Power-play goals allow Kootenay Ice to top Spokane Chiefs

CRANBROOK, British Columbia – Luke Philp scored a pair of power-play goals and Keelan Williams stopped 35 of 37 shots Friday to guide the Kootenay Ice to a 5-2 Western Hockey League win over the Spokane Chiefs at Western Financial Place.

Philp’s first two goals of the season wiped away an early Chiefs lead and put the Ice ahead for good.

Philp’s first power-play goal, on a 5-on-3, came at 8 minutes, 25 seconds of the first period. His second occurred at 3:06 of the second after Markson Bechtold’s roughing penalty.

Kootenay (1-2-0-0) added second-period goals by Zak Zborosky and Jon Martin to chase Chiefs starting goaltender Garret Hughson. Hughson stopped 14 of 18 shots while his replacement, Tyson Verhelst, stopped 12 of 13.

Keanu Yamamoto and Dominic Zwerger, on a 4-on-4 play, scored their first goals of the season for Spokane (1-1-0-0).

Philp also assisted on Martin’s goal to finish with three points. Zborosky finished with two goals, Cale Fleury had three assists and Vince Loschiavo added two assists.

No Chiefs player had multiple points.

Spokane outshot the Ice 37-31, but the Chiefs failed on all five of their power-play attempts. Kootenay was 2 for 4 with the man advantage.

The Chiefs will travel to Kennewick to play the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 Saturday night. Spokane opened its season last Saturday with a 6-4 home win over Tri-City.

The Chiefs have four road games next week, including Tuesday and Wednesday at Victoria, before returning home Oct. 16 against Prince Albert.