Last week had a lot of good, and some bad for the Chiefs, but overall a successful one for the boys as they pulled back into a third place tie with Everett in the U.S. Division.
The week didn't start off very well, as the team's four game winning streak came to an end with a big thud with a 5-2 loss to Everett at the Arena. The Chiefs fell behind 3-0 after two periods and were never in the game in one of the more disappointing efforts of the season. Mitch Wahl and Kyle Beach each scored in the third period, but it was too little, too late, as the team fell two points back of the Silvertips in the division. What was most disappointing for me was that it was a chance to not only take over third place and start making a push towards Portland and Tri-City, but it was the first meeting with the Tips and a chance to set a tone in the series. A lackluster effort was the lasttt thing I'd thought I'd see from the team, but it happened and the big question became, how would the Chiefs respond during the weekend against Kamloops and Kelowna.
The Blazers were first up on Saturday night. Kyle Beach continued his torrid scoring for the Chiefs as he netted the team's first two goals to give Spokane a 2-1 lead after one. Wahl would net a goal in his fifth straight game to make it 3-1 Spokane in the second period. Brady Brassart would then net his first goal of his Western Hockey League career later in the period to up the lead to 4-1 Chiefs after two.
Saturday night also marked the return of defenseman Jared Spurgeon, and the 20-year-old's appearance was noticed right from the get go. He set up Beach's second goal with a crisp cross ice pass on the power play in the first. Then he picked up another assist on Brassart's goal in the second. Spurgeon would cap the night with a beautiful net front feed to Stephan Ulmer on the power play to make it 5-1 in the third. Beach would then cap the scoring with his second hat trick of the season in the final seconds to finish off a 6-1 Spokane win. Beach would finish with four points on the night, while Spurgeon would have three assists in his first game back from shoulder surgery and an appendectomy.
The Chiefs outshot Kamloops 48-22, while matching their season high with three power play goals. It was a great way to bounce back from the disappointing loss to Everett and certainly gave the team some muchhh needed momentum as they faced the defending WHL champion Kelowna Rockets the next night.
It became apparent early in the game with the Rockets that neither team was going to score a lot of goals on the night. The two teams combined for just 15 shots in the first period as neither team was able to score. Spokane would break the scoreless tie less than four minutes into the second period as Spurgeon left a great pass to the stick of Brassart, who netted his second goal in as many games to make it 1-0 Spokane. Little did we know that would turn out to be the only goal of the game as the Chiefs would hold off the Rockets in the third period to take their second straight game from Kelowna this season.
James Reid picked up his second shutout of the season with 26 saves, as the Chiefs moved back into a tie with Everett for third place in the division. Spokane has now won five of six, including three of four from their homestand, as they now get ready for a five game road swing which begins with three games in three nights through the Central Division. The team will visit the Edmonton Oil Kings Friday night at 6pm, the Red Deer Rebels at 6:30pm Saturday, and the Calgary Hitmen Sunday at 5pm. The Calgary game was moved back an hour from its original time as the Stampeders of the Canadian Football League are playing in the conference finals that same day.
The team goes on the road without forward David Conrad, who was reassigned to Winnipeg of the Manitoba Junior League. Conrad had not seen any game action over the last two weeks, so it had become apparent that he would be the odd man out for playing time with T.C. Cratsenberg and Dominick Uher. I'm sorry to see Rads go, as I'm always to see anyone depart the team. He's a real nice kid who just needs a chance to play and I hope he finds it in Winnipeg.
The boys will depart for Edmonton first thing Thursday morning for the all day drive to Alberta. Due to a conflict with the Gonzaga game Friday night, the Chiefs broadcast will be on the air Friday night at 5:30pm on 105.7FM. Saturday's game will be back on 1510AM KGA at 6pm, and Sunday's contest will be on the air at 4:30pm on KGA.
I'll be blogging from the road daily at Spokanechiefs.com, so be sure to log on.
We hope you'll listen in from Spokane this weekend!
