Kailer Yamamoto’s return leads Chiefs to victory

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta – Kailer Yamamoto’s return to the Spokane Chiefs on Friday night was a smash hit.

Yamamoto, playing for the first time this season after spending the first part of the season with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, had a goal and three assists to lead the Chiefs (9-7-1-2, 21 points) to a 6-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes (7-9-1-0) in Western Hockey League action.

Jake Elmer staked the Hurricanes to a 1-0 lead at 6:45 in the first period, but Spokane came back with four unanswered goals to take control of the match.

Tyson Helgesen pulled the Chiefs even 44 seconds later with assists from Yamamoto and Ty Smith. Jaret Anderson-Dolan put the Chiefs up 2-1 at 14:52 with assists from Yamamoto and El Zummack. Yamamoto made it 3-1 at 17:20 in the first with Zummack adding another assist. Ethan McIndoe made it 4-1 in favor of the Chiefs with a goal at 10:47 in the second.

After Giorgio Estephan scored for Lethbridge, Ty Smith upped the lead to 5-2 with assists from Yamamoto and Nolan Reid. Spokane’s final goal came from Zach Fischer at 8:22 in the third. Reid and Smith had assists on the final tally.

Spokane goalkeeper Dawson Weatherill turned aside two power plays and a penaly shot in the final period. He stopped 33 of 36 shots on the night.