A home divided by hockey rivalry
When David Rutherford left his Ladner, British Columbia, home after the holidays in December, he left a simple message for Vancouver Giants goalie Tyson Sexsmith on the whiteboard attached to the door of his old bedroom. It said, “See you in the playoffs.”
Tracy Rutherford, the mother of Spokane Chiefs overage forward David, houses Sexsmith in Vancouver and wishes both players could advance to the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference final. But when the playoffs resume tonight with the Chiefs and Giants kicking off their best-of-7 conference semifinal series at the Arena, Tracy – who will be watching from the stands – knows that isn’t possible.
“I think she’s more nervous than anything,” David said after the Chiefs practiced at Eagles Ice-A-Rena on Tuesday.
A former Giant, David was traded from Vancouver to Spokane early last season. When the teams met twice early in the season, the Chiefs’ sniper was sidelined with a groin injury. This will be his first time playing against his former team this season.
“She’s on both sides – she doesn’t know who to cheer for,” David said of his mother. “I think she’s going to stay pretty neutral on the whole thing.”
Not according to Chiefs coach Bill Peters.
“Blood is thicker than water – there’s no question who she is rooting for,” said Peters, who was a little more accurate than David, according to Tracy.
“It’s a little stressful, but I think you always have to go for your family,” she said. “That’s not to say I wouldn’t be sad for Tyson. I’d like them both to win, but that’s not going to happen. I just hope they play a good series and play the hockey they are capable of.”
If both teams do, the series has the potential to be truly special. It’s not only billed as the toughest matchup of the second round, it’s made interesting by the fact that it’s a battle between teams similar in numerous aspects.
The U.S. Division Chiefs finished second in the league in points in the regular-season standings with 107. Vancouver, which was initially the second seed in the conference by winning the B.C. Division title, collected a third-best 106 points. Only the Tri-City Americans finished with more points (108) in the league.
Aside from depth down the line on both rosters, the Chiefs and Giants were also the top two defensive clubs during the regular season. Vancouver allowed a league-low 155 goals (2.15 per game) and Spokane gave up 160 (2.22) – a franchise record.
The series will also feature two of the league’s top three goaltenders – Sexsmith and Spokane’s Dustin Tokarski.
Sexsmith backstopped the Giants to a Memorial Cup championship last season and led the WHL this season with a 1.89 goals-against average. Tokarski finished third with a 2.05 GAA and led the league with a .922 save percentage.
“You’ve got two of the best (goalies) in the league going against each other,” said David, who will be in front of Sexsmith in the crease looking for goals on the power play. “It’ll be a goaltender’s duel, no question. I know Tyson pretty well, and I know what to do to get under his skin a little.
“We both know what’s at stake. I don’t think come time to get on the ice any of us will be friends.”
With so much in common, the fate of either team likely lies in the little things.
“Special teams can win or lose you a series,” David said. “They can give you momentum either way. A big blocked shot on the penalty kill can get the guys fired up. You look at (Tyler) Johnson’s in overtime (against Everett in last Friday’s fourth game) and that brought so much energy to our bench, and guys found a way to get it done after such a letdown with 20 seconds left (in regulation, when Everett tied the game 2-2).”
Both clubs swept their first-round series, but the Chiefs were far more dominant on the scoreboard in outscoring the Everett Silvertips 16-6 in four games. The Giants ousted the Chilliwack Bruins in four games each decided by one goal, including a triple-overtime, 4 1/2-hour marathon in the third game.
“I think every guy on our team is excited about it,” David said. “(We’re) like clone teams – everything is identical. It comes down to whoever performs the little things better – getting the pucks in, no turnovers and blocking shots. Both teams do a tremendous job of that.”