You can always count on the Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans to butt heads. Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 10,325 at the Arena was no different, as the Chiefs and Americans went to overtime for the third time in seven games this season.
Mike Aviani got the winner during a 3-2 shootout that gave the Spokane Chiefs a 2-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans on Saturday night at the Arena.
Spokane native Keanu Yamamoto scored his first winning goal in the Western Hockey League Friday night during the Chiefs’ 3-1 victory over Moose Jaw at the Arena.
As Tim Speltz puts it, the Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans aren’t exactly on each other’s speed dial. Nevertheless, Chiefs general manager Speltz and Tri-City GM Bob Tory found one another talking on the phone before the Western Hockey League’s Jan. 10 trade deadline.
The official Greater Spokane League title must wait a few days, but Mead’s gymnastics team passed its greatest test on Thursday night. The Panthers used their dominance on the uneven bars to hold off host Mt. Spokane during a four-way league meet at the Mead Gymnastics Center.
The Western Hockey League record for most wins in a season has stood for 33 years. The Victoria Cougars set the mark of 60 in 1980-81 with a team that featured Grant Fuhr and Barry Pederson. Fuhr, a member of the National Hockey League Hall of Fame, is best known for his 10 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers that produced four Stanley Cups in a span of five seasons. Pederson played in the NHL for 12 seasons and holds the Boston Bruins’ record for goals by a rookie.
The Spokane Chiefs put themselves in a slightly difficult situation by being more successful than they predicted. When the Chiefs reached the Western Hockey League trade deadline last week with 25 wins under their belt, the good start had made their options a bit limited.
The Spokane Chiefs have done little wrong in the last 1 1/2 months except when it comes to playing Seattle. The Thunderbirds’ baffling domination of Spokane continued Tuesday night when Ryan Gropp scored with 44 seconds left in overtime for a 1-0 Western Hockey League victory at the Arena.
The Western Hockey League’s Western Conference had another chance Sunday to prove its superiority over the Eastern Conference. A quick glance at the standings already makes the case. The top seven teams in the West have compiled 52 points or more. In the East, only Calgary (63 points) and Edmonton (59) have more points than the West’s seventh-place team, Vancouver.
