WHL Spokane Chiefs

Yamamoto Brothers Pair up to Put Chiefs Back in Win Column

Published on October 24, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Yamamoto brothers - Keanu and Kailer - led the way for the Spokane on Friday night, leading the Chiefs to a 2-1 win over the visiting Victoria Royals. The win snapped Spokane's six-game losing streak.

After the scoreless first period, the Chiefs found the net first as Keanu Yamamoto scored his third of the season on a deflection at the 17:37 mark. Defenseman Matt Sozanski fired a slapshot from the left point to the far post where Yamamoto was waiting to chip it in. Rookie Jake Toporowski earned his second career assist on the play.

The Royals took advantage of mistake by Spokane late in the second as Jared Dmytriw punched one into an open net to tie the game at 1-1. Chiefs' goaltender Tyson Verhelst went to play a dump-in behind the net but couldn't settle the puck. Victoria's Tyler Soy got a stick on it and forced it netfront where Dmytriw was waiting.

Spokane earned a penalty early in the third period as Chaz Reddekopp took down Kailer Yamamoto after the whistle and got called for roughing. Yamamoto found immediate revenge with a power play goal at the 2:22 mark, snapping one from the high slot to beat Vollrath to the left post. Jason Fram earned an assist, along with brother Keanu, with a smooth play to keep the puck in the offensive zone.

Verhelst, with the exception of the misplayed puck in the second period, was spectacular for the second game in a row. The second-year netminder stonewalled the Royals, stopping 31 of 32 shots faced. Vollrath finished with 35 saves in the losing effort.

Both clubs return to Spokane Arena tomorrow night for a quick rematch in the last game of Spokane's current five-game homestand. Saturday will be Avista Glow Sticks Giveaway and Energy Efficiency Night at the Arena.

Tickets for Saturday and all Chiefs home games are available via TicketsWest, online at www.ticketswest.com and over the phone at 800-325-SEAT.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2015


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