Young T-Birds Make A Difference Against Chiefs Seattle Ends Long Losing Streak In Whl Contests With Spokane

The Seattle Thunderbirds finally came up with the right formula, a pair of 16-year-olds, and put an end to a nine-game winless streak against the Spokane Chiefs with a 3-2 Western Hockey League victory Sunday night at KeyArena.

Seattle had been 0-8-1 against the Chiefs since its last win in the 1994-95 season.

Torrey DiRoberto got the T-Birds off and running in the first period when he took a pass from 16-year-old Bret DeCecco, skated into the neutral zone uncontested, and fired it past Spokane goalie Aren Miller inside the right post. It was DiRoberto’s sixth goal of the year.

DeCecco put Seattle up 2-0 when he redirected a Rick Berry shot from the point with just 7 seconds left in the first period.

Spokane’s Joe Cardarelli cut the lead in half with a power play goal at the 6:21 mark of the second period. Trent Whitfield’s shot from the right point dribbled between the pads of Seattle goalie Jeff Blair. Cardarelli dove and punched it in for his fifth goal of the season.

Another 16-year-old, Nathan Forster, scored with 3:50 remaining in the second to stretch the T-Birds’ lead to 3-1. DeCecco sent a pass from behind the Chiefs’ net to Forster out on the left point for the assist.

Hugh Hamilton’s backhander got by Blair to pull the Chiefs to within a goal just 3:16 into the final period, but that was as close as they would get.

Blair knocked away 30 of 32 shots on goal for the night, while Miller saved 26 of 29.

The win was the fifth in a row for the Thunderbirds. The Chiefs saw a three-game win streak and six-game unbeaten streak come to an end.

Seattle improves to 8-8-1 on the year, while Spokane drops to 10-4-1. The Chiefs still lead the West by three points over Portland and Prince George.