Chiefs beat Thunderbirds behind Beckman hat trick

Kukuca scores twice in 5-2 loss to Spokane

December 15, 2019 7:30 am
Thunderbirds center Henrik Rybinski collides with Spokane defenseman Bobby Russell in front of Chiefs goalie Campbell Arnold during WHL play Saturday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds
Thunderbirds center Henrik Rybinski collides with Spokane defenseman Bobby Russell in front of Chiefs goalie Campbell Arnold during WHL play Saturday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

Adam Beckman’s hat trick powered the Spokane Chiefs past the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 in a Western Hockey League game Saturday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Spokane went in front 1-0 on a power-play goal Beckman’s first goal at 12:31 of the opening period.

Seattle tied the game 1-1 at 5:52 of the second period. Retrieving the puck in the defensive zone Tyrel Bauer backhanded it from the right wing to left wing to Lucas Ciona, who took a hit but was able to pass the puck up the center of the ice Andrej Kukuca. Kukuca made a move on the defenseman and to come in on Spokane goalie Campbell Arnold all alone and beat him with a wrist shot over the glove.

The Chiefs took a 2-1 lead at 12:05 of the second with a five-on-three power-play by Beckman and then went in front 3-1 at 16:06 when Beckman scored a third goal on the power play.

Cordel Larson made it 4-1 for Spokane at 17:59 of the second.

Kukuca cut the Chiefs lead to two at 6:54 of the third period with his second goal of the game. Spencer Penner had the puck at the top of the right circle in the defensive zone. Penner spotted Kukuca heading up ice and hit him with a pass to put give him a breakaway. Kukuca, while being harassed by a defensemen, came in on Arnold and beat the goalie with a backhand shot on the glove. Conner Bruggen-Cate had the second assist.

Seattle pulled goalie Blake Lyda with 1:57 left in the game for an extra attacker. They hit a post after sustained pressure but Zummack scored an empty-net goal with 24 seconds left in the game to seal the win for the Chiefs.

Notes

The T-Birds travel to Portland face the Winterhawks at 5 p.m. Sunday. The game will be broadcast locally on JOEtv Channel 22/Cable 110.

The T-Birds’ holiday premium voucher package is available – 12 flexible vouchers valid for any home game from Jan. 11 to March 21, for $23 a voucher. There are no service charges or other fees to purchase the package. Fans can contact the T-Birds at 253-239-PUCK (7825) or go online to purchase a voucher package.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Beckman 17 (Zummack, Hughes), 12:31 (pp). Penalties – Leduc, Spo (slash), 1:02. Bauer, Sea (high-sticking), 11:36. Leduc, Sea (interference), 17:02. Toporowski, Spo (cross checking), 19:36.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Kukuca (Ciona, Bauer), 5:52. 3, Spokane, Beckman 18 (Zummack, Hughes), 12:05 (pp). 4, Spokane, Beckman 19 (Russell, Hughes), 16:06 (pp). 5, Spokane, Larson 8 (Finley, Beckman), 17:59. Penalties – Ciona, Sea (high-sticking), 10:19. Gottfried, Sea (high-sticking), 11:03. N. King, Spo (tripping), 13:35. Rybinski, Sea (double minor-roughing), 15:12. Arnold, Spo (roughing), 15:12.

Third period – 6, Seattle, Kukuca 9 (Penner, Bruggen-Cate), 6:54. 7, Spokane, Zummack 12 (Beckman), 19:36 (en). Penalties – Gottfried, Sea (roughing), 10:01. Finley, Spo (roughing), 10:01.

Shots on goal – Seattle 15-12-8 35, Spokane 13-14-8 35. Goalies – Seattle, Lyda 34 shots-30 saves (2-5-0-0); Spokane, Arnold 35-33 (9-7-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Spokane 3-4. Referees – Kevin Bennettt, Brett Iverson. Linesmen – Kris Delaney, Michael McGowan.