YAMAMOTO SCORES TWICE AS CHIEFS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs won their third game in a row on Saturday night, defeating the rival Tri-City Americans 5-2 in front of 8,721 fans at Spokane Arena. Rookie Kailer Yamamoto led the way for Spokane with his 21st and 22nd goals of the season.
After a scoreless first period, Yamamoto earned his first goal with a deflection of an Adam Helewka shot from the high slot to beat Tri-City goaltender Eric Comrie. The power play goal, scored at the 5:18 mark of the period, was also assisted by team captain Jason Fram.
Calder Brooks took advantage of a perfect saucer pass from Keanu Yamamoto midway through the period to make it 2-0. Just seconds into a power play after a 4-on-4 situation, Yamamoto streaked up the right wing to create a 2-on-1 and found Brooks on the left side, where the 20-year-old would punch it into an open net.
Spokane extended their lead to 3-0 for the second night in a row with Kailer Yamamoto’s second of the night as the 16-year-old sniped one past the glove of Comrie from just inside the left circle. Defenseman Evan Fiala and forward Helewka earned assists on the goal just over four minutes into the third period.
Tri-City didn’t go down without a fight as Maxwell James scored his fourth of the season just over three minutes later. Czech forward Richard Nejezchleb made a nice move in the right circle and passed across Spokane goaltender Garret Hughson to find James all alone for the easy tap in.
Chiefs’ overage center Liam Stewart lasered in his 22nd of the season on a one-timer at the 9:04 mark of the third. Fram took a slapshot on the power play from the right point and missed wide. The puck bounced behind Comrie and out to the left circle, from which Stewart took advantage with a quick shot to find the twine.
Beau McCue tacked on his 24th of the season on a rebound attempt created by a Brian Williams wraparound shot at the 12:26 mark of the period to make it 4-2 Spokane.
Brooks flipped in his second of the night and 22nd of the year on an empty net with 1:34 remaining in regulation.
Kailer Yamamoto’s two goals tied him with Pat Falloon (1988-90) for 2nd all-time in Chiefs history for goals scored by a 16-year-old player. Jason Podollan (1992-93) holds the record with 36.
The Chiefs have now won seven of their last nine games. They finished Saturday night’s game 3-for-7 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
The Chiefs hit the road for a game on Sunday night as they visit the Portland Winterhawks in a rematch of Friday night’s game. Mike Boyle will have the call on CBS SportsRadio 1510 KGA, with the pre-game show starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Chiefs next return home on Wednesday, March 18 to face the Winterhawks for a TicketsWest Player Magnet Night at Spokane Arena. Tickets for March 18 and all Chiefs home games – just three regular season home contests remain! – are available in-person at the Chiefs’ Ticket Office, over the phone at (509) 535-PUCK or (800) 325-SEAT, and online at www.ticketswest.com.
