Bruton has happy homecoming
CALGARY, Alberta – This one took some grinding. That’s what happens when two high-caliber teams meet.
How appropriate then – in more ways than one – that Chris Bruton would come through in the clutch.
The gritty Spokane Chiefs captain, who hails from Calgary, scored four minutes into overtime as Spokane defeated the Hitmen 2-1 in Western Hockey League play Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
“He’s having a wonderful year and he’s such a good leader for us,” said Chiefs coach Bill Peters. “Even if he doesn’t score, he does so many things that are valuable for us. Whoever I have to play him with, in whatever position, he’s all over and up for that challenge.”
Bruton, who felt frustration for much of the game, was all smiles after.
“It was an unreal night,” said Bruton, who had more than 30 members of his family in the stands. “It couldn’t have been more of a storybook ending for me to get the game-winner in overtime in my hometown.”
The Chiefs and Hitmen both came into the night leaders of their divisions and ranked in the Top 10 of the Canadian Hockey League rankings.
Spokane, ranked second, improved to 20-3-1-2 to extend its lead over Tri-City in the U.S. Division to five points.
The 10th-ranked Hitmen fell to 19-8-1-2 but picked up a point to maintain a one-point lead over the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Central Division.
In the kind of game that exposes a team’s weaknesses and highlights its strengths, the Chiefs used the most unusual catalyst – the skate of Calgary’s Chase Schaber – en route to victory.
That’s right – the hockey gods showed up.
After several attempts on Hitmen netminder Dan Spence, who finished with 24 saves, the skate of the Calgary forward popped in the first goal for the Chiefs, and looked as if it might decide the fast-paced, evenly matched contest between the leaders of their respective conferences.
Chiefs defenseman Justin Falk was credited with the second-period goal, which happened at 3 minutes on the first and only power play of the game.
“It was a good play by us throwing the puck at the net – we deserved a break there I thought,” said Peters. “(Drayson) Bowman hit a post, (then) a cross bar, (Ondrej) Roman had it on the goal line, so it all evens out.”
The Hitmen tied the score in the third period when Ryan White set up Carson McMillan’s ninth goal of the season, and both teams stuck to their systems for the remainder of regulation.
The best thing about the game, perhaps, was the Chiefs’ young defense, which was stellar in a high-level matchup.
Rookies Jared Cowen, Jace Coyle, Brett Bartman and Stefan Ulmer, and second-year Chief Mike Reddington were stubborn, assisting Minnesota Wild prospect Falk on the blue line. Veteran Jared Spurgeon, a quarterback on special teams and a key component to the Spokane defense, was scratched because of the ankle injury he sustained last Saturday in Tri-City.
“Both teams just really committed,” said Bruton. “We were sound defensively. All the guys played well. It was tough to get the bus legs out of us, but we didn’t let up and it showed.”
Also strong for Spokane – the netminding of Dustin Tokarski. Not exactly breaking news.
Tokarski finished with 24 saves to improve to 11-1-0-1 and continues to lead the league with a 1.76 goals-against average. Fellow goalie Kevin Armstrong is second with a 1.99 GAA.
Notes
Calgary Flames forward Daymond Langkow, a former Tri-City American, was in the stands watching Chiefs right-winger Chris Langkow, his nephew. … Chiefs forward Dustin Donaghy (hand) was scratched from the lineup. He is expected back within a week. … The homecomings continue tonight when the Chiefs play at Medicine Hat, hometown of defenseman Bartman.… Chiefs sniper Bowman saw his 11-game scoring streak come to an end. During that stretch, the two-time reigning CHL and WHL Player of the Week had two hat tricks, 14 goals and 11 assists.