Chiefs, Giants are mirror images and 2nd-round foes
While several Spokane Chiefs now have playoff experience, defenseman Trevor Glass has experienced the Vancouver Giants first hand on the front lines.
That should come in handy beginning Friday when the Chiefs open up their Western Conference semifinal against the Giants in the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. The best-of-7 series is a matchup of two eerily similar teams that were ranked in the top five in the Canadian Hockey League polls at the end of the regular season – the Chiefs second and Vancouver fifth.
Both teams are defensive-minded, have standout goaltending and rooted with depth on offense.
“It’s two very similar, very good teams going at it early – it’s exciting,” said Chiefs coach Bill Peters. “We’re looking forward to playing them.”
Last season Glass played for the Medicine Hat Tigers, who edged Vancouver in a seven-game series to win the WHL championship and topped the Giants 1-0 in round-robin play at the Memorial Cup tournament only to fall 3-2 to the host Giants in the Memorial Cup championship game.
“It’s a question of did you win the game that matters,” said Peters. “I’m sure that still stings a little bit. It’s no different than us going down to Tri-City in game 71 (this season). Everything was on the line and they finished with 108 (points in the regular season standings) and we finished with 107, and Vancouver finished with 106 – those are three pretty good teams.”
The Chiefs are relishing the opportunity to knock off the defending Memorial Cup champions. In their two meetings early in the season, Spokane defeated the Giants 2-0 in Vancouver and lost in a shootout at the Arena.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” added Peters. “It will be a high-end series and I think it has a chance to be real special.
No close shaves
Athletes are superstitious, especially hockey players. But for some, the rituals are difficult to partake in.
Most players, and assistant coach Hardy Sauter, have boycotted shaving for the playoffs. Some dyed their hair black. For some, it doesn’t matter.
“I’ve shaved a couple times, but no one can even tell,” Chiefs sniper Drayson Bowman said with a laugh.
“(Brett) Bartman, Bowman and (Dustin) Donaghy can’t grow much,” joked Mitch Wahl, showing off his bit of scruff. “I can grow a little.”
Donaghy was convinced otherwise.
“I’ve got a mustache,” the rookie forward declared as he exited the ice after Tuesday’s practice at Eagles Ice-A-Rena.
Maybe he does, you just can’t see it.
Ice chips
Drayson Bowman, Ondrej Roman and Mitch Wahl lead the Chiefs in scoring with five points each in the playoffs. Bowman and Roman have three goals and two assists each, while Wahl has notched three helpers and scored twice – including the game-winning goal in overtime to complete the Chiefs’ four-game sweep of the Everett Silvertips in the first round. … The Chiefs will host the first and second games of the series at the Arena on Friday and Sunday before the series moves to Vancouver next Wednesday, April 11 and, if necessary, April 12. Plenty of tickets remain for Friday’s series opener and Sunday’s game. Possible sixth and seventh games will be played in Spokane on April 14 and 15.