Tri-City defeats Chiefs in WHL preseason game

Matt Marantz scored the Spokane Chiefs’ only goal as they fell 5-1 to the Tri-City Americans in a Western Hockey League preseason game at Eagles Ice-A-Rena on Thursday night before 829 fans.

The loss was the Chiefs’ first in regulation during the preseason after four victories and a shootout loss.

“I thought our guys worked hard and competed hard, but we just couldn’t get pucks by their goaltender and we didn’t defend as hard as we needed to do to be successful,” Chiefs coach Don Nachbaur said. “There were a lot of missed opportunities and missed assignments defensively.  We have a lot of areas where we need to get better at.”  

The teams travel to Kennewick for another matchup on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. to conclude the preseason.

The Americans took a 2-0 lead in Thursday’s game on goals by Riley Guenther and Brian Williams.

Marantz, 20, got the Chiefs their only goal when he scored off an Anthony Bardaro pass on a 2-on-1 at 15:56.

The Ams extended their lead in the second period and added two more in the final period.