WHL Spokane Chiefs

Round 1 Goes the Distance as Chiefs Win 5-4 in OT. Rematch Set for Tomorrow Night.

March 2, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Prince George, B.C. - The Chiefs traveled north for the first of a back-to-back weekend series against the Cougars on Friday night.

The first six minutes of the opening period flew by, until Spokane went on the penalty kill due to a tripping call. Prince George capitalized with a Zac Funk goal at 9:57 to open the scoring.

Spokane would strike with a flurry just a few minutes later. Hayden Paupanekis would win an offensive zone faceoff followed by a spinning wrist shot from Prince George's own, Chase Harrington!

Spokane would get called for another penalty moments later but the league's leading short-handed attack strikes again. This time Cheveldayoff and Crampton combined on the breakaway to bundle it over the line and make it a 2-1 game for Spokane.

Cramps and Chevy combine for the shorty! That makes it a league-leading 17th short-handed goal this season for the Chiefs.

Spokane was not finished there as they would pour on a third in the first.

Our favorite Cat(ton) makes the goal for Weinstein who drives home the Chiefs' third goal of the first!

Van Olm also adds an assist on the play.

Catton spun along the boards and dragged the puck before finding Weinstein who stepped into the shot and made no mistake.

The first period would finish with Spokane leading 3-1 and the second featured another breathless start. Both teams had a flurry of chances before Roulette tracked back and stole the puck.

Olmer? More like Goalmer.

Roulette with a beauty of a full-length pass to spring SVO who finishes the breakaway in style.

His full-length pass found the tape on Van Olm's stick before the Chiefs' mid-season acquisition deked the goaltender and finished the breakaway in style.

The Chiefs would be called for multiple penalties down the stretch and would open the third period on the penalty kill once again.

Funk would score again for the Cougars at 5:45, making it a 2-goal game partway through the third. Kmec would add a third for the Cougars just two minutes later to cut the deficit to one.

Hunter Lang tied the game up at 11:07 with a tip-in on the power play.

Both teams pushed for a late winner to no avail as the game inevitably wound towards overtime.

Just over a minute into the bonus frame it was Shea Van Olm putting his stamp on proceedings once again, shielding the puck out of his own zone before chipping ahead to Crampton.

The defenseman took control of the puck and finished off the game, beating the goaltender between his legs for his 7th of the season.

Crampton and Van Olm were outstanding for Spokane, earning third and second star of the game respectively. Crampton finished with 1G-1A, +4 while Van Olm notched 1G, 2A, +2.

The two teams will run it back tomorrow night for the 4th and final regular season meeting between the squads this season.

The Chiefs will make the trek home to face Victoria on Tuesday night for another edition of the TicketsWest Player Magnet Giveaway.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2024


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