Wild Shut Down Chiefs Power Play Friday, but Spokane Shuts Out Wenatchee, 4-0
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Wenatchee Wild penalty kill hasn’t faltered much in the early goings of the 2025-26 Western Hockey League season. Friday night against the Spokane Chiefs, one of the league’s best penalty-killing units got a little better – however, the offense never quite came together against the defending Western Conference champions, as the Chiefs prevailed 4-0 at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
The game’s first goal came on a Wenatchee power play, as Sam Oremba popped up the puck for Will McIsaac to carry through neutral ice, and McIsaac’s left-wing shot hit the net on Cal Conway’s glove side at 11:30 of the first for a 1-0 Spokane lead. With 3:44 to go in the period, the Chiefs struck again in transition, as Owen Martin found Assanali Sarkenov for a one-time tap-in at the net for a 2-0 lead at the break.
Halfway through the contest, a McIsaac pass came rink-wide to Mathis Preston, who buried a slap shot from the right-wing circle to put the Chiefs ahead by three going to the final period. With 11:03 left in the game, Caden Campion scored his first WHL goal from the left wing, on a one-timer from Brody Gillespie.
The penalty-killing units combined to finish perfect on 11 chances, as McIsaac led the Chiefs offense with a goal and an assist. Spokane netminder Carter Esler picked up his second shutout of the young season with 24 saves, and Conway took his first regulation loss despite stopping 34 Chiefs shots. Spokane climbed back to .500 for the season with a 3-3-0-0 record, while the Wild moved to 0-4-1-1.
Wenatchee enjoys a Saturday off before returning to home ice Sunday for their Daddy/Daughter Night against the Seattle Thunderbirds, and their latest Fred Meyer Sunday Funday promotion. The opening puck drop at Town Toyota Center is slated for 4 p.m.
Tickets for next Sunday’s game and all regular-season home games are on sale now by phone at 509-888-7825, online here or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. Updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team’s website and on the team’s social media platforms on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
Wenatchee 0 0 0 – 0
Spokane 2 1 1 – 4
1st Period-1, Spokane, McIsaac 2 (Oremba), 11:30 (SH). 2, Spokane, Sarkenov 1 (Martin), 16:16. Penalties-Martin Spo (tripping), 0:25; Silaban Wen (delay of game), 2:06; Hughes Spo (hooking), 3:44; Toll Wen (high sticking), 7:35; Mattern Spo (tripping), 11:12; Mayes Spo (cross checking), 18:38.
2nd Period-3, Spokane, Preston 5 (McIsaac), 9:57. Penalties-Toll Wen (boarding), 3:26; Wiczek Wen (roughing), 12:47; McCagherty Wen (tripping), 19:00.
3rd Period-4, Spokane, Campion 1 (Gillespie, Rebman), 8:57. Penalties-Fluker Wen (interference), 3:27; McCagherty Wen (roughing), 11:47; Harrington Spo (holding opp. stick), 11:47; Sarkenov Spo (roughing), 11:47; Tait Wen (major-fighting, game misconduct), 16:37; McIntyre Spo (major-fighting, game misconduct), 16:37.
Shots on Goal-Wenatchee 10-5-9-24. Spokane 10-13-15-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Wenatchee 0 / 5; Spokane 0 / 6.
Goalies-Wenatchee, Conway 0-1-1-0 (38 shots-34 saves). Spokane, Esler 3-1-0-0 (24 shots-24 saves).
A-4,564
Referees-Connor McCracken (54), Trevor Nolan (17).
Linesmen-Max Lucas (172), Trevor Shively (152).
