Koper’s career night with Spokane Chiefs sinks Pats
Levko Koper notched a career-high six points with two goals and four assists and Marek Kalus scored the first two goals of his WHL career Saturday as the Spokane Chiefs pounded out an 11-1 Western Hockey League victory over Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan.
After the Chiefs (6-7) opened a 2-0 advantage through the opening period, Koper scored a goal and contributed all four of his assists during a five-goal second period as the Chiefs built a 7-1 lead.
“A great response to last night’s game in Moose Jaw, especially by our young guys,” Spokane coach Don Nachbaur said. “We came out and competed and played hard for 60 minutes.”
Spokane outshot the Pats (5-8-1-1) 42-21, getting two goals and two assists from Tyler Johnson and a goal from Anthony Bardaro, his fourth straight game with a goal.
With the win, the Chiefs improved to 1-1 on their Eastern Conference swing.
Chiefs 11, Pats 1
| Spokane | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | 11 |
| Regina | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
First Period—1, Spokane, Aviani 2 (Leedahl, Kalus) 8:45. 2, Spokane, Cowen 2 (Johnson, Kichton) 18:28 (pp). Second Period—3, Spokane, Hamblin 1 (Mort, Koper) 6:40. 4, Spokane, Johnson 5 (Koper) 7:54. 5, Spokane, Bardaro 4 (Uher, Koper) 12:13. 6, Spokane, Koper 6 (Uher, Reid) 13:28. 7, Spokane, Johnson 6 (Koper, Kichton) 16:24. 8, Regina, Stevenson 1 (Bell) 19:22. Third Period—9, Spokane, Valcourt 1 (Bardaro) 0:57. 10, Spokane, Kalus 1 (Johnson, Leedahl) 3:49 (pp). 11, Spokane, Kalus 2 11:57. 12, Spokane, Koper 7 (Kuhn) 18:35 (sh). Power-play Opp.—Spokane 2 of 4; Regina 0 of 5. Saves—Spokane, Reid 5-6-9—20. Regina, Ketlo 6-6-0—12, Guhle 0-15-6—21. A—4,327.
KIJHL
Tyler Collins scored two goals and the Beaver Valley Nitehawks (11-6-0-2 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League) outscored the Spokane Braves (11-10) 5-2 after the first intermission to win 6-3 in Fruitvale, British Columbia.