The Chiefs journey through the Western Hockey League's Central Division turned out to be a successful one, as the boys took two of three over the weekend. With the win over Calgary Sunday night, the Chiefs are now tied for third in the U.S. Division as they get ready to hit the road for key games at Everett on Wednesday and Tri-City on Friday.
After an all day bus journey Thursday to Edmonton, and I mean allll day, as the first bus we boarded broke down outside of Athol, Idaho less than an hour into the trip. We left Spokane around 8am and got into Edmonton around 11pm that night. Needless to say, bed looked reallll good at that point.
The boys were on the practice ice at 8am Friday getting ready for their game with the Oil Kings. The Chiefs had a really good skate, leading many of us to believe they would look sharp that night. Unfortunately, the boys didn't have the same spark in the game, but as it turned out, sometimes you can play through a game when you're not at your best and still get a good result. That was certainly the case for the Chiefs against Edmonton.
Despite being outplayed most of the first period, Spokane was able to take a 1-0 lead after the first period as Blake Gal scored on a breakaway while the Chiefs were shorthanded. After a scoreless second period, the Chiefs would get a backhanded goal off a rebound from Edmonton native Levko Koper early in the third period to make it 2-0 Spokane. There was one full section of Levko's family and friends at the game and they erupted when he scored that goal. It was a real memorable night for Levko as he took the ceremonial puck drop with his cousin Josh, who plays for Edmonton. Levko's brother and sisters did the honor, while his grandfather led the choir in the national anthem before the game. It's a night I'm sure he's not going to forget.
After Koper's goal, Gal would get his second of the night with a rebound shot a couple of minutes later. The goal had to be reviewed by the video goal judge, as the shot wasn't originally ruled a goal by the referee on ice. It was Blake's first multi-goal game of his career, and capped a three point night for him. Goalie James Reid did the rest, coming within 1:07 of his second straight shutout as an own goal spoiled the shutout. No matter, Reid stopped 40 shots in the win, as the Chiefs took game one of the trip 3-1.
The next night in Red Deer, the boys fell behind 1-0 just a little over 6 minutes into the game. Spokane would rally to tie as Tyler Johnson put home a rebound off a Jared Cowen shot midway through the period. The goal snapped a goal less drought for the Central Valley grad and I'm sure took a lottt off his mind. The Rebels would retake the lead on a goal off a redirected shot in the last minute to take a 2-1 lead after one period.
After a scoreless second period, the Chiefs would tie the game at two, as Johnson would snap a shot top shelf over former Chief draft pick, goalie Darcy Kuemper on the power play early in the third. The Chiefs had one bad shift in the last 40 minutes of the game and it cost them the game in the third, as a turnover at the Rebels blue line led to an odd man rush and Red Deer scored midway through the third to win it 3-2.
The Chiefs outshot Red Deer badlyyy in this contest, 36-23, but the only thing that counts at the end of the night is the scoreboard, and now Spokane faced a daunting task of beating the Central Division leading Calgary Hitmen on home ice. Calgary was 9-2 at home coming into the game, and the Chiefs knew they had to play their best hockey of the trip to get the two points.
Fortunately, the team did. It was their best road game of the season in my opinion, with the win in Kelowna coming in a close second. Spokane was physical, they played with speed, and won many of the individual battles for the puck. The Chiefs would jump out to a 1-0 lead on a great individual effort by Kyle Beach 14 minutes into the game. Beach took the puck on a rush down the left wing, toe dragged the puck by a defender and stuffed it in for his 19th of the season. I'm sure he was just showing his younger brother Cody, who plays for the Hitmen, how it's done.
Calgary would tie the game on a 5-on-3 power play late in the first to make it 1-1. The Chiefs appeared to take a 2-1 lead on Beach's power play goal from the left circle early in the second, but the goal was waved off on a slashing penalty on the Chiefs net front. Let's just say the officiating in this game was the worst I've seen this season. For the most part, the work of the officials has been all right this year. In this game, the referee and linesman were in a word...awful. Not good. Below average. Call it an off night. Big time.
Anyway, back to the game. After a scoreless second, Beach's goal non goal permitting, Calgary would take a 2-1 lead 7 minutes into the third period on a another power play goal. Just when it looked like Spokane would totally outplay an opponent on the road and lose, Mitch Wahl came to the rescue. Wahl, drafted the by Calgary Flames in this past year's draft, snapped a shot from the left circle with 2:30 minutes to go to tie the game at 2. It was a rocket of a shot, and showed me why Wahl should shoot more often. He's got a great shot, but he lovesss to pass, and I can't blame him. He's very good at it, but there are times you need to pull the trigger. Wahl needed to in this instance, and it paid off.
Just when it looked like the two teams would go to overtime for the 4th straight time in their series, the Chiefs struck with 2:03 left to win it. Beach took the puck up the wall from the left corner, threw the puck on Koper's stick in the slot, and Koper found an open Tyler Johnson net front. Johnson stuck it home and the Chiefs scored 2 goals in 24 seconds to win it 3-2.
It was a greattt way to end the trip, and should give this team a huge boost going on the road to Everett and Tri this week. I should mention that Chiefs photographer Gary Peterson was on the trip and took some fantasticcc shots of the adventure. I understand he has posted the photos on his facebook page, and will be selling the photos in a book at Saturday's game with Regina at the Arena. I suggest picking it up.
It's a huge week for the Chiefs to get back into the race in the division, starting in Everett Wednesday night. The game will be on 105.7FM the Peak due to the Gonzaga game on 1510. Pregame is 6:30 with the game at 7pm. Friday we're back on 1510 KGA with the pregame at 6:30 and the game at 7pm. Saturday, the team comes home to face Regina. I'll have the call on 1510 beginning again at 6:30 with the puck drop just after 7pm on 1510.
Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving, and we'll see you on the radio!
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