For the Reporter
Matthew Wedman had two goals to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-2 WHL win over the Spokane Chiefs in the Red Lion Hotels Preseason Tournament at the Toyota Center on Thursday afternoon.
Nolan Volcan had three assists for the T-Birds, 2-2-0-0 in the preseason.
Spokane went in front 1-0 at 9:41 of the first period on Carter Chorney’s shorthanded goal.
Seattle tied the game 1-1 when Andrej Kukuca scored a five-on-three power-play goal at 1:52 off assists from Nolan Volcan and Noah Philp. Kukuca has a four-game preseason scoring streak with two goals and four assists.
Wedman put the T-Birds in front 2-1 with 18 second left in the second period with a power-play goal. Jake Lee and Volcan had the assists.
Adam Beckman scored a power-play goal at 9:34 of the second for the Chiefs to tie the game 2-2. Chorney had the only assist.
Wedman scored the game-winning goal with 3:23 left in the third period. Volcan had the only assist on the goal.
Spokane outshot Seattle 36-26 in the game.
Seattle goalie Liam Hughes had 34 saves on 36 shots and is 2-0-0-0 in the preseason.
Spokane goalie Campbell Arnold had 21 saves on 24 shots and is 1-1-0-0.
What’s ahead
Preseason play continues for the T-Birds in Kennewick on Friday with a 3 p.m. matchup against the Kootenay Ice.
The T-Birds wrap up preseason play with back-to-back games against the Everett Silvertips – at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the accesso ShoWare Center, and at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 in Everett.
Seattle opens the regular season against the Portland Winterhawks at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 on home ice.
Order single-game tickets online or at the ShoWare Center box office.
Season tickets may be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Spokane, Chorney 4 (Woods), 9:41 (sh). Penalties – Arnold, Spo (delay of game), 2:34. McNelly, Sea (interference), 6:28. Finley, Spo (interference), 8:08. Toporowski, Spo (slashing), 12:02.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Wedman 1 (Lee, Volcan), :17 3, Seattle, Kukuca 2 (Volcan, Philp), 1:52. 4, Spokane, Beckman 5 (Reid, Chorney), 9:34. Penalties – King, Spo (hooking), :17. Russell, Spo (boarding), 1:13. Volcan, Sea (interference), 7:46. Hughes, Sea (slashing-served by Mount), 9:34. McIsaac, Sea (roughing), 11:19. McIndoe, Spo (roughing), 11:19. MacLean, Sea (slashing), 11:23. Kubicek, Sea (major-fighting, game misconduct), 11:23. Faith, Spo (major-fighting, game misconduct), 11:23. Arbuzov, Spo (tripping), 19:18.
Third period – 5, Seattle, Wedman 2 (Volcan), 16:37. Penalties – Leduc, Spo (slashing), 4:09. King, Spo (tripping), 9:19. McIndoe, Spo (checking to the head), 18:37.
Shots on goal – Seattle 12-10-4 26, Spokane 6-16-14 36. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 36 shots-34 saves (2-0-0-0); Spokane, Arnold 24-21 (1-1-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 2-8; Spokane 1-4. Referees – Nick Panter, Ward Pateman. Linesmen – Steve Fleming, Daniel Spore.
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