The Everett Silvertips can’t escape their Chamber of Horrors known as the Spokane Arena. With Mike Aviani and Mitch Holmberg scoring goals for the Spokane Chiefs during the final 3 minutes and 48 seconds Wednesday, Everett has lost 16 consecutive games in Spokane stretching back to winter 2010.
The Everett Silvertips have had a big breakthrough this Western Hockey League season, and they appear ready to play at a high level in coming seasons. Two of the best examples of that are 16-year-old defensemen Kevin Davis and Noah Juulsen.
Branden Troock’s scoring streak coincides with the Seattle Thunderbirds’ winning streak. Troock’s first hat trick in the Western Hockey League powered Seattle to its fifth consecutive win Friday night as the Thunderbirds dismantled the Spokane Chiefs for the second time in six nights.
Mitch Holmberg’s remarkable season took an odd but successful twist on Wednesday night. Holmberg scored shorthanded goals 1 minute and 38 seconds apart late in the first period and goalie Eric Williams made that stand up as the Spokane Chiefs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 decision over the Saskatoon Blades at the Arena.
Mitch Holmberg’s remarkable season took an odd but successful twist on Wednesday night. Holmberg scored shorthanded goals 1 minute and 38 seconds apart late in the first period and goalie Eric Williams made that stand up as the Spokane Chiefs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 decision over the Saskatoon Blades at the Arena.
Collin Valcourt returns to Spokane tonight, eager to see his friends and treat them like enemies for a few hours. The 20-year-old Saskatoon winger played 183 Western Hockey League games for the Spokane Chiefs before being traded to the Blades last January. He had 13 goals and 35 points this season heading into Tuesday’s game at Tri-City.
Seven weeks ago, Adam Henry was a member of the worst team in the Western Hockey League. Now Henry and two others who previously played for the Lethbridge Hurricanes are helping the Seattle Thunderbirds catch fire as the regular season approaches the halfway point.
The Western Hockey League teams that have defeated the Portland Winterhawks this season – Seattle, Tri-City, Kelowna, Victoria and Everett – are a combined 1-8 against Spokane. But the Chiefs have run into a roadblock whenever they’ve played Portland this season or, for that matter, any time in the last 10 months.
The Kamloops Blazers’ season appears to be on the brink following an eight-game losing streak. The Blazers (6-17-2-1) have dropped to the basement of the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference, 12 points out of a playoff spot.
