Ference Breaks Loose, Leads Chiefs To Victory Hometown Boy The Difference As Spokane Decisions Calgary

It was the right time and the right place for Brad Ference and the Spokane Chiefs.

Ference scored the first two goals of his Western Hockey League career, in his hometown, and the Chiefs went on to defeat the Calgary Hitmen 5-2.

Ference scored from the right point on a power play at the 8:14 mark of the first period to stake Spokane to a 1-0 lead.

Calgary’s Jared Smith tied the game at the 14:34 mark when he found himself alone in the slot. It was the Hitmen’s first shot of the game.

Boris Protsenko pushed Calgary into the lead with his 25th goal of the season at 7:32 of the second period.

Spokane rallied to score four unanswered goals and pick up its second win in three tries on a swing through the Central Division.

Trent Whitfield’s 21st goal of the year pulled the Chiefs even at 2-2 with just under 5 minutes remaining in the second period.

Ference’s second goal gave Spokane the lead for good with just 28 seconds left in the period. Hugh Hamilton and Marc Brown added goals in the final stanza.

The win was the 100th for coach Mike Babcock in his tenure with Spokane. He is now 100-74-10 overall.

Spokane is off until Friday when it begins a series with Tri-City.