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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs Honor Native American Heritage, Fall 8-6 in Wild First Matchup with Wenatchee

November 19, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Spokane, Wash - The Spokane Chiefs played host to the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday night for the first ever matchup between the two teams. The game marked the return of Graham Sward who played in Spokane from 2018-2022 before moving to Wenatchee in a trade last season. Pre-game ceremonies featured a presentation honoring Commissioner Ron Robison who is stepping down as Commissioner of the Western Hockey League after 24 seasons. His tenure witnessed the Chiefs most recent Memorial Cup victory in 2008 as well as the Outdoor Game in 2011, played at Avista Stadium. President of the Canadian Hockey League, Dan MacKenzie was also in attendance at the game.

Saturday also marked Native American Heritage Night with a spotlight on three Chiefs players with First Nations Heritage, all from Manitoba, CAN. Forward Chase Bertholet hails from Mosakahiken (Moose Lake), Conner Roulette from both Misipawistik (Grand Rapids) and Gaa-Wiikwedaawangaag (Sandy Bay), and Hayden Paupanekis from Kinosawi Sipi (River with lots of fish). A tribal drum song and dance were performed pre-game by members of the nearby Coeur d'Alene Tribe who also assisted with the ceremonial puck drop and national anthem ceremony.

Once play on the ice began, it was Conner Roulette notching his 15th of the season to get the party started, with help from fellow forwards Chase Bertholet and Berkly Catton.

Nifty passing along the blue line to avoid offsides saw Roulette pushing down the left side before sending a rocket in at the near post.

Berkly Catton and Hayden Paupanekis assisted on the next goal, scored by rookie Owen Martin at 8:42 in the first. He is up to five goals in his young career, all scored this season with four points over his last two games.

Briley Wood got Wenatchee on the board with a power play goal of their own at 17:49.

Rasmus Ekström, Spokane's Swedish import selection broke through with his first career WHL goal with less than a minute remaining in the first.

Ekström stole the puck and drove the length of the ice before sliding the puck through the netminder's five hole. (He wasn't done there)

The Wild would snag two in a row to bring the game back level at three goals each. Conor Geekie and Kenta Isogai each recorded their 12th of the season.

Spokane's fourth goal came just seconds later from number four Ben Bonni to make it 4-3.

Martin fought along the boards to gain possession of the puck before Ekström picked it up and fired to Bonni net front for his second of the season.

The Wild would take over in emphatic fashion, with three consecutive goals all scored by Matthew Savoie, who was just recently reassigned from the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL.

Chase Bertholet continued his hot streak, stealing the puck out front and finishing with a slick backhand for his fourth of the season.

The Chiefs 2022-23 leading scorer has eight points in his last four games with two goals and six assists.

Hayden Moore scored next for Wenatchee before Ekström scored his second of the game to bring it back within one.

The Chiefs couldn't continue the comeback as Rodzers Bukarts found the empty net to finished off the game 8-6 at 18:31 in the third.

Despite the final score line, Chiefs goaltender Cooper Michaluk made several impressive saves, including a penalty shot stop early in the second period. The Chiefs went 1-4 on the power play, 2/5 on the penalty kill, and hit 35 shots on target.

Spokane will be back in action tomorrow night for a rare Sunday game against familiar foe, Kamloops. Doors open at 4 PM with Puck Drop at 5:05 PM. Bring new or gently used clothing items (especially coats) to donate to Teen and Kid Closet, for a discounted ticket or coupon at the Chiefs Team Store.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2023


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