Blazers Fend Off Chiefs

Thu., Dec. 18, 1997

Randy Petruk stopped 21 third-period shots Wednesday to allow Kamloops to hold off the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 in a Western Hockey League game.

Kamloops’ Donnie Kinney had one goal and one assist, handing the Chiefs their fifth loss in 17 road games.

The Blazers (18-17-1) won their fourth consecutive home game.

Spokane had a four-game unbeaten streak snapped and reached the season’s halfway point at 23-10-3. The Chiefs, second in the WHL’s West Division, lost ground to first-place Portland when the Winter Hawks defeated Tri-City 5-4 in overtime.

Spokane’s Trent Whitfield scored his 17th goal, midway through the first period, on a rebound during a power play.

Kamloops struck back at 12:29 when Ajay Baines scored his 22nd by rebounding Kinney’s shot.

The teams went scoreless for more than 35 minutes, when Kinney took a pass from behind the Chiefs net and deflected in a power-play goal off defenseman Kyle Rossiter’s shin guard.

Brent Draney pushed in a goal soon after when Chiefs goaltender Aren Miller couldn’t find Micki Dupont’s shot.

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Blazers Fend Off Chiefs

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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