Trio Of Talented Chiefs Does Its Damage To Regina

Another night, another set of heroes.

The story of numerical strength - December chapter - marched on Saturday night with Jay Bertsch, Randy Favaro and defenseman John Shockey doing the principal damage in the Spokane Chiefs’ 5-1 breeze over Regina’s pooped-out Pats.

Bertsch had a pair of goals, his sixth and seventh of a season that for him is gathering steam. The first was the game-winner in front of 8,011 at the Arena, pushing the season attendance to a Western Hockey Leaguehigh 104,606.

Favaro - playing with his usual body-slamming abandon - added a goal and an assist in Spokane’s fourth straight win.

But it was the Shockey goal with 2 seconds left in the first period that keyed Spokane’s 19th win.

“That really killed us,” Regina coach Rich Preston said. “We hold them scoreless on the road and they score with 2 seconds to go. Those late goals kill you.”

Chiefs coach Mike Babcock agreed.

“It was a good play by Shockey,” the Chiefs coach said. “The rush up the ice - he doesn’t bother to play defense because he knows how much time’s left - takes him to the net front.”

Meanwhile Favaro jarred the puck loose, John Cirjak handled it behind the net and fed it out front to Shockey for the game’s critical shot.

“It was a rim entry,” Babcock said. “Randy ran the guy over and Jack (Cirjak) got the puck.”

And Regina goaltender Chad Mercier, who made 41 laudable saves, watched that one fly by.

Although he only had to turn away 16 shots, Chiefs netminder David Lemanowicz flirted with Spokane junior hockey history, nearly registering a second straight shutout at home. No Spokane goaltender has managed that feat in the city’s 13 seasons in the WHL.

“We played well,” Babcock said. “We were aware of their fatigue and didn’t give away very much. We worked hard. Territorially I thought the rink was slanted.”

Slanted Spokane’s way.

“It’s been a long trip,” said Preston, whose team slipped to 15-14-1 after playing its 10th game away from home in 21 days.

Bertsch, who nearly had a hat trick and was awarded the game’s first star in the press box poll, jumped on an exercise bike in the Chiefs locker room after the game.

“Babs said I was getting a little heavy, so it’s time to get on the bike,” he said. “Two goals (and the first star) is definitely a first for me. I had two goals once in Lethbridge for Spokane, but nothing like that since then.”

Bertsch described his bid for a third goal with a smile.

“I came dowen the wing with Leo (Demitri Leonov) on the side figuring if I should pass or shoot it,” he said. “With my skills, I thought I’d better shoot. At least that way we had a better shot of getting something.

“I’m not a bad player,” Bertsch added. “With the team we’ve got, my confidence is up, but it’s my linemates - Leonov and Darren Sinclair. They’ve carried me all year.”

The issue - who’s the best in the West? - is still open, and is likely to remain that way.

“That’s a good hockey team there,” Preston said of the Chiefs. “They can skate and they’re physcial. They do everything well. We just couldn’t stay with them.”

Regina started its 21-day trip in Saskatoon. They ended with a seven-game swing through the West that left Preston impressed with the Chiefs and the Tri-City Americans.

“We beat Portland, tied Seattle and beat Kelowna twice,” Preston said. “It’s tough to separate Tri-City and Spokane. Those two are a little better rright now than Kelowna and Kamloops.”

In keeping with the night’s unsung hero theme, the final goal came from rookie Derek Schutz, assisted by Mike Haley and Scott Fletcher.

Rhett Gordon scored Regina’s goal, his 20th, at 11:38 of the second period to pull the Pats within 2-1.

But Bertsch answered at 14:17 of the second and the pressure was off.

Spokane 5, Regina 1

Regina 0 1 0 - 1

Spokane 1 2 2 - 5

First period - 1, Spo, Shockey 2 (Cirjak, Favaro), 19:58 (pp). Key penalties - Favaro, Spo, 7:52; Cerven, Spo, 16:07; McDonald, Reg, 18:48.

Second period - 2, Spo, Bertsch 6 (Leonov), 7:02. 3, Reg, Gordon 20, 11:38. 4, Spo, Bertsch 7 (Gillam), 14:17. Key penalties - Parsons, Reg, 2:06; Cerven, Spo, 9:01; Cirjak, Spo, 15:11; Morris, Reg, 16:45.

Third period - 5, Spo, Favaro 9 (Lemanowicz), 12:21. 6, Spo, Schutz 4 (Haley, Fletcher), 18:43. Key penalties - Lane, Spo, 2:03; Vlastelic, Reg, 4:01; Haley, Spo, 6:52.

Power-play opp.-Regina 0 of 5; Spokane 1 of 5.Saves-Regina, Mercier 10-17-14-41. Spokane, Lemanowicz 4-7-5-16.A-8,011.

, DataTimes