WHL Spokane Chiefs

Late Comeback Not Enough as Chiefs Fall to T-Birds Friday, 5-4

Published on March 9, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Kent, Wash. - Despite a late-game comeback, the Chiefs ultimately fell short to the Seattle Thunderbirds Friday night, 5-4.

The Chiefs found themselves down early, as Simon Lovsin opened the scoring just 19 seconds into play with help from Nathan Pilling and Braedan Coates.

Spokane only took about four more minutes to find the twine for their first goal of the night, as Conner Roulette dashed up the ice, dangling the puck by a defender, and firing it on net. It was initially stopped by Seattle netminder Scott Ratzlaff, but Shea Van Olm picked it up and sent it over the line to even the score at one apiece.

Roulette extended his point streak to 15 games with the assist.

About four more minutes later, rookie forward Chase Harrington scored his sixth of the season after picking up a feed from defenseman Will McIsaac to put the Chiefs ahead, 2-1.

But the Thunderbirds found their stride, going on to score four-straight goals through the rest of the frame and into the third period - Sawyer Mynio at 17:18 in the first, Jeremy Hanzel at 2:10 in the second, Mynio at 19:51 in the second, and Nathan Pilling at 5:15 in the third.

Spokane dug deep in the final five minutes of the game, when Hayden Paupanekis picked up a feed from Lukáš Král below the red line and rifled it over the shoulder of Ratzlaff to make it a 5-3 game at 15:16. Rookie defenseman Nathan Mayes also earned an assist on the play.

Then, with only a minute and a half left to go in regulation, Chase Bertholet scooped up a rebound from a Shea Van Olm shot in front of the net and chipped it over the line and into the twine to bring the Chiefs within one. Conner Roulette also earned an assist on the play.

But that's as close as they'd get, falling to the Thunderbirds 5-4 on the road.

Spokane was outshot 49-44 and went 0-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The Chiefs will face this same Seattle squad tomorrow night at Spokane Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m. for our Coca-Cola Derek Ryan Bobblehead Giveaway Night.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2024


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