to once again tie things up 2-2. Raegan Wiles also earned an assist on the play.

Honzek wasn't leaving the ice without the lead though, as he scored again with just 19 seconds left in the middle frame to put the Giants back on top with a 3-2 lead.

After a neck-and-neck battle through the first half of the third period, Hayes was able to break up a Vancouver power play and defenseman Mac Gross picked up the puck and took it all the way to the net for a short-handed goal to again even the score at three apiece at 10:41.

The Chiefs were able to kill off the rest of the Giants' power play and kept Vancouver at bay for the rest of the frame, forcing overtime.

The extra five-minute frame was just as intense as the rest of the game, coming down to the final 44 seconds when Ty Thorpe scored his 28th goal of the year and secured the overtime victory for Vancouver.

Cooper Michaluk got the start in net and turned away 25-of-29 Giants shots through his 64:16 played. Related Links

Spokane went 0-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. Gross' goal marks the Chiefs' sixth short-handed goal of the season and the defenseman's second. The overage blueliner has now doubled his point total from last season with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 total points over 54 games.

Up next, the Chiefs will head home to take on the Portland Winterhawks Friday, February 24 and the Tri-City Americans Saturday, February 25.

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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.

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 February 20, 2023


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