SPOKANE EXPLODES FOR SIX GOALS, DOWNS ROCKETS 6-3
KELOWNA, B.C. – The Spokane Chiefs scored three goals in the final 3:31 of the first period and didn’t look back, beating the reigning WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets on the road on Friday night. Keanu Yamamoto led the way for the Chiefs with two goals while Jason Fram had three assists and a +3 rating.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan made a strong play into the Kelowna zone late in the first period, forcing an errant clearance attempt by the Rockets that landed on linemate Ethan McIndoe’s stick at the left circle. The rookie forward fired a shot through traffic to beat starting goaltender Michael Herringer to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.
Keanu Yamamoto scored his 15th goal of the season with under a minute left in the first, fooling Herringer from just past center ice to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. On the next shift – just 23 seconds later – Markson Bechtold put a shot on goal from the right point that bounced out to a crashing Jacob Cardiff, who backhanded it in for the 3-0 Spokane advantage.
Yamamoto scored his second of the night – and second from beyond the blue line – at the 7:33 mark of the third period to give Spokane a 4-0 lead. His long, wobbling shot from the neutral zone proved to be the end of Herringer’s night, as the Rockets’ netminder was then replaced by Brodan Salmond, making his first ever WHL appearance.
The Chiefs took advantage of penalties called on Kelowna’s Devante Stephens and Cal Foote to add to their lead midway through the second period. Dominic Zwerger scored his team-best 21st with the two-man bonus while Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored his 11th of the season on a rebound on the ensuing 5-on-4 power play.
Calvin Thurkauf put the Rockets on the board early in the third period, sneaking a sharp angle shot inside the near post to beat Chiefs’ goalie Lasse Petersen and make it a 6-1 game.
The Rockets scored their second of the night at the 3:37 mark of the third as Lucas Johansen scored his 8th of the season through traffic from the right point. They made it a three-goal game at the 11:14 mark of the third as rookie defenseman Jonathan Smart scored his first career WHL goal with another screened shot from the point to beat Petersen.
The Chiefs finished the game 2-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Petersen made 21 saves in the win. Herringer played 27:33 in a losing effort, stopping 16 of 20 shots. Salmond turned aside 10 of 12 shots in his 1st WHL appearance.
Spokane continues their road trip tomorrow night in Kennewick to take on the Tri-City Americans at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on SWX in the Spokane and Tri-City areas. Mike Boyle will have the radio call on 790 KGA with the pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m.
The Chiefs’ next home game is Wednesday, February 10 at 7:05 p.m. versus the Portland Winterhawks. It will be a TicketsWest Player Magnet Giveaway Night at Spokane Arena as the first 1,000 fans through the gates will get a refrigerator magnet featuring a Chiefs player.
Tickets for February 10 and all Chiefs home games are available via TicketsWest online at ticketswest.com and via the Chiefs’ Ticket Office in-person or over the phone at 509-535-PUCK.
