CHIEFS DROP PRESEASON OPENER, 7-2
EVERETT, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs dropped their first game of the 2015 WHL Preseason, 7-2 to the Portland Winterhawks at Xfinity Arena in Everett on Friday afternoon. Forwards Taylor Ross and Curtis Miske scored for the Chiefs.
The Winterhawks used two power play goals to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first period despite the Chiefs outshooting Portland, 13-7. Reed Morison capitalized on an Alex Schoenborn centering pass for the first, scored at the 12:52 mark. The second was scored with just 1:07 left in the first twenty minutes of play as fourth-year forward Dominic Turgeon punched it in off assists from Keoni Texeira and Caleb Jones.
Turgeon struck again on a breakaway just over five minutes into the second frame to extend Portland’s lead to 3-0. Caleb Jones, brother of former Winterhawk and current Nashville Predator Seth Jones, scored on a scrambling opportunity following a blocked shot just a few minutes later, with assists to Schoenborn and Rodrigo Abols.
Ross, a 17-year-old from Kronau, Sask., scored Spokane’s first goal, using a strong wristshot to beat Portland goaltender Adin Hill high over his blocker side. The unassisted goal cut Portland’s lead to 4-1, where it would stay as the teams headed to their locker rooms for the second intermission.
Miske scored his first of the preseason just 1:19 into the third period, punching in a rebound created on a Hayden Ostir shot. Also in on the play was forward Hudson Elynuik as the Chiefs narrowed the deficit to 4-2.
Quick back-to-back goals from Portland’s Nick Heid and Jack Flaman at the 7:05 and 8:08 marks, respectively, of the period powered their lead back to 6-2.
Schoenborn, a 20-year-old forward from Minot, N.D., scored Portland’s seventh goal on a four-on-four opportunity just past the midway point of the final period, with assists credited to Cody Glass and Heid.
The Chiefs’ four overage players – G Garret Hughson, D Jason Fram, LW Adam Helewka and RW Riley Whittingham – did not travel for this weekend’s tournament in Everett. The Chiefs also scratched defensemen Tyson Helgesen, Jordan Henderson and Dalton Hamaliuk, as well as forwards Ethan McIndoe and Kailer Yamamoto.
Berlin, a 17-year-old from Edmonton, Alta., started in goal for Spokane and played the full sixty minutes. He stopped 18 of 25 shots faced.
Portland’s Hill, who earned the Winterhawks’ starting duties midway through last season, stopped 30 of 32 shots faced.
The Chiefs continue their preseason schedule tomorrow night against the hosting Everett Silvertips, with puck drop slated for 7 p.m. They’ll cap their tournament play against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon.
The Chiefs will open their regular season against the Tri-City Americans on September 26 with Bud Light Opening Night at Spokane Arena. Individual tickets are on sale now through TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT and online at www.ticketswest.com. Tickets packages, including the brand new Saturday Game of the Month package, and group opportunities are available through the Chiefs’ Ticket Office at (509) 535-PUCK and online at www.spokanechiefs.com.
