Chiefs’ Bubble Bursts; Kelowna Gets Ot Win

Sun., March 7, 1999

It promised to be a dilly. It was. The bad news for the Spokane Chiefs is they were left spent with nothing to celebrate.

And two more points behind the Kelowna Rockets.

After playing three straight tie games, the Chiefs went to overtime one more time looking for a win that would make a small inroad on the Rockets’ lead in the race for the last of six playoff spots in the Western Hockey League West Division.

But just 1:07 before the end of the 5-minute extra session, the Rockets won a faceoff in the Spokane end and Gerad Adams ripped a 20-foot shot through the pads of Spokane goalie Mike Lencucha to give Kelowna a hard-earned 6-5 victory before a full house.

Kelowna, 5-1-3 in its last nine games, moved 11 points ahead of Spokane. The Chiefs suffered a 13th straight game without victory, tying a franchise record.

Although there were 11 goals scored, Lencucha and Kelowna goalie Kevin Swanson took turns playing hero.

The Chiefs, with Lynn Loyns scoring twice to lead the offense, forged leads of 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4, but each time the Rockets came back.

Adams, Vern Fiddler and Kiel McLeod scored twice each for Kelowna. Fiddler’s second, and 18th of the season, tied it at 5 with less than 5 minutes to play.

Cam Severson, Tim Smith and Chris Harper also scored for Spokane.

Game summary on Stat Sheet/C10

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Chiefs’ Bubble Bursts; Kelowna Gets Ot Win

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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