Chiefs snap skid with strong 5-2 win over Edmonton
Edmonton, A.B. – The Spokane Chiefs rallied with five unanswered goals Sunday evening to come back from a two-goal deficit and emerge victorious over the Edmonton Oil Kings, 5-2.
The Chiefs got off to a rough start Sunday as the Oil Kings jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 5:31 in the first after Marc Lajoie scored his first of the night. Lajoie followed that up with another a little over two minutes later, this time on the man advantage, to put Edmonton up 2-0.
But the rest of the game was all Chiefs, starting with a short-handed goal from Berkly Catton at 8:24. It was Conner Roulette who fed the wide-open Catton for the now 18-year-old’s 27th goal of the season.
BIRTHDAY GOAL FOR BERK 🎂
This is what happens when you leave Catton wide open, Rou connects with him on the PK and now it’s 2-1 at 8:24!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/0S54vPZj1d
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) January 14, 2024
Newest Chief Shea Van Olm – acquired from Kamloops the day before the trade deadline – chipped in his first goal in a Spokane sweater just before the halfway mark to tie the game 2-2. Behind the red line, rookie Owen Martin fed the puck to a rushing Van Olm, who fired it point-blank from in front of the crease for the 2-2 equalizer. Overage forward Ty Cheveldayoff also earned an assist on the play.
There it is! Shea Van Olm’s first goal as a Chief 🚨
With that, it’s all tied up at 9:52!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/H90GL78fey
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) January 14, 2024
Spokane kept their momentum flowing into the second period with a breakaway goal by Stony Plain native Cheveldayoff, scoring in his hometown arena for the first time of his Western Hockey League career. Defenseman Nathan Mayes and Van Olm were credited with the helpers on what would end up being the game-winning goal.
A GO-AHEAD GOAL FOR THE HOMETOWN KID 🏠
Stony Plain native Ty Cheveldayoff gives us a 3-2 lead with a breakaway goal at 14:03 in the second!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/EtycYjNxAM
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) January 15, 2024
That was the lone goal of the middle frame, leaving the Chiefs up 3-2 going into the final period.
Things were relatively quiet until 13 minutes into the third, when Roulette swept the puck behind the net before sliding it to a centered Catton, who fired it on net but it was stopped by Hudson Perry. Undeterred, Catton picked it up again and pushed it over to Roulette at the left circle, who potted his 100th WHL career goal to give the Chiefs a 4-2 lead at 13:13.
If at first you don’t succeed, SPIN THAT WHEEL AGAIN 🚨
The dynamic duo connects for Roulette’s 100th @TheWHL career goal, it’s 4-2 at 13:13!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/9YTfsJaiUi
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) January 15, 2024
With 13 seconds left in the game, Van Olm put away an empty netter to seal the 5-2 victory – Spokane’s first of the long road trip through the Central Division.
Dawson Cowan dazzled in net for Spokane, turning aside 37 of 39 shots faced on his way to his eighth win of the season.
The Chiefs went 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill and were outshot 39-30.
The Chiefs return home to take on the Everett Silvertips Friday in their first game on home ice in 2024.
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Ticket packages, Chiefs gear, theme night swag, and the latest news are all available at spokanechiefs.com. 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.
