Chiefs Play Catch-Up, Bow To Winter Hawks Portland Opens 3-1 Advantage Before Spokane Can Get Going

Junior hockey can change in a heartbeat. A hit, a mistake, a rush to the net on the power play and a game was transformed Wednesday night in the Arena.

Too bad this one - the Spokane Chiefs’ 4-3 loss to the Portland Winter Hawks - was a case of too little, too late.

For two periods, the only thing the Chiefs had to cheer about was fortuitous timing.

They don’t have to play for the Memorial Cup for another seven months.

But after the Hawks handled the Chiefs for two periods, outshooting Spokane 27-11 and leading 3-1, the hosts woke up.

They just couldn’t stand prosperity.

Each time they hit the back of the net, Portland answered with a goal of its own.

After Spokane’s Marian Cisar scored on a power play 11 seconds into the third period, the Chiefs came alive at both ends of the ice before 4,735. They mounted steady pressure on goaltender Brent Belecki, finally breaking through with 1:47 left when Perry Johnson’s slap shot was deflected in by Ty Jones to tie the game at 3.

The tie lasted 38 seconds.

Tyler Murray, camped in the slot, scored with 1:09 remaining to push Portland over the .500 mark at 2-1.

The Chiefs, who will be back at it here Friday night against the Prince George Cougars, are 1-1.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed in Spokane edition.