Chiefs fall in WHL opener

CRANBROOK, B.C. – The effort was there for the Spokane Chiefs in their Western Hockey League season opener.

But, as their coach has been telling them all preseason, that’s not enough.

The Kootenay Ice (2-0) defeated the Chiefs, as they took advantage of some Spokane miscues to post a 4-2 win on Saturday night at the Rec-Plex.

Brett Sutter had a goal and an assist for Kootenay. Goalie Kris Lazaruk was making his second career start in as many nights, having defeated Tri-City in his debut on Friday and got the win while making 31 saves.

“We were fine,” said Spokane coach Bill Peters. “We worked hard and generated some opportunities. They were able to capitalize on some mistakes we made.”

After a scoreless first period between the teams, the Chiefs took the lead on the first career WHL goal by 17-year-old rookie Drayson Bowman, who earned the game’s second star in his debut.

Bowman took advantage of a bounce off the end boards that fooled Lazaruk and buried it to give his team the quick lead.

“It came off the forecheck; they were physical on that shift, he got an opportunity and he took advantage of it,” said Peters.

But the Ice would rally for three straight goals against Spokane goalie Jim Watt for a 3-1 lead.

Watt was pulled in favor of an extra skater near the end of the game and Kootenay added an empty-net goal with just 13 seconds left.

After Bowman’s goal, Ice captain Adam Cracknell tied the game with a power-play goal at the 15:09 mark of the second period. That’s the way the period would finish, with the teams tied at 1.

But Sutter would give the Ice a 2-1 lead just 30 seconds into the third with his second of the year, a shot that beat Watt high to the glove side. Then, 19-year-old Devin Welsh got the eventual game winner at the 10:59 mark of the third period with a wrist shot that beat Watt underneath his trapper.

That goal made it 3-1, before Chiefs 20-year-old Chad Klassen scored to make it a one-goal game at the 15:37 mark. Casey Lee scored the empty-netter for Kootenay at 19:47.

Lazaruk and Watt each saw 33 shots, Watt making 29 saves.

Peters liked most of what he saw.

“It was a one-goal game – they had an empty-net goal in the last minute – so it was a close game,” he said. “We need to combine working hard with working smart. … We need to be more patient with the puck.”

“Two Chiefs scratched with minor injuries were defenseman Dan Mercer and rookie forward Johannes Salmonsson. Rookie defenseman Jared Spurgeon was a healthy scratch.

Lukacevic scores five goals

Ned Lukacevic needed just six minutes, 45 seconds to record Swift Current’s first hat trick of the season – and he wasn’t done there.

Lukacevic finished with five goals to lead Swift Current to a 7-3 win over Prince Albert.

Lukacevic, who was traded to the Broncos by Spokane in exchange for David Schulz, scored a natural hat trick in the opening 6:45. The 19-year-old added singles in the second and third periods, finishing with three power-play goals and two scored while the Broncos were shorthanded.