Chiefs takedown Hurricanes in shootout

By Lethbridge Herald on October 15, 2025.

Herald Photo by Nathan Reiter Kade Duell of the Lethbridge Hurricanes wins a face-off against Gavin Burcar of the Spokane Chiefs during the first period of WHL action at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes took the Spokane Chiefs all the way to a shootout, only to fall 3-2 on Wednesday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

Spokane’s Mathis Preston scored the shootout winner on the team’s first shot attempt in the one-on-one breakaway scenario.

Spokane missed its other chance in the shootout while Lethbridge missed all three of its opportunities.

With the Chiefs leading 2-1 late in the game, Lethbridge’s Shane Smith tied the game  2-2 with 42 seconds to go in the contest to send the game to extra time.

Logan Wormald and Luke Cozens notched the assists on Smith’s game-tying marker.

“I think our guys deserved better tonight,” said Matt Anholt, Canes head coach.

“I was real proud of how we worked, and how much communication and energy  there was in the room and on the bench … It’s definitely a step in the right direction in how we need to play in our compete level.”

Anholt praised goaltender Koen Cleaver for being sound.

“Obviously would’ve liked to see us get the win for him because I thought he did a lot of good things,” said Anholt.

Anholt thought veteran defenceman Matteo Fabrizi had one of his best games of the year so far.

“It’s a hard task playing against Preston and some of those guys and I thought he did a good job,” said Anholt.

Cozens spoke about the importance of gaining a point out of the game after how the games have gone as of late in losing on home ice.

“It was definitely a positive for us,” said Cozens.

“ They’re obviously a pretty good team but I think we made it really hard for them and I think we easily could’ve  won that.”

Smyth Rebman opened the scoring for the Spokane  the first period at the 13:38 mark from Rhett Sather and Chase Harrington.

The Chiefs held on to that 1-0 lead until early in the third period, as Cozens tied the game with a powerplay goal 31 seconds into the final frame.

Smith and Wormald assisted on Cozens fourth goal of the year.

Spokane took a 2-1 lead on Brodie Gillespie’s first of the season 10:55 into the third before Smith’s tying goal.

Spokane outshot Lethbridge 34-32.

The Canes scored once on four powerplay opportunities.

Lethbridge now host the Calgary Hitmen on Friday night at 7 p.m.

“I think the recipe of how we need to have success is pretty obvious,” said Anholt.

“I think in how we  handle our business (last night) defensively, we skated really well, we got above checks, we defended hard.”