Chiefs Rude Hosts To Their Ex-Leader Shockey And Regina Humbled 4-3 By Spokane

It was a long night for Parry Shockey in the building he helped inaugurate.

The former Spokane Chiefs interim head coach, and for two seasons an assistant here, endured a rude homecoming Saturday night before a late flurry from his Regina Pats sent a few shivers through 10,455 in the Arena.

But with another solid two-way performance and four points from Trent Whitfield the Chiefs held off Shockey and the Pats 4-3.

It was the Chiefs’ ninth sellout of the Western Hockey League season.

There was more good news for the Chiefs before the game. Surgery has been waved off, at least for now, for Kyle Rossiter, who suffered a shoulder separation Wednesday night. The 17-year-old defenseman said he’ll skate in 2-3 weeks and return to action in 4-6 weeks.

“Surgery is not the way they go anymore,” Rossiter said. “They let it scar up. It’s better than surgery.”

National Hockey League scouts are “concerned about my shoulder,” he added. “I assured them I’d be ready for the playoffs.”

As he did Friday night in a win over Seattle, Whitfield gave the Chiefs an early lead, skating through most of the Pats defense, bouncing off hits on his way through the slot and beating goaltender Ryan Hoople with a quick wrist shot 55 seconds into the game.

Cam Severson, who wound up with a pair of goals and an assist, made it 2-0 with his ninth goal as a Chief and 32nd of the season. Derek Schutz started the play by interrupting a clearing pass. The puck bounced out to Whitfield, who split the defense and drilled Hoople. Severson, with the backhand, scored on the rebound.

Brett Lysak got the Pats on the board at 12:02 of the second period with a power-play goal. Chiefs goaltender Aren Miller, who stopped 20 of Regina’s 23 shots, made the initial save, but the puck popped up and dropped behind him, to Lysak.

Whitfield scored on a near carbon copy of his first goal, cycling out of the corner, shedding the defense and skating through the circles to get the one-on-one opportunity with Hoople. It was Whitfield’s 34th goal of the season.

Schutz made it 4-1 at 6:50 of the third with the Chiefs on the power play. But before Spokane could turn it into a rout, the Pats got back into it late on goals by Boyd Kane, who scored on a 5-on-3 power play, and David Maruca with 2:53 left.

The Pats were without their third-leading scorer, center Josh Holden, who warmed up but was unable to play because of back spasms.

Chiefs 4, Pats 3

Regina 0 1 2 - 3

Spokane 2 0 2 - 4

First period - 1, Spokane, Whitfield 33 (Jones), :55. 2, Spokane, Severson 32 (Whitfield), 14:30. Key penalties - Severson, Spo, 1:47; Thompson, Reg, 7:54.

Second period - 3, Regina, Lysak 20 (Adams, Kane), 12:02 (pp). Key penalties - Petrovicky, Reg, 2:12; Freadrich, Reg, misconduct, 5:08; Johnson, Spo, 10:12; Komarniski, Spo, 14:47.

Third period - 4, Spokane, Whitfield 34 (Severson), 4:39. 5, Spo, Schutz 20 (Severson, Whitfield), 6:50. 6, Regina, Kane 35 (Stuart, Adams), 13:30 (pp). 7, Regina, Maruca 5 (Stuart, Cirjak), 17:07. Key penalties - Petrovicky, Reg, 5:08; Reg bench, unsportsmanlike conduct 6:50; Grimard, Spo, 8:57.

Power plays - Regina 2 of 6. Spokane 1 of 4. Saves - Regina, Hoople 9-16-10 - 35. Spokane, Miller 6-6-8 - 20. A - 10,455.

, DataTimes