Chiefs enter crucial divisional stretch
The race in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League won’t be decided between now and Christmas.
But the Spokane Chiefs can make things a lot easier for themselves if they perform well during that time.
Spokane enters tonight’s home game with Seattle tied for third place in the division with the Thunderbirds. The teams also play a home-and-home series next weekend. In between, the Chiefs host division-leading Everett and last-place Portland.
So the Chiefs have five games, all in the division, between now and Christmas – four of those at home. It doesn’t get any more opportune than that.
Yet coach Bill Peters isn’t acting or talking like a man who has a lot of confidence in his team to seize the moment. Part of that could have to do with the team’s efforts in a loss to Tri-City last weekend and a shootout win Tuesday over a young, slumping Kelowna team.
Peters reached into his bag of tricks and tried to motivate his team Wednesday. They took the ice for an abbreviated practice session and were told soon thereafter to get off the ice, get away from the rink and clear their heads.
“If you’re not into being here, then you might as well get out of here,” Peters essentially told his team. He then reminded them how they had not been mentally ready for either game, including a penalty for too many men on the ice in the Kelowna game.
In reality, the Arena had to be cleared out for the evacuation of Lewis and Clark High School after a false bomb incident. But Thursday’s film session and practice were for real, as the Chiefs try to get back their November mojo.
“We’ve got to point out some areas in our game where we’ve been taking some shortcuts,” said Peters. “Guys have to see it, guys have to acknowledge it, and they have to know that it’s fact. That’s the problem in our game right now.”
Spokane will play Seattle at a time when it has been on a bit of a roll, led by WHL player of the week Aaron Gagnon and veteran goalie Derek Yeomans. The Chiefs got a chance to see the T-Birds against Tri-City last weekend, so they know what they’re up against.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Peters said. “And if we play the way we did the last two games, the first two games of December, it’s not going to be a good outcome for us. You can’t be successful the way we’ve played. We’ve just been a team that’s not quite sharp.”
Peters feels his team has lost the work ethic that made it successful last month. He’s challenging his team to show its mettle over the next nine days by staying focused and playing with discipline, then reap the benefits of such.
Winger Drayson Bowman said he’s not sure what happened as the team lost its edge.
“I don’t want to make excuses too much, but it could have been the week off,” he said. “It’s obviously something you have to deal with, but it’s never something you want when you’re on a roll like we were on.”
On the injury front, Spokane got back forwards Michael Grabner and Chris Bruton last weekend. Both are still working themselves back into game shape. Captain Adam Hobson (week to week) and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (day to day) remain out with knee injuries.