Chiefs end ‘07 with loss

KENNEWICK – Spokane, the hottest team in the Western Hockey League the first three months of the season, has cooled off.

Tri-City hung a 4-1 loss on the Chiefs on Monday night in the Toyota Center in the teams’ 18th annual New Year’s Eve game, Spokane’s second stright defeat and fourth in six games.

There were 25 penalties whistled – 20 of them minors – with one of three majors a kneeing penalty on Spokane’s Jared Spurgeon, which may result in additional league action. He also drew one of two game misconducts assessed by the referees.

Colton Yellow Horn and T.J. Fast scored 5-on-3 power-play goals about a minute and a half apart late in the second period for Tri-City to break open a close game as the Americans (27-8-1-0) drew to within two points of the Chiefs (27-8-1-2) in the U.S. Division.

Yellow Horn’s 24th goal was a power-play goal in the third period.

Tyler Johnson’s seventh goal of the season had staked Spokane to a first-period lead. Shaun Vey drew Tri-City even eight minutes later.

Notes: Spokane defenseman Jared Cowen was named player of the game for Canada’s Team West in a 3-2 win over Germany in the opening game of the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in London, Ontario. Team West (2-0) also won 7-4 over Team Atlantic.