
Spokane Hangs on for 6-5 Overtime Win over Victoria
December 1, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Spokane Chiefs News Release
Spokane, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and held on late for a 6-5 overtime win over the visiting Victoria Royals on Tuesday night at Spokane Arena. Post Falls product Bear Hughes led the offense with a goal and two assists.
The Chiefs scored to make it 1-0 eight minutes into regulation when German forward Yannick Proske capitalized on an odd-man rush to score his fourth goal off a perfect feed from Washington Capitals prospect Hughes.
The Royals tied it up at 13:30 with a goal from Luke Shipley -- his first in the WHL -- before the Chiefs got rolling to close out the period. Spokane scored thrice in under two minutes to take a 4-1 lead headed into the first intermission. Hughes and Proske reversed roles to make it 2-1 at 14:29, Carter Streek scored his second as a Chief on the power play at 15:56, and Luke Toporowski punched in his team-leading eighth of the season at 16:34.
Victoria responded in force in the second period, scoring twice to cut the Chiefs' lead to just one goal. Team captain Tarun Fizer scored shorthanded early and second-year forward Brayden Schuurman scored late to make it a 4-3 game headed into the final 20 minutes.
Fizer picked up his second of the night, again shorthanded and unassisted, at 6:48 of the third to tie the game at 4-4. The veteran forward was playing in just his fifth game since returning from an extended amateur tryout with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL.
Spokane captain Jack Finley regained the lead for Spokane with a deflection of a Bear Hughes shot on a power play at 7:49, but the Royals tied it up at 14:04 as Fizer completed the hat trick to force overtime.
It took two and half minutes of three-on-three overtime before defenseman Graham Sward drove the net from the right side and put a shot on net. Blake Swetlikoff was there to clean up the rebound for his first game-winner of the season, securing the two points in the standings.
Mason Beaupit started in goal for Spokane and made 25 saves on 30 shots faced. Former Chief Campbell Arnold started for Victoria, going 35-for-41. Spokane finished 2-for-8 on the power play and 1-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The Chiefs head to Everett on Wednesday night, with puck drop at 7:05 p.m.
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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.
The Chiefs' next home game is Friday, December 3 versus the Prince George Cougars. It's a Holiday Extravaganza as fans will win prizes throughout the night to kick off the holiday season. Saturday, December 4 is the annual Teddy Bear Toss presented by TDS Fiber as fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal to throw on the ice after the Chiefs score. Tickets for this weekend and all regular season games are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets.
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