The Thunderbirds’ Keegan Kolesar tangles with the Chiefs’ Nolan Reid for control of the puck in front of the Spokane net during WHL play Sunday evening. COURTESY PHOTO, Larry Brunt

The Thunderbirds’ Keegan Kolesar tangles with the Chiefs’ Nolan Reid for control of the puck in front of the Spokane net during WHL play Sunday evening. COURTESY PHOTO, Larry Brunt

Seattle silences Spokane | WHL

Kolesar, Gropp score in 2-1 victory over Chiefs

  • Sunday, January 8, 2017 9:18pm
  • Sports

Down a goal entering the third period Sunday night in Spokane, the Seattle Thunderbirds came out firing, putting 22 shots on Spokane Chiefs goalie Dawson Weatherill.

Shots from Keegan Kolesar and Ethan Bear in the third found the back of the net to give the T-Birds a 2-1 Western Hockey League victory over the Chiefs at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane.

Seattle (21-14-3-1) tied the game 1-1 at 6:21 of the third period. Bear made a stretch to Kolesar who carried the puck into the right circle of the Spokane zone. Kolesar took a wrist shot that rebounded off Weatherill into the low slot. Kolesar followed his shot and put the rebound under Weatherill for his sixth goal of the season.

The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead with 4:21 left in the third. Aaron Hyman had the puck at the right point. Hyman passed the puck to Bear in the high slot. Bear turned and took a wrist shot. Ryan Gropp was in front of Weatherill and tipped Bear’s shot past the goalie for his 10th goal of the season.

Seattle goalie Rylan Toth made 27 saves to improve his record to 17-14-1-0.

Spokane (17-17-5-2) took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from Jaret Anderson-Dolan at 15:42 of the second period. Hudson Elynuik and Kailer Yamamoto had the assists.

The Chiefs led in shots on goal after two periods, 17-16, by outshooting the T-Birds 11-6 in the second period.

The T-Birds outshot the Chiefs 22-11 in the third period and 38-28 in the game.

Weatherill had 36 saves on 38 shots and his record is now 6-10-3-1.

Next up: Silvertips

The T-Birds’ next game is Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Xfinity Arena against the Everett Silvertips at 7:05 p.m. The T-Birds host the Chiefs on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 5:05 p.m.

Fans may purchase single-game tickets online or at the ShoWare Center box office. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Reid, Spo (hooking), :28. Faith, Spo (interference), 3:51. Volcan, Sea (interference), 15:55.

Second period – 1, Spokane, Anderson-Dolan 20 (Elynuik, Ka. Yamamoto), 15:42. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (slashing), 1:17. Elynuik, Spo (boarding), 7:42. Neuls, Sea (hooking), 15:17.

Third period – 2, Seattle, Kolesar 6 (Bear), 6:21. 3, Seattle, Gropp 10 (Bear, Hyman), 15:39. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-6-22 38, Spokane 6-11-11 28. Goalies – Seattle, Toth 28 shots-27 saves (17-14-1-0); Spokane, Weatherill 38-36 (6-10-3-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Spokane 1-3. A – 4,125. Referees – Kevin Bennett, Duncan Brow. Linesmen – Michael Boisvert, Jeremi Del Campo.


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